Opposition spokesperson for social policy Paula Mifsud Bonnici said there was agreement between the government and the Opposition on the Counselling Professions Bill because it had already been approved in second reading under the previous legislature.

She said that professional counsellors listened to their clients with empathy, gave advice and held therapy sessions. The profession needed to be regulated because there were counsellors who felt that their work was not always appreciated.

There were also clients who were not always convinced of the service given by unqualified persons.

The counselling profession was first introduced to Malta by the Cana Movement but was better established under the agreement between the government and the Malta Union of Teachers in 1975, introducing the service in government schools. Counsellors help children and families overcome certain emotional problems.

The Bill established the criteria for the profession, emphasising also the concept of responsibility.

Counsellors were bound by the principle of confidentiality. This was fundamental to building a therapeutic relationship. For this purpose a code of ethics would be set up by the Council of Professional Counsellors.

She proposed that the council would take note of the code of ethics already established by the Malta Association for the Counselling Profession (MACP).