Blossom

The Provision of Counselling and
Psychotherapy Services in Schools

Research has shown that lack of psycho-social support in early years, has a direct impact on the mental wellbeing and mental health in later years.

The Blossom Project was the first of its kind in Malta, and is being implemented in a number of state-run Schools, across the Maltese Islands.

Since 2016 the Blossom Project has been offering counselling/psychotheray services in schools, endeavoring to offer timely and effective support to children, young people and their families as well as to educators and complimentary staff.

This project is currently being delivered through a team of dedicated counsellors and psychotherapists in eight different schools as follows

St. Paul’s Bay Primary School, hosts 534 students from 52 different nationalities

– Qawra Primary School with a school population of 823 children from 57 nationalities

– Naxxar Middle School which hosts 723 students with 47 different nationalities.

– Birzebbugia Primary School currently hosting 630 students from 40 different countries.

– Zurrieq Primary School hosts a school population of 738 from 20 different countries

– Qormi San Gorg Primary School has a school population of 440 students from 16 countries.

– Qormi San Bastjan Primary School has a school population of 548 students from 18 countries.

– Victoria Gozo Secondary School has a population of 477 students from 25 countries.

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The Blossom team of professionals working within the Maria Regina College, St Benedict’s College, St Ignatius College and the Gozo College form part of the solid network of professionals working within the respective schools to ensure that the mental wellbeing of the children and young people’s is a priority. The Blossom team works hand in hand with the psychosocial teams within the Colleges, in order to, reach out to as many students as possible. These Professionals provide total support and continuity especially when these young students transition from one school to the next. The Blossom Psychosocial Professionals attend team building activities, hold meetings and discuss several cases with the rest of the professionals within the psychosocial teams in the respective Colleges. This enables them to strengthen their work relationships and their means of support towards the students who make use of our services. During the summer months the Blossom Team continues with providing services at their respective schools.The Service is therefore also available students who attend Summer School between July and September.

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The Blossom Services are also extended to parents and caregivers and also to playworkers, and co-ordinators. During the transition from Primary School to Middle School meetings with students, who find the experience daunting and challenging, are held on a one to one basis. These transition meetings, are a safe space for students to be listened to by the Counsellor. The Blossom Team, offers the Students support, and reassurance. They also give them the opportunity of brief tours around the new school in order to help them become familiar with the new setting.

Meet the Team

Isabelle Anastasi

Project Coordinator and Counsellor Naxxar Middle School

Carmen Galea

Counsellor Qawra and St Paul’s Bay Primary School

Rita Galea

Counsellor Qawra and St Paul’s Bay Primary School

Anita Portelli

Counsellor Qawra and St Paul’s Bay Primary School

Alexandra Vassallo

Psychotherapist Zurrieq Primary School

Sharon Grima Sciortino

Counsellor Gozo College Ninu Cremona Secondary School

Annette Kotorri

Counsellor St. Ignatius College Handaq Middle School

A Successful Story

Sally is 11 years old. She has been referred to counselling during her transition from the primary to the secondary school. Her presenting issue was excessive fear of loss of breath and death. Sally was extremely claustrophobic and was scared from small enclosed places. Sally used to come to sessions extremely anxious and afraid that either she or someone she loves is going to die. She reported not being able to sleep well and constantly ruminating about death. On top of these things, she was very scared about her transition from primary to secondary school. Sally and I worked on her fears and her worst nightmares. During our sessions, we came up with a set of skills that she can use when she realized that a panic attack was kicking in. Family sessions were also held where we discussed tips of how to handle her fears and anxieties and how the family can help with her panic attacks. Today Sally barely thinks about death and is having very few sporadic attacks. When she does, she knows how to handle them. She has settled well at school and is now ready to move on to Senior school. As therapists, we do not always see immediate results in our profession but when we do it is the best feeling in the world.

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Testimonials

Mr Patrick Decelis - Head of College Network

The Blossom Project is a godsend. Maria Regina College needed help since cases were increasing, especially in certain areas. Discussions led to a collaboration which proved highly beneficial for a big number of students who were vulnerable. They needed counselling and similar help on a daily basis.
Having a counsellor at the particular school makes a big difference. The immediacy of action is highly beneficial. Referral is easier and the service is more practical and immediate therefore the chance of a successful intervention is bigger. Thanks to Blossom we are making a big difference in the life of students and their families. We are giving students their entitlement, since the basic needs are met before we can embark on educating them. Parents and family members are grateful for this service.

Mr Ethelbert Fenech - Head of School St Paul's Bay Primary

The Blossom Project was first initiated at our school and along the years the service has provided support to hundreds of students and parents who had their learning journey with us and who were part of our school community. All stakeholders have always praised the work being done by the Counsellors and shared a common feeling that without the service in place, families in need would have been left without support. The Project itself has proved to be a success story since change has been tangible and evidence based through the students’ testimonials and overall improvement in the well-being of the families being supported.

Ms Corinne Cilia – Head of School Naxxar Middle School

Your input and contribution as a counsellor within our school has been invaluable for the well-being of our students and staff members. Through working with our school, you have supported us in many cases that required your professional expertise. Together with our guidance teachers and SLT members, you have managed to guide and support us in several challenging issues, during Covid pandemic and now, online or face-to-face, during the scholastic year and in summer.
I look forward to continue working with you for the benefit of our school community.

Ms Josette Dalmas - Head of School Qawra Primary

I am the Head of School of a very large multicultural school. The school population is of 823 students so one can understand the challenges in managing such a school. Along with my team of Assistant Heads, I am also assisted by Ms Rita Galea and Ms Carmen Galea. They are Guidance Counsellors of the Blossom Project. We have been working together for quite a number of years and I can clearly state that their presence and work at school is not only an asset but fundamental in giving our students their entitlement. Their sterling work ethic and their dedication is commendable and essential for the well-functioning of the school. Their contribution at our school has made it possible in giving our students a holistic experience where many different nationalities blend into one community.

Mr Micallef - Head of School Birzebbuga Primary School

The counselling and psychotherapeutic support has been a necessary and important addition to the services provided to the school, in support of all the pupils’ well-being on many levels. Some pupils face several problems on a daily basis, within their time at school as well as at home and any indication of such, needs to be dealt with immediately and thoroughly for the pupil and their family’s wellbeing and in support of the school in such a difficult and volatile situation. The Blossom psychotherapist based at our school has been able to provide this much needed support in a timely and professional manner. Teachers sometimes notice a sudden change in behaviour of students and with the support of the school psychotherapist and the school management system as we do our utmost to address issues on a holistic level. Continuation of counselling sessions throughout the summer months was also a very important aspect of the Blossom Project and the psychotherapeutic service that they offer our pupils at school. Some children were seen through the Skola Sajf system, as well as pupils that continued their counselling sessions after the scholastic year 2021/2022 was over.