A practical guide for people in Malta deciding where to start with mental health support: when to see a GP, the difference between a psychiatrist and a psychologist, the main types of therapy available, and how to choose. If you are in crisis or need immediate support, the helplines and services are here.
When to start with a GP
If something is starting to feel wrong but it is not an emergency, a GP appointment is often the best medical first step. Your GP can refer you to the public mental health service, a psychiatrist, or a community mental health team. Public mental health services are free at the point of access, although waiting times for non-urgent follow-up can be long 1.
Psychiatrist or psychologist in Malta?
It is useful to know the difference between a psychiatrist and a psychologist before deciding where to start.
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor specialising in mental health. A psychiatrist can assess symptoms, diagnose mental health conditions, consider physical or medical contributors, prescribe and review medication, and advise on the risks and benefits of treatment. A psychiatrist can be the more appropriate route when symptoms are severe, complex, rapidly worsening, linked to risk, or when medication or diagnostic clarification is needed.
A psychologist is a non-medical professional trained in psychological assessment and psychological therapy. A psychologist usually helps through psychotherapy, sometimes called talking therapy, to help you identify, understand and work through the factors affecting or triggering your mental health. This may include patterns in thoughts, emotions, behaviour, relationships, stress, coping, and self-understanding over weeks or months.
Psychological therapies available in Malta
Several recognised forms of psychological therapy are practised in Malta. The links below are not personal recommendations. They are practical starting points to help you understand the therapy type, find Malta-specific training bodies, or check regulated practitioners.
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Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) - a structured therapy that focuses on the link between thoughts, feelings and behaviour. It is often used for anxiety, depression, OCD and phobias. Malta-specific starting points include the Malta Chamber of Psychologists directory and the Psychotherapy Profession Board warrant register, which lists warranted psychotherapists and their modality, including CBT 2–3.
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Gestalt psychotherapy - focuses on present-moment awareness, relational contact and integrating parts of the self. Malta has the Gestalt Psychotherapy Training Institute Malta, which describes itself as a recognised and accredited higher education institution 4.
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Psychodynamic psychotherapy - explores how earlier experiences, relationships and unconscious patterns shape current difficulties. A Malta-specific starting point is the Malta Depth Psychological Association, which is connected with depth psychological and psychodynamic traditions 5.
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Systemic and family therapy - looks at the person in the context of family, couple and relational systems. The Institute of Family Therapy Malta states that it was established to deliver systemic training and therapeutic services 6.
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Counselling - talking therapy generally focused on specific life difficulties, transitions, decisions, relationships or emotional support. Counselling is regulated in Malta under the Counselling Profession Act 7.
The practical point is not to choose a therapy because it sounds impressive. It is to choose a warranted professional whose training, experience and style fit the problem in front of you.
How to choose a psychiatrist, psychologist, psychotherapist or counsellor in Malta
The right person depends on what you need.
A practical checklist is:
- Are they warranted or registered for the work they are offering?
- Do they have experience with your specific problem?
- Is the level of care appropriate for the severity of symptoms?
- If risk increases, can they refer or escalate appropriately?
- Do you feel understood enough after one or two sessions to continue?
For private care, fit, training, safety, and the ability to recognise when a different level of care is needed matter.
Which route may fit your situation?
Immediate risk, psychosis, mania, severe depression, sudden confusion, or risk to others: Mater Dei A&E, 112, 1579, or urgent psychiatric assessment. See mental health support services in Malta.
Addiction or substance-use problems: Sedqa, Caritas, OASI in Gozo, or a GP or psychiatrist depending on severity.
Domestic violence, sexual assault, crime-related trauma, or safeguarding concerns: Appoġġ, Victim Support services, 179, 116 006, or emergency services if there is immediate danger.
Child, adolescent, neurodevelopmental, eating-disorder, perinatal, or treatment-resistant symptoms: specialist psychiatric or psychological services are usually more appropriate than general support alone.
Chronic anxiety, burnout, sleep disturbance, gut symptoms, fatigue, body tension, and emotional dysregulation where crisis care is not needed: this is where integrative medicine may be considered alongside or after standard care.
If you have worked through the standard pathway and something still feels unresolved
For some people, the standard pathway helps but does not fully resolve the pattern. If you have done some version of it, and a chronic mix of anxiety, low mood, stress or trauma-linked symptoms still feels held in the body, this is where my integrative work may fit.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a psychiatrist and a psychologist in Malta?
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor who can assess risk, diagnose mental health conditions, prescribe and review medication, and coordinate medical care. A psychologist is a non-medical professional trained in psychological assessment and therapy. Both can be important. The right choice depends on severity, risk, and whether medication or structured therapy is the priority.
Who should I see first for anxiety in Malta?
If there is immediate risk, psychosis, mania, severe depression, sudden confusion, or risk to others, use emergency services or urgent psychiatric assessment first. If symptoms are severe, worsening, or may need medication, a psychiatrist or GP referral may be appropriate. If the main need is regular talking therapy, a warranted psychologist or psychotherapist may be the better first step. If anxiety is chronic, body-held, and has not shifted with standard care alone, integrative mental health support may be considered alongside or after those routes.
Do I need a referral to see a psychiatrist in Malta?
Not always. Some people access private psychiatry directly. Public psychiatric routes may involve GP or hospital referral depending on the pathway. For acute risk, Mater Dei A&E or the national mental health helpline may be more appropriate than booking privately.
When should I call 112, 1579, or go to Mater Dei instead?
When there is an immediate threat to life, active suicidal intent, severe self-harm risk, psychosis, mania, severe confusion, or substance withdrawal that feels unsafe. This page is educational. It is not emergency care. For the full crisis directory, see mental health support services in Malta.
Can I see a psychologist and an integrative doctor at the same time?
Yes, when roles are clear and communication is safe. Therapy can help with patterns, coping, and meaning. Integrative medical work may address body-held regulation, sleep, fatigue, gut symptoms and wider physiological contributors. Many patients benefit when psychiatrist, therapist and physician each stay in their proper lane.
When is integrative mental health support appropriate?
When crisis care is not needed, but chronic anxiety, burnout, sleep disturbance, fatigue, gut symptoms, or body tension still feel unresolved after standard psychiatry or psychology alone. It is a deeper medical pathway, not a replacement for emergency or psychiatric care when those are needed.
Medical disclaimer: This page is for educational and informational purposes. It is not a substitute for individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or treatment. Do not alter or stop medication, or begin new treatment, based on this page alone. If there is an immediate threat to life, call 112 or go to Mater Dei A&E. If you are in mental health crisis or someone you know is at immediate risk, contact 1579, 9933 9966, 179, or go to Mater Dei A&E. For the full directory of crisis lines and support services in Malta, see mental health support services in Malta. Consult a qualified clinician who can evaluate your specific situation.
Compiled by Dr Shehan Wijesingha, MD, M.TCM, DipAP, BMedSci, CPT, who practises at Serenity Holistic Medical Clinic, Malta.