RMHC Malta

2D7A4979

Building Bridges: Improving Connections within the Family:

A series of Five talks

Delivered by:

Michelle Farrugia

Family Systemic Psychotherapist

Warrant number: PPBM 361

This five-talk programme is designed for parents and caregivers of school-aged and adolescent children displaying challenging behaviour, primarily related to ADHD and Autism. All families will benefit from this course as it is systemic and family-centred. These talks will address the needs of families including children and adolescents with ADHD and Autism, where the parents feel they have lost their presence and voice in their child’s life. The aim is to deepen parents’ understanding of their relationship with their children and improve their relationship with all their children, including siblings and extended family members. An important emphasis is placed on the de-escalation, active resistance, and rebuilding of relationships, which brings about profound changes in how families function and improve the well-being of both parents and children.

As per McGoldrick and Carter’s Life Cycle stages theory (1982), parents face various challenges during the school-aged and adolescent phases of their children’s lives. It requires them to adapt to their children’s changing needs. During these stages, boundaries must become more flexible to allow adolescents to explore their environment independently while still being able to rely on their parents if needed. In short, parents must learn to recognise ways of supporting and guiding their children without feeling the need to control every aspect of their children’s lives.

The programme is designed to help parents identify dysfunctional patterns of communication and interactions within their family and replace them with healthy ones. Practical strategies and interventions will be discussed throughout the course, and small group workshops will also be included in the sessions. The programme also includes five talks that will teach parents how to interact with other systems in their family contexts, such as schools and extracurricular groups, and further develop effective communication skills.

Venue: RMHC, Malta Learning Centre, Wileg Street, Qawra.

Mode of Delivery: In Person.

Scheduled Dates:
3rd May
14th June
5th July
13th September
4th October

Time: 6.00pm – 8.00pm

About the Therapist

Biography of Michelle Farrugia -  Family Systemic Psychotherapist

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Warrant Number: PPBM 361

Ms. Farrugia is a Warranted Family Systemic Psychotherapist with a rich
background in Psychology and Education. Graduating with a Bachelor's degree
in Psychology (Honors) in 1999 from the University of Malta, she furthered her
studies with a Post Graduate Diploma in Probation Services. Michelle has also
completed her Masters in Systemic Family Psychotherapy from the Institute of
Family Therapy in Malta.
Michelle works with a diverse clientele, including couples, families, individuals,
children, and adolescents. In her approach, she focuses on helping her clients
identify and address dysfunctional patterns within their familial and
interpersonal dynamics by empowering her clients to initiate and maintain
positive changes to cultivate healthier relationships.
Special interest: With over 20 years of professional experience, both in
educational settings and as a Career Advisor in Secondary Schools, Michelle
specializes in working with children, adolescents, and adults diagnosed with
ADHD and Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). Her comprehensive understanding,
training, and experience in the field enable her to offer tailored interventions
promoting self-awareness, personal growth, and resilience within families,
couples, and individuals of all ages to improve their holistic well-being and
relationships. Her studies in the field of Probation Services also complement her
studies in Family Therapy to be able to further understand the dynamics held by
vulnerable families like Prison Inmates and their loved ones.

Session Topics:
1. Navigating our relationships within the family.
3rd May
2. Rebuilding stronger relationships between Parents and Adolescents with challenging behaviour.
14th June
3. Positive Discipline: How it can transform family dynamics
5th July
4. Conflict Management between parents and their children with ADHD/Autism: De-escalation strategies
13th September
5. Collaboration vs Confrontation: The Parent-School Relationship - Working together for the good of all those involved in the System.
4th October

During these talks, parents will gain insight into several key areas:

  • Identifying dysfunctional communication and interaction patterns with their children and understanding how these patterns contribute to their difficulties.
  • Demonstrating daily gestures of unconditional love to their children, even during challenging behaviour episodes.
  • Recognising and appropriately responding to challenging behaviours, including when to ignore, compromise, or resist.
  • Effectively communicating desired changes within the family unit to their children.
  • Managing disagreements with their children and handling anger and frustration.
  • Recognizing how their family dynamics influence their relationship with their adolescent and other family members.
  • Learning to regulate emotions during challenging family situations.
  • Communicating their needs to each other as parents, to their children, extended family, teachers, and other stakeholders.
  • Identifying their support network and engaging in self-care strategies.

    The programme emphasizes practical learning through group discussions, watching parenting videos, and role-playing communication skills.

Total number of participants per session:

Each course accommodates a maximum of 30 adults or 15 couples to ensure personalised attention by the speaker, encourage participant interaction, and allow ample time for discussion and reflection.

Childminding Services

Childminding services will be provided by RMHC for participants’ convenience.