Our Services
Meet Us
Solace is a private service offering psychological interventions. It aims to offer a safe space so that our clients are brave enough to share their stories, find meaning and thrive.
Our vision is for our clients to find in us a secure base from which to grow and build on their strengths.
We provide an ethical and professional service where the individuals’ needs are placed at the forefront. Our aim is to devise treatment plans which are evidence-based while maintaining a humanistic approach. Solace aims to increase awareness and continue to promote mental health and wellbeing, fighting the stigma of mental health.
We are a team of wellbeing professionals, working together with individuals, couples, families, and groups.
Dr. Valentina Gimeno
Founder & Director
Valentina is the founder and director of Solace; A Safe Space. She completed a Bachelors in Psychology at the University of Malta in 2009, worked in local sectors including Caritas and Appogg and then read a taught Doctorate in Counselling Psychology in the UK. She worked within substance abuse agencies, university counselling services, primary schools play therapy services and the NHS in the acute mental health services and completed a Doctoral research in Computerised cognitive behaviour therapy. Returning to Malta in 2013, she started working in the public sector as well as in the private sector.
Valentina has a lot of experience in delivering parenting courses, supporting separated parents and families, and worked with children, adolescents and adults with backgrounds of trauma, abuse, addiction, gender identity issues and mental health difficulties. Apart from working directly with clients, Valentina offers support to professionals in the field of mental health and wellbeing through clinical supervision, support groups and training and has experience in delivering psychological support to corporate clients. She practices psychotherapy from an integrative approach using theoretical paradigms such as psychodynamic approaches, cognitive behavioural therapy and humanistic approaches.
In her free time, Valentina enjoys travelling, walks in the countryside, watching documentaries and socializing with friends.
Languages: English; Maltese; French; Italian.
Areas of interest: Parenting; Family separation; Trauma; Abuse; Addiction; Gender identity issues; Mental health difficulties; Personality disorders; Personal development; Clinical supervision; Psychological support to corporate clients.
Joseph Antoncich
Clinical Lead
Joseph is a Cinical Lead at Solace; A Safe Space. He has a master’s degree in Family Therapy and Systemic Practice as well as a bachelor’s degree in Social Work and Social Policy and a master’s degree in Social Work (Children and Families) from the University of Malta. He began his career in the social field in 2007, where he spent 10 years working in the Child Protection sector and 5 years in the Community sector in various leading roles with Malta’s primary government social entity. He also has experience offering therapy in schools and managing services offered to children and their families experiencing grief, loss and illness. He has been practising as a Systemic Family Therapist since 2020 and works with children, adolescents, families, parents, and couples.
Joseph is passionate about helping people through any of the challenges and hardships they face throughout any part of their life cycle by supporting them to turn their struggles into strengths. He cherishes working with families and couples presenting with relationship difficulties and believes that the pooled resources of the family support better engagement and dedication toward solving everyday and challenging obstacles.
Joseph has a special interest in working with children, young persons and adults who have suffered child abuse, as well as parents, particularly helping fathers to become involved and caring role models for their children. As a father, Joseph understands the hurdles men face to be the best versions of themselves for their loved ones and strives to offer guidance based on both therapeutic interventions and personal experiences.
In his private life, Joseph loves spending time and travelling with his family, cooking, and engaging in occasional gaming activities. Joseph’s passion for video games, pop culture and Japanese Anime has led him to explore the therapeutic impact these mediums can have on people and on building profound relationships in therapy.
Languages: English, Maltese & Italian.
Areas of interest: Abuse; Anger; Anxiety & Depression; Stress & Burnout; Couple relationships; Domestic violence; Family relationships; Grief & loss; Mental health; Mindfulness; Self-esteem & self-growth; Sex; Trauma; Work wellbeing
Marie Bajada
Clinical Lead
Marie is a Clinical Lead at Solace; A Safe Space. She is a warranted Forensic Psychologist, having acquired a Master’s degree in Forensic Psychology at the University of Lincoln, UK. Marie began her career as a treatment rehabilitation officer working in a rehabilitation programme for persons with drug related problems. Throughout the years, Marie worked in various settings offering support to victims of domestic abuse and conducting both group and one-to-one therapeutic interventions with persons undergoing a residential programme prior to completing their prison sentence. Throughout her work, Marie has conducted various psychological assessments, some of which aimed to assess personality, sexualised behaviour in minors, stress in parent-child system, risk of abuse and individual needs. She has worked with persons who experienced various types of abuse, including childhood trauma, in institutions and within the family. Marie has worked with individuals who experience deviant sexualised behaviour and other problematic behaviour, such as anger related issues, emotional and cognitive difficulties, addiction and behavioural difficulties. Marie is training in a time-limited therapeutic approach, known as Cognitive Analytic Therapy (CAT), a talking therapy that mainly focuses on relationship patterns, developed in our early life experiences. She has an interest in utilising Cognitive Behavioural approaches and trauma-focused practices.
Marie spends her free time reading novels, going to the beach and spending time with friends and family.
Languages: English & Maltese.
Areas of interest: Trauma; Stress; Anxiety; Addictions; Mental health difficulties; Personality assessment; Risk assessments; Court reports.
Monique Debrincat
Clinical Lead
Monique is a Clinical Lead at Solace; A Safe Space. She graduated with a Bachelor pf Psychology (Hons) in 2014 and then went on to read a Masters in Psychology at the University of Malta. She has been practicing for the last 4 years and is particularly interested in supporting people who are struggling with trauma.
Monique’s career path has led her through many different areas of psychology; from therapy with children and adolescents, individual adult psychotherapy and personality assessment to psychoeducation sessions with parents and groups.
Monique has experience working therapeutically with children and adolescents. In her clinical practice she supports young persons who are enduring parental separation, behavioural, emotional and cognitive difficulties, abuse, trauma, grief and loss, self-esteem issues, as well as mental health issues including anxiety and depression. Throughout her therapeutic work with minors, she mainly makes use of psychological interventions and play techniques.
Monique also supports adults struggling with mental health issues, mood disorders, gender issues, trauma and addiction. Monique is also qualified to carry out psychological assessments such as personality assessments, with the aim of gauging the client’s strengths, and areas of growth. Monique practices therapy from an integrative approach drawing from different theoretical paradigms and uses a range of evidence-based treatments. Monique’s personal aim is to support people in reaching their full potential and create a life where they feel comfortable in their own skin.
As a person, Monique is interested in diverse topics and is involved in many different activities. She loves travelling and has a drive for adventure. She enjoys a challenge and being active. Monique also enjoys swimming, reading and spending time with family and friends.
Languages: Maltese & English.
Areas of interest: Children, Adolescents and adults; Trauma; Grief & loss; Addiction; Identity issues; Mental health difficulties; Psychological and personality assessments.
Dr. Kevin Sammut Henwood
Forensic Psychologist
Dr Kevin Sammut Henwood is a forensic psychologist with 17 years’ experience working with both incarcerated and community-based offenders. He specialises in the assessment and treatment of violence, sexual deviance and has worked extensively with populations who have serious addiction problems. Dr Sammut Henwood is also involved in staff training and policy development.
Dr Sammut Henwood has extensive experience working on different boards such as the Malta Psychology Professions Board that regulates the profession of psychology in Malta, the Parole Board and the Sex Offender Treatment Board. He is also a registered court expert on offender management, assessment and interventions and capacity to stand trial.
He completed a Masters in Forensic Psychology from the University of Surrey and obtained a Doctoral Degree in Forensic Psychology from the University of Nottingham. He has published scientific and peer reviewed studies with renowned journals in the areas of violence and aggression. He holds professional warrants to practice as a psychologist in Malta (Malta Psychology Professions Board) and the UK as he is chartered from the British Psychological Society and holds a registration with the Health Care Professions Council.
In his spare time, he enjoys going to the gym and engaging in outdoor activities and travelling. He is especially enthusiastic about history.
Languages: English, Maltese & Italian.
Areas of interest: Anger management; Addictions; Sexual dysfunctions and sexual deviance; Violent behaviour; Personality disorders; Anxiety and depression.
Rianne Psaila
Forensic Psychology Practitioner
Rianne has an extensive work experience with offenders dealing with issues such as anger management, addiction, sexual disorders, personality disorders, anxiety and depression as well as issues of adjustment. She specialises in interventions utilising a cognitive behavioural approach and has experience carrying out personality assessments, clinical and forensic formulations and other specialised psychometric tools to assess risk and needs that clients might have. As a forensic psychology practitioner, she can bridge the aspects of psychology and legal issues. In fact, apart from completing a Masters in Forensic Psychology with the University of Coventry she also read for and completed a Masters in Criminology with the University of Malta.
In her free time, she enjoys travelling and immersing in different cultural experiences. She also enjoys outdoor activities and long walks in the countryside.
Languages: English & Maltese.
Areas of interest: Forensic assessments; Personality testing; Anger management; Emotional regulation; Violence reduction; Substance abuse; Anxiety & depression; Personality disorders; Deviant sexual fantasies; Obsessive compulsive disorders; Self-esteem issues.