I am a founding member of the Department of Counselling and collaborate with the Faculty of Education. My areas of interest/expertise include learning, Learning Disabilities, Personal and Social Development, Emotional Intelligence/Literacy and research in school counselling. I have published and continue to publish in peer-reviewed national and international journals and edited books. I have presented at numerous prominent national and international conferences and been invited to deliver keynote speeches. I review in a number of international journals, as well as am on the editorial board of two journals. My interest in the profession of counselling is due to the non-medical and empowerment model of the profession and my passion for the wellbeing of individuals for effective citizenship and healthy communities and nations. I currently coordinate the Faculty's undergraduate degree in Social Welling, the counselling research component of my department's masters' programme, and and the Faculty's research and Publications' Committee. I take my community engagement seriously and am elected on the Executive Councils of a number of local/European/International professional associations: Board Director and Treasurer of the European Dyslexia Association, Membership Chair of the International Association for Counselling (Treasurer 2010-2016); Council Member (Treasurer 2010- 2018) of the Malta Association for the Counselling Profession; secretary to the Malta Dyslexia Association (MDA); and treasurer to the International Society for Policy Research & Evaluation in School-Based Counselling (ISPRESC). I am also involved in the Maltese Personal and Social Development Association (MPSDA) and am the president of the School Council of my home-community primary school. I am also involved in training for dyslexia and helping skills with several colleges and universities in India. I believe that, inasmuch as literacy is essential to coping in today’s civilisation, technology has advanced so much that persons for whom literacy is challenging can use technology to access literacy. I further believe that self-esteem, self-confidence and human relations are crucial to successful education and Quality of Life. This is why I focus on PSD methodology and research in school counselling. ruth.falzon@um.edu.mt
