Angela Abela is a professor at the Department of Child and Family Studies, a clinical psychologist, a family therapist, and clinical supervisor. She holds a PhD from the Tavistock Clinic and the University of London and a Master’s degree in Clinical psychology from the Universite de La Sorbonne Paris V. She played a pioneering role in the setting up of a Centre for Family Studies at the University of Malta which later became the Department of Child and Family Studies.
Formerly teaching within the Department of Psychology, she was the first Director of Studies for the Master in Clinical, Counselling an Educational Psychology. She held the post of President of the Maltese Psychological Association, and played a leading role in the setting up of the psychology profession in Malta. She also spearheaded the setting up of the Maltese Association for Family Therapy and Systemic Practice (MAFT-SP) which is affiliated with the European Family Therapy Association and is currently serving as its President. She is a former chairperson of the National Family Commission. She is lead author of the Positive Parenting Strategy for Malta (2016-2024) and is currently Deputy chairperson of the Committee for Positive Parenting and Strengthening of the family which is responsible for its implementation.
She supervises professionals working in public social agencies in the area of children and families and serves as a consultant in the area of children and families for government and the Standing Committees on Social Affairs and Family Affairs in Parliament. On an international level, she has worked extensively as an expert for the Council of Europe in the area of children and families. She has published widely in the field of family studies and is a former associate editor of Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry published by Sage. She is also an International Advisory Editor of Contemporary Family Therapy: An International Journal, published by Springer Science. In 2022, she received the European Family Therapy Association award in recognition of her excellence in the field of research in family therapy and systemic practice.