Johanna Rizzo, a counsellor with the Directorate for Alternative Care at FSWS, leads support groups for foster carers, a role she describes as both rewarding and challenging.
Held around three times a year, these sessions provide a safe environment where carers can openly share their experiences, struggles, and ways of coping.
Rizzo’s approach centres on trust and non-judgement. “It’s a privilege to hold space for people who invest daily in vulnerable children’s wellbeing,” she says.
“These groups remind carers they are not alone.” Emotional honesty often characterises the sessions, and Rizzo carefully guides discussions through intense moments, mindful of each carer’s background and emotional state.
A unique aspect of the sessions is the involvement of a co-facilitator, usually a foster carer, who offers insight from lived experience. A trainee therapist has also recently joined the groups, gaining valuable exposure to support work in practice.
Still, Rizzo acknowledges the emotional toll. “There are times I feel limited in how much support I can give,” she says, going on to highlight the importance of further collaboration among professionals.
What stays with her most is the foster carers’ quiet dedication. “Their commitment to nurturing children who’ve experienced trauma is a reminder of why this work matters.”
#Maltadaily
