Doctor of Counselling Psychology
PsychD, awarded May 2017.
Clinical practice & psychotherapy research
Understanding people.
Advancing practice.
Dr Gina Di Malta is a Chartered Counselling Psychologist and Senior Lecturer in Psychotherapy and Counselling at The Open University. Her award-winning research explores the therapeutic relationship, client preferences and how people experience change in therapy.
HCPC registration PYL34509British Psychological Society · CharteredThe Open University · Senior Lecturer
About Gina
Clinical experience
and academic work.
Gina brings together over 15 years of clinical experience and research into what makes psychological therapy helpful. She has worked with adults across NHS primary and secondary care, university counselling, charitable services and private practice.
A central focus of her scholarship is relational depth—moments of profound connection between therapist and client. Her research also examines clients’ preferences and goals, keeping their experience at the centre of questions about how therapy works.
Alongside her role at The Open University, Gina has taught and supervised doctoral trainees at the University of Roehampton and the Existential Academy. As former Editor-in-Chief of Counselling and Psychotherapy Research, she led a period of sustained journal growth and wider international reach with the editorial team.
View Open University profileRecognition
Research with
clinical relevance.
CPCAB Counselling Research Award · 2026
Recognised alongside Professor Mick Cooper for research examining relational depth and psychotherapy outcomes.
Read the award announcementSPR UK Chapter Early Career Award · 2023
Awarded by the Society for Psychotherapy Research UK Chapter for work on mutual experiences of relational depth.
View SPR award recipientsEducation
A foundation across psychology.
MA Clinical / Counselling Psychology
Valedictorian.
MSc Cognitive Neuroscience
Institute of Cognitive Neuroscience.
BA in Human Development
Graduated with distinction.
Professional background
A career across practice,
research and education.
The Open University
Senior Lecturer in Psychotherapy and Counselling. Teaching and course development have included module leadership and work on assessment and the therapeutic relationship.
Roehampton & the Existential Academy
Earlier roles as Postdoctoral Research Associate and Associate Lecturer, with psychotherapy research through CREST, teaching and doctoral supervision.
Clinical practice
Experience across NHS primary and secondary care, IAPT, university counselling and charitable services, alongside private psychological therapy.
Professional standing
Registration & service.
HCPC-registered counselling psychologist (PYL34509); Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society.
Associate Fellow of the Higher Education Academy since 2017. Former member of the BPS Division of Counselling Psychology Steering Committee (2021–2023).