- Calm trauma-informed care
- Practical pattern work
- Experience with grief
About Michael
Michael Elwan is an Accredited Social Worker (AASW) with 15 years of experience supporting adults and couples who feel worn down or quietly overwhelmed. He works in Australia and speaks English and Arabic. People come to him with anxiety, grief, relationship strain, burnout and identity questions rather than because they feel broken.
He meets people in a calm, trauma-informed way and focuses on understanding patterns rather than only managing symptoms. Sessions aim to create more emotional steadiness and clearer ways of relating to self and others. Michael draws on acceptance-based, mindfulness, narrative and emotionally focused ideas in his work.
Michael’s background includes lived experience as a young carer and coping with bereavement after suicide. Those experiences shape how he sits with people and how he notices what becomes invisible in everyday life. He wants therapy to feel thoughtful, steady and respectful.
Alongside direct practice he holds professional membership with the Australian Association of Social Workers and the Australian Association for Cognitive and Behaviour Therapy. He is also completing a PhD in mental health. He shares these details to show the care is grounded in both practice and professional standards.
Common concerns he helps with include stress, anxiety, depression, addiction, relationship and intimacy issues, ADHD, grief, and coping with life changes. He also supports people dealing with attachment wounds, family of origin issues, chronic illness, and carer stress.
Michael describes his work as steady, non-judgemental and practical. He aims to help people slow down, build clarity and find more grounded ways of handling their lives and relationships.
How therapeutic approaches guide online work
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice unhelpful thoughts and commit to actions that match their values; it is often useful for anxiety, stress and life transitions. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early relationship patterns shape current connections and can help with intimacy, abandonment and family of origin issues. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thinking and behaviour patterns and can be effective for anxiety, depression and coping strategies.Finding the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with clients about goals, preferences and what feels useful. Together they decide which approaches to draw on and how to adapt them to the person’s life and needs.
If you are considering online sessions, please confirm the current session options before booking as formats are not listed here. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy schedule, reduce travel time and allow shorter check-ins when needed. It can also help people access consistent support while juggling work, family or caring responsibilities. Therapists and appropriately qualified professionals will discuss practical arrangements like session length, frequency and whether video or audio suits the person best.
Areas of focus
Frequently asked questions
What issues does Michael commonly help with?
He works with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, relationship and intimacy concerns, addiction and coping with life changes among other issues.
What is his therapeutic style like?
His style is calm and trauma-informed, focusing on understanding life patterns and building emotional steadiness rather than only reducing symptoms.
How long has he been practising?
He has 15 years of professional experience working in social work and therapy settings.
What credentials and location are listed?
He is an Accredited Social Worker (AASW) based in Australia and is a member of the Australian Association for Cognitive and Behaviour Therapy.
Which languages are offered for sessions?
Sessions are offered in English and Arabic.
Can people outside Australia work with him?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are sessions paid for and what do they cost?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin therapy?
Use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule according to the therapist's availability.