- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioural Therapy
- Attachment work
About Michael
Michael Elwan is an Accredited Social Worker and counsellor with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) and 15 years of clinical experience. He works with adults and couples who feel worn down, stuck, or quietly overwhelmed by life. He supports people carrying anxiety, grief, relationship strain, identity questions, burnout and long years of responsibility.
Michael often meets people who are holding things together on the surface while struggling underneath. He offers a calm, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive way of working. Sessions focus on understanding patterns, building emotional steadiness, and improving how people relate to themselves and others.
He draws on acceptance-based and emotionally focused ideas alongside cognitive and behavioural techniques. That means clients may explore thoughts and behaviours, notice reactions in relationships, and practise new ways of responding to stress and strong emotion. Work is practical and aimed at clearer thinking and steadier feeling.
Michael’s practice is shaped by both professional and lived experience. He was a young carer and has lived experience of bereavement. Those experiences inform how he listens and sits with people in therapy without judgement.
He is a member of the Australian Association for Cognitive and Behaviour Therapy and is completing a PhD in mental health. Michael also balances family life as a husband and father of two, which influences his understanding of relationship and caregiving pressures.
If someone wants thoughtful, unrushed sessions that focus on dignity and real-life change, Michael invites them to consider a first meeting to see if it fits.
How Michael uses therapy approaches online
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice unhelpful patterns and make values-based choices. It is useful for anxiety, low mood and feeling stuck. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early relationship patterns affect current bonds and helps people change how they relate to partners and loved ones. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) focuses on the links between thoughts, feelings and behaviours and gives practical strategies for managing anxiety, depression and stress.Finding the right approach is part of the work. Michael will talk with each client about goals, preferences and what feels helpful. Together they decide which methods to try and adjust the plan as progress is made.
Session formats are not specified in the biography, so confirm current options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into study, work or parenting schedules and reduce travel time. They also let people choose quieter times, shorter check-ins, or video-free meetings if that suits concentration or energy levels. These practical choices aim to help therapy fit everyday life rather than disrupt it.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
15+ years
Listed in
Australia
Languages
English, Arabic
Frequently asked questions
What kinds of concerns does he help with?
He works with stress, anxiety, relationship strain, grief, self-esteem, addiction concerns, bipolar and depression, and related issues such as ADHD and burnout.
What is his style in therapy?
Sessions are calm, trauma-informed and culturally aware. He blends acceptance-based, emotionally focused and cognitive-behavioural approaches.
How much experience does he have?
He has 15 years of clinical experience working with adults and couples in Australia.
What are his credentials and where is he based?
He is an Accredited Social Worker with the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) and practises in Australia.
Which languages are supported in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English and Arabic.
Can I do sessions remotely or from overseas?
International clients are not currently accepted. Please confirm current session options before booking.
How are sessions paid for?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I start a first session?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule your first session.
Online talk therapy through BetterHelp is for adults aged 18 and over and is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the emergency numbers. Find someone else by name.