Michael Elwan, AASW - Therapist in Australia

Family of origin issues
Attachment work
ACT and CBT

About Michael

Michael Elwan is an Accredited Social Worker and therapist with 15 years' experience in Australia. He works with adults and couples who feel worn down, stuck, or quietly overwhelmed by life rather than broken by it. He supports people facing anxiety, grief, relationship strain, identity questions, burnout and long years of responsibility.

Many clients are not in obvious crisis. They keep functioning while carrying stress, low mood, or confusing patterns from their family of origin. Michael focuses on helping people notice those patterns and how they shape current relationships and choices.

His clinical work draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Attachment-Based Therapy, Client-Centred Therapy, Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT). Sessions aim to build clarity, emotional steadiness and more grounded ways of relating to self and others. Practical skills and reflective conversation appear alongside attention to life story and relationships.

Michael describes his practice as trauma-informed and culturally responsive. He brings both professional training and lived experience to his work, including time as a young carer and personal experience of bereavement. That background informs how he listens and plans next steps with clients.

He is a full member of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) and a member of the Australian Association for Cognitive and Behaviour Therapy. He is also completing a PhD in mental health. Outside work he is a husband and father of two, and he keeps a practical focus on everyday relationship demands.

How his approaches translate to online work

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice unhelpful thoughts and commit to values-based actions. It is useful for anxiety, low mood and helping people act on what matters despite difficult feelings. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early relationship patterns influence current connections and emotional responses. It helps when family of origin issues or attachment worries affect present relationships. Client-Centred Therapy focuses on listening and supporting a person's own process, offering space to make sense of feelings and choices.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Michael will discuss different options and decide with the client which methods match their needs, goals and preferences. That collaborative way of working means techniques can be adjusted as therapy progresses.

The practical benefits of online sessions include easier fitting of appointments into busy schedules and the option to use shorter check-ins when time is limited. Session formats are not specified here, so confirm current options before booking. The therapist will outline how sessions run and what to expect when arranging the first appointment, helping clients balance therapy with everyday commitments.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, AnxietyRelationship issuesTrauma and abuse Grief Self esteem

Also works with

Addictions LGBTFamily conflictsIntimacy-related issuesEating disordersSleeping disordersParenting issuesAnger managementCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderDepression Coping with life changesCoachingCompassion fatigue ADHD

Additional focus areas

Abandonment Attachment issuesAutism and Asperger SyndromeAvoidant personalityCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCo-morbidityCodependency Communication problems Control issuesDependent personalityDivorce and separationDomestic violenceEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issues Forgiveness Guilt and shameImmigration issuesImpulsivityInfidelity Isolation / loneliness Jealousy Life purpose Men's issues Midlife crisisVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMoney and financial issues Mood disorders Multicultural concernsObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksPhobiasPost-traumatic stressPrejudice and discriminationProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)Self-harmSelf-loveSex addictionSexual assault and abuseSmoking / vaping cessationSocial anxiety and phobia Workplace issues Young adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)Attachment-Based TherapyClient-Centered TherapyCognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)Existential TherapyMindfulness TherapyMotivational InterviewingNarrative TherapySolution-Focused TherapySomatic TherapyTrauma-Focused TherapyInternal Family SystemsSystemic Therapy

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, depression and related issues such as self-esteem, addictions and parenting stress.

What is his therapeutic style?

He uses a calm, trauma-informed and culturally responsive style. Sessions combine practical skills with exploration of personal and relationship patterns.

How much experience does he have?

He has 15 years' experience working in social work and therapy settings across Australia.

What credentials and location are listed?

He is an Accredited Social Worker and full member of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW), based in Australia.

Which languages are supported?

Sessions are offered in English and Arabic.

Can international clients work with him?

International clients are not currently accepted.

How are sessions billed?

Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.

How do I begin working with him?

Click the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session to get started.

Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the emergency numbers. Looking for someone else? Find them by surname.