- 15 years experience
- AASW member
- Sleep and rest focus
About Michael
Michael Elwan is an Accredited Social Worker (AASW) with 15 years of practice in Australia. He supports adults who feel worn down, stuck, or quietly overwhelmed by life. He describes therapy as a place to slow down and be met without judgement.
Many people who come to him are not in obvious crisis. They keep functioning while carrying anxiety, grief, relationship strain, identity questions, burnout or long years of responsibility. Michael aims to help people notice the patterns they live inside rather than only manage symptoms.
His style is calm and trauma-informed, and he pays attention to cultural differences. Sessions often focus on building clarity, steadiness of feeling and more grounded ways of relating to self and others. He uses a mix of approaches, including acceptance-based work and emotionally focused ideas.
Michael draws on both professional and personal experience. He was a young carer for his father and has lived through grief after losing loved ones to suicide. Those experiences shape how he sits with people and how he understands long-term strain and loss.
He holds membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) and is a member of the Australian Association for Cognitive and Behaviour Therapy (AA-CBT). He is also completing a PhD in mental health and has received national recognition for his work. Outside therapy he lives with his partner and two children, which informs his practical approach to relationships and daily life.
Therapeutic approaches and how they translate online
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice painful thoughts and feelings without being driven by them. It emphasises values-based action, so people learn small, practical steps to live in line with what matters to them. Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) focuses on the links between thoughts, feelings and actions, offering concrete strategies for managing anxiety, low mood and unhelpful habits. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at how early relationships shape current ways of connecting and helps people move toward more secure ways of relating.Finding the right approach is part of the work itself. Michael will explore your goals, preferences and life context and together you will choose methods that fit. That collaborative process lets the focus shift over time if something is not helping or if new priorities emerge.
Session formats are not specified here, so please confirm available options before booking. Online work can make therapy easier to fit into daily life - it can reduce travel time, allow shorter check-ins between face-to-face sessions and make scheduling around work or caregiving simpler. It also means people can use quieter surroundings, lower bandwidth options or non-video check-ins when that suits them. Ask about the current session formats when you start the matching process so arrangements match your needs.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
15+ years
Credentials
Australia
Languages
English, Arabic
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does Michael commonly help with?
He supports people dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship strain, grief, addiction and issues around self-esteem, identity and coping with life changes.
What is his therapeutic style like?
Michael works in a calm, trauma-informed way that is culturally aware. Sessions aim to slow things down, build emotional steadiness and clarify recurring patterns.
How long has he been practising?
He has around 15 years of experience working in social work and therapeutic roles in Australia.
What credentials and region does he represent?
He is an Accredited Social Worker and a member of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW), practising in Australia.
Which languages are supported in sessions?
Sessions are offered in English and Arabic.
Can people outside Australia work with him?
He is not accepting international clients at this time.
How are session fees handled?
Cost varies by location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin a therapy relationship?
Use the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule a session according to the therapist's availability.