Michael Elwan , AASW

Michael Elwan is an award-winning Accredited Social Worker and therapist based in Australia who supports adults and couples feeling worn down, stuck, or quietly overwhelmed rather than broken. He often works with people who are holding things together on the surface while carrying anxiety, grief, relationship strain, identity questions, or burnout underneath, and he offers a space to slow down and be met without judgement.

His therapeutic style is calm, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive, drawing on emotionally focused, narrative, mindfulness-based, and acceptance-based methods. Michael prioritizes helping clients understand the repeated patterns that shape their lives rather than only managing symptoms, with sessions aimed at building clarity, emotional steadiness, and more grounded ways of relating to self and others.

Michael’s work is informed by both professional training and personal experience. He was a young carer for his father and has lived through the grief of losing loved ones to suicide, experiences that continue to shape how he sits with people in the room. Alongside practice, he brings formal qualifications and professional accountability - he is an Accredited Social Worker and full member of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW), which is the professional body for social workers in Australia, and a member of the Australian Association for Cognitive and Behaviour Therapy (AA-CBT), a professional association for practitioners of cognitive and behavioural approaches. He is also completing a PhD in mental health.

Michael’s work has been recognised nationally, and he balances his clinical role with life as a husband and father of two. He offers therapy that aims to feel thoughtful rather than rushed, honest without judgement, and grounded in both dignity and change, and he welcomes people who want that approach.

Therapeutic approaches for online support

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice difficult thoughts and feelings without getting stuck in them, and supports making choices that align with personal values. It is useful for anxiety, stress, and situations where someone wants to act differently despite uncomfortable internal experiences.

Attachment-Based Therapy focuses on how early relationships shape current patterns with partners, family, and self. It can help with abandonment concerns, attachment issues, intimacy-related struggles, and rebuilding trust in relationships.

Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes empathic listening and creating a nonjudgmental space where clients lead the pace of change. It supports self-exploration, self-esteem, and discovering personal resources for coping.

Deciding which approach fits best is a collaborative process. Michael will work with each person to identify goals, preferences, and practical needs, then tailor the therapeutic style so it feels useful and respectful of individual circumstances.

Online sessions offer flexibility and accessibility through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging. These options make it easier to fit therapy into busy lives, maintain continuity during transitions, and access licensed professionals from a convenient location.