Michael Elwan, AASW
15 years in practice
Michael Elwan is an Accredited Social Worker (AASW) and therapist based in Australia with 15 years of clinical experience.
License and registration
- AASW
- 681846 · expires June 2026
- Years in practice
- 15
- Languages
- English, Arabic
Details are as listed on the therapist's public professional profile. You can check the registration with the body that granted it.
About Michael
Michael Elwan is an Accredited Social Worker (AASW) and therapist based in Australia with 15 years of clinical experience. He works with adults and couples who feel worn down, stuck, or quietly overwhelmed by life. Michael offers a calm, steady presence where people can slow down and be heard without judgement.
Many people who come to Michael are not in obvious crisis. They manage day-to-day life while carrying anxiety, grief, relationship strain, identity questions or burnout underneath.
Background and approach
Sessions focus on making sense of the patterns that keep causing pain and on finding clearer ways to relate to self and others. Michael uses a mix of approaches including systemic ideas, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, attachment-based approaches, client-centred work and cognitive behavioural techniques.
He aims to help clients build emotional steadiness, clearer boundaries and practical coping skills rather than only reducing symptoms. His practice is shaped by both professional training and lived experience. Michael grew up as a young carer and has lived through profound grief, experiences that inform how he sits with distress and listens for what matters to each person.
He is a member of the Australian Association of Social Workers and the Australian Association for Cognitive and Behaviour Therapy, and he is completing a PhD in mental health. Outside work he is a husband and father of two, which he says keeps him grounded in everyday relational realities.
Focus areas and approaches
Everything Michael lists on their public professional profile, in their own terms.
- Stress, Anxiety
- Relationship issues
- Trauma and abuse
- Grief
- Self esteem
- Addictions
- LGBT
- Family conflicts
- Intimacy-related issues
- Eating disorders
- Sleeping disorders
- Parenting issues
- Anger management
- Career difficulties
- Bipolar disorder
- Depression
- Coping with life changes
- Coaching
- Compassion fatigue
- ADHD
- Abandonment
- Attachment issues
- Autism and Asperger Syndrome
- Avoidant personality
- Caregiver issues and stress
- Chronic pain, illness, and disability
- Co-morbidity
- Codependency
- Communication problems
- Control issues
- Dependent personality
- Divorce and separation
- Domestic violence
- Emptiness
- Family of origin issues
- Family problems
- Fatherhood issues
- Forgiveness
- Guilt and shame
- Immigration issues
- Impulsivity
- Infidelity
- Isolation / loneliness
- Jealousy
- Life purpose
- Men's issues
- Midlife crisis
- Veteran and Armed Forces Issues
- Money and financial issues
- Mood disorders
- Multicultural concerns
- Obsessions, compulsions, and OCD
- Panic disorder and panic attacks
- Phobias
- Post-traumatic stress
- Prejudice and discrimination
- Process addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)
- Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD)
- Self-harm
- Self-love
- Sex addiction
- Sexual assault and abuse
- Smoking / vaping cessation
- Social anxiety and phobia
- Workplace issues
- Young adult issues
Approaches Michael names
- Systemic Therapy
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
- Attachment-Based Therapy
- Client-Centered Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT)
- Existential Therapy
- Mindfulness Therapy
- Motivational Interviewing
- Narrative Therapy
- Solution-Focused Therapy
- Somatic Therapy
- Trauma-Focused Therapy
- Internal Family Systems
Naming an approach is not evidence of training in it. This directory copies what each therapist lists and does not check training records.
Online support
Therapeutic approaches you can use online
Systemic-informed work looks at patterns between people and how those interactions keep problems going. It helps when relationship patterns, communication cycles or role expectations feel stuck and repetitive. Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on practical actions aligned with values while learning to live with difficult thoughts or feelings; it is useful for anxiety, stress and motivation issues. Attachment-Based Therapy pays attention to how early relationships shape current ways of connecting and responding; it helps with intimacy-related worries, abandonment or attachment difficulties.Finding the right approach is part of the process. The therapist will work with clients to choose or blend methods that fit their needs, goals and preferences. That decision is collaborative and can change as the work progresses.
Online therapy offers flexible ways to meet by video, phone, live chat or text-based messaging. Video calls let people use visual and verbal cues, while phone sessions need less bandwidth and can fit a short break at work. Live chat and messaging are helpful for quick check-ins or when writing makes reflection easier. These options make therapy more accessible and easier to fit into a busy life while preserving the same therapeutic aims.
We will earn a commission if you sign up through our link, at no cost to you. It does not change what you pay or the order of the listings.
Questions people ask
What issues does he help with?
Michael helps people with stress, anxiety, depression, relationship strain, grief, trauma and abuse, self-esteem, addictions, eating and sleeping problems, parenting concerns, career strain, bipolar mood issues, and coping with life changes.
How would you describe his therapeutic style?
He works in a calm, trauma-informed and culturally responsive way. Sessions are collaborative and focus on understanding patterns, building emotional steadiness and practical skills.
What is his background and experience?
He has 15 years of clinical experience and brings lived experience as a former young carer and someone who has experienced significant bereavement.
What credentials and location are listed?
He is an Accredited Social Worker with the AASW and a member of the Australian Association for Cognitive and Behaviour Therapy. He practises in Australia.
Which languages are supported?
Sessions are offered in English and Arabic.
What session formats are available?
Michael works via video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging to suit different needs and routines.
How are fees and payment handled?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability; sessions use a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I start therapy with him?
Begin by selecting the Start Therapy button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.
Is this your profile?
Ask us to correct details or take the page down.
Contact us