Michael Elwan, AASW
Calm, narrative-informed therapy for overwhelmed adults
Details
| Name | Michael Elwan |
|---|---|
| Credentials | AASW |
| Based in | Australia |
| Registered with | AASW |
| Session format | Online |
| Languages | English, Arabic |
| Years in practice | 15 |
About Michael
Michael Elwan is an Accredited Social Worker (AASW) and therapist based in Australia with 15 years' experience. He works with adults and couples who feel worn down, stuck, or quietly overwhelmed rather than broken. Michael aims to create a calm space where people can slow down and be heard without judgement.
Many clients arrive carrying anxiety, grief, relationship strain, identity questions, burnout or long years of responsibility beneath a steady surface.
Background and approach
Michael works alongside them to name and understand those patterns, not only to relieve symptoms but to change how they relate to themselves and others. Sessions are steady and practical, focused on clarity and emotional steadiness. His approach draws on Narrative Therapy, Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), attachment-based ideas and cognitively informed techniques.
He describes his style as trauma-informed and culturally responsive, using mindfulness and emotionally focused ways of working when helpful. The aim is to build more grounded ways of being rather than quick fixes. Michael's practice is shaped by both professional and lived experience.
He was a young carer and has lived through grief after losing loved ones to suicide, experiences that guide how he sits with people in the room. He balances that lived perspective with ongoing study, including doctoral work in mental health. Outside the room he is a husband and father of two, which keeps him linked to everyday relationship pressures and responsibilities.
People who want thoughtful, unhurried therapy that honours dignity as well as change often find his way of working practical and steady.
What this therapist works with
His listing names Stress, Anxiety, Relationship issues, Trauma and abuse among the things Michael works with, alongside the areas below.
- 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 listed
- Narrative Therapy: Named in his listing among his approaches.
- Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT): Listed by Michael among the ways he works.
- Attachment-Based Therapy: Listed by Michael among the ways he works.
- Client-Centered Therapy: Listed by Michael among the ways he works.
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT): Listed by Michael among the ways he works.
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT): Listed by Michael among the ways he works.
- Emotionally-Focused Therapy (EFT): Listed by Michael among the ways he works.
- Existential Therapy: Listed by Michael among the ways he works.
- Mindfulness Therapy: Listed by Michael among the ways he works.
- Motivational Interviewing: Listed by Michael among the ways he works.
- Solution-Focused Therapy: Listed by Michael among the ways he works.
- Somatic Therapy: Listed by Michael among the ways he works.
- Trauma-Focused Therapy: Listed by Michael among the ways he works.
- Internal Family Systems: Listed by Michael among the ways he works.
- Systemic Therapy: Listed by Michael among the ways he works.
- Training stated: This directory copies the approaches a therapist names and does not check training records. Ask Michael directly how much of the work is narrative and what a session usually looks like.
Narrative Therapy in this listing
Narrative Therapy appears in this therapist's own list of approaches. That tells you it is part of how he works. It does not tell you how much of a session it shapes, and this directory does not check or rate training.
If a narrative approach is what you are looking for, it is worth asking Michael directly how he uses it and what a session usually looks like.
Online session options
How these approaches translate to online therapy
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice what matters to them and make small committed changes aligned with those values. It is useful for anxiety, depression and situations where people feel stuck. Narrative Therapy focuses on the stories people tell about their lives and helps separate the person from the problem so they can author different possibilities. It often helps with identity questions, relationship patterns and grief. Attachment-Based ideas look at how early relationship patterns show up now and help people develop safer, steadier ways of connecting with others.Choosing the best approach is part of the work and happens together. The therapist will listen to what you want to achieve and suggest ways of working that match your goals. That collaborative discussion can change over time as needs shift and new priorities emerge.
Online sessions are offered by video calls, phone, live chat and text-based messaging to make therapy more flexible. Video is useful for a full session with visual cues, phone works well when bandwidth is limited, chat or messaging can be used for shorter check-ins or when writing feels easier, and the variety helps fit therapy around work, family or other commitments. Appropriately qualified therapists can adapt these formats to support steady progress over time.
Common questions about this listing
What concerns does Michael commonly help with?
He supports adults with issues such as stress, anxiety, relationship strain, trauma and abuse, grief, self-esteem and addictions. Additional areas include parenting pressures, career concerns, ADHD, burnout and intimacy-related problems.
How would you describe his therapeutic style?
He uses a calm, trauma-informed and culturally responsive style that combines narrative, acceptance-based and cognitive approaches. Sessions aim to help people notice patterns and build steadier ways of relating to themselves and others.
How much experience does he bring?
Michael has 15 years' experience working in mental health and social work settings. He also brings lived experience as a carer and someone who has navigated profound personal loss.
What are his credentials and where is he based?
He is an Accredited Social Worker and a member of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW). His practice is based in Australia.
Which languages are sessions offered in?
Sessions are offered in English and Arabic.
What session formats are available?
Michael works online using video calls, phone sessions, live chat and text-based messaging. These formats let people choose what fits their day and communication preferences.
How does cost and billing work?
Cost varies with location and therapist availability. Sessions use a subscription model that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I begin if I want to work with him?
Start by selecting the Start Therapy button and completing a short matching questionnaire. You can then schedule sessions according to the therapist's availability.
Contacting this therapist
Sessions with Michael are arranged through our partner platform. It asks a few questions about what you are looking for, then shows you the therapists available to you, including Michael where he has space. Ask about fees, and whether he holds a licence or registration where you live.
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