Michael Elwan, AASW
Accredited social worker for adults and couples
- Trauma informed support
- Acceptance based approaches
- Relationship focused care
About Michael Elwan
Michael Elwan is an award-winning Accredited Social Worker based in Australia who works with adults and couples navigating stress, anxiety, relationship strain, grief, identity questions, burnout, and other prolonged pressures. He approaches therapy with a calm, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive stance, offering a space for people who feel worn down or quietly overwhelmed rather than broken. Many of the people he supports are managing life on the surface while carrying anxiety, loss, or responsibility beneath, and he prioritises slowing the pace so those experiences can be noticed and addressed without judgement.
His practice draws on emotionally focused, narrative, mindfulness-based, and acceptance-based methods to help people understand the patterns that shape their lives rather than focusing solely on symptom management. Sessions emphasise building clarity, greater emotional steadiness, and more grounded ways of relating to oneself and others. Michael blends professional training with lived experience - having been a young carer and having endured the grief of losing loved ones to suicide - experiences that continue to inform the way he sits with people.
Michael is AASW accredited - an Accredited Social Worker and full member of the Australian Association of Social Workers - and is completing a PhD in mental health. His work has been recognised nationally, including awards such as the AASW Social Worker of the Year and the WA Mental Health Award for Lived Experience Impact and Inspiration. He is also a husband and father of two, which keeps his practice grounded in the everyday realities of relationships and care.
His practice draws on emotionally focused, narrative, mindfulness-based, and acceptance-based methods to help people understand the patterns that shape their lives rather than focusing solely on symptom management. Sessions emphasise building clarity, greater emotional steadiness, and more grounded ways of relating to oneself and others. Michael blends professional training with lived experience - having been a young carer and having endured the grief of losing loved ones to suicide - experiences that continue to inform the way he sits with people.
Michael is AASW accredited - an Accredited Social Worker and full member of the Australian Association of Social Workers - and is completing a PhD in mental health. His work has been recognised nationally, including awards such as the AASW Social Worker of the Year and the WA Mental Health Award for Lived Experience Impact and Inspiration. He is also a husband and father of two, which keeps his practice grounded in the everyday realities of relationships and care.
Areas of Expertise
Primary Focus
Also Specializes In
AddictionsLGBTFamily conflictsIntimacy-related issuesEating disordersSleeping disordersParenting issuesAnger managementCareer difficultiesBipolar disorderDepressionCoping with life changesCoachingCompassion fatigueADHD
Additional Focus Areas
AbandonmentAttachment issuesAutism and Asperger SyndromeAvoidant personalityCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCo-morbidityCodependencyCommunication problemsControl issuesDependent personalityDivorce and separationDomestic violenceEmptinessFamily of origin issuesFamily problemsFatherhood issuesForgivenessGuilt and shameImmigration issuesImpulsivityInfidelityIsolation / lonelinessJealousyLife purposeMen's issuesMidlife crisisVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMoney and financial issuesMood disordersMulticultural 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 phobiaWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues
Therapeutic Approach
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 Systemic Therapy
Frequently Asked Questions
How much experience does Michael Elwan have?
Michael Elwan has 15 years of experience.
Is Michael Elwan a licensed therapist?
Yes. He holds the AASW credential - Accredited Social Worker and full member of the Australian Association of Social Workers.
In which languages does Michael Elwan provide therapy?
He provides therapy in English and Arabic.
Where is Michael Elwan located?
Michael is located in Australia.
How can I work with Michael Elwan as my therapist?
You can work with Michael through video calls, phone sessions, live chat, or text-based messaging.
Does Michael Elwan work with international clients?
Michael Elwan does not currently work with international clients.
How much does therapy with Michael Elwan cost?
The cost of therapy can vary depending on factors such as your location and the therapist's availability. Sessions are billed through a subscription that can be canceled at any time, for any reason. For current details, click the "Start Therapy" button on this page.
How can I get started with therapy?
Getting started is quick and straightforward. Click the "Start Therapy" button and complete a short questionnaire that helps match you with your therapist. Depending on availability, you can then schedule your first session, which may take place by phone, video call, live chat, or in-app messaging.
Therapeutic Approaches and Flexible Online Sessions
Michael integrates Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Attachment-Based Therapy, and Client-Centered Therapy into his online practice. ACT focuses on accepting difficult thoughts and feelings while clarifying personal values and taking committed action - it can help with anxiety, stress, and motivation. Attachment-Based Therapy explores how early relational patterns influence current relationships and emotional responses, which is useful for addressing intimacy, abandonment, and relationship strain. Client-Centered Therapy emphasises empathetic listening and the client’s own resources, helping people find clarity and self-compassion when coping with grief, identity questions, or burnout.
Finding the right approach is part of the therapeutic process, and Michael works collaboratively with each person to identify which methods best match their needs, goals, and preferences. He adapts techniques as therapy progresses so the work remains relevant and practical.
Online therapy offers flexibility and accessibility - sessions can take place by video call, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging, making it easier to fit therapy into busy lives, maintain continuity through life changes, and access support from the comfort of home. Licensed professionals and therapists can use these formats effectively to build connection, develop coping skills, and support emotional growth.