Michael Elwan, AASW
Calm trauma-informed Accredited Social Worker
- Adults and couples
- Acceptance and attachment focus
- Online video phone messaging
About Michael Elwan
Michael Elwan is an Accredited Social Worker and therapist based in Australia who supports adults and couples navigating feelings of being worn down, stuck, or quietly overwhelmed by life. He meets people who are often not in an obvious crisis but who carry anxiety, grief, relationship strain, identity questions, or burnout beneath a composed surface, and he offers a space where they can slow down and be met without judgement.
Over time Michael helps clients see that what feels like being stuck is frequently a set of patterns shaped by stress, expectations, culture, and relational roles. He assists people to step back from those patterns, name them more clearly, and discover steadier ways of moving forward. His manner is calm, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive, drawing on emotionally focused, narrative, mindfulness-based, and acceptance-based approaches while paying close attention to the pressures shaping each person’s life.
Rather than rushing to fix problems, sessions emphasize building clarity, emotional steadiness, and more grounded ways of relating to oneself and others. Michael’s practice is informed by lived experience: years as a young carer for his father and the profound grief of losing loved ones to suicide shape how he sits with people in the room.
Alongside lived experience he brings formal training and professional accountability. He is an Accredited Social Worker and a full member of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) - a recognised professional body for social work in Australia - and a member of the Australian Association for Cognitive and Behaviour Therapy (AACBT). He is currently completing a PhD in mental health. His work has received national and Western Australian recognition, including AASW Social Worker of the Year (2025), WA Mental Health Award - Lived Experience Impact & Inspiration (2025), two Suicide Prevention Australia LiFE Awards (2026), and a Western Australian Multicultural Award (2026). Michael is also a husband and father of two, which keeps him grounded in the everyday realities of relationships and responsibility.
Over time Michael helps clients see that what feels like being stuck is frequently a set of patterns shaped by stress, expectations, culture, and relational roles. He assists people to step back from those patterns, name them more clearly, and discover steadier ways of moving forward. His manner is calm, trauma-informed, and culturally responsive, drawing on emotionally focused, narrative, mindfulness-based, and acceptance-based approaches while paying close attention to the pressures shaping each person’s life.
Rather than rushing to fix problems, sessions emphasize building clarity, emotional steadiness, and more grounded ways of relating to oneself and others. Michael’s practice is informed by lived experience: years as a young carer for his father and the profound grief of losing loved ones to suicide shape how he sits with people in the room.
Alongside lived experience he brings formal training and professional accountability. He is an Accredited Social Worker and a full member of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW) - a recognised professional body for social work in Australia - and a member of the Australian Association for Cognitive and Behaviour Therapy (AACBT). He is currently completing a PhD in mental health. His work has received national and Western Australian recognition, including AASW Social Worker of the Year (2025), WA Mental Health Award - Lived Experience Impact & Inspiration (2025), two Suicide Prevention Australia LiFE Awards (2026), and a Western Australian Multicultural Award (2026). Michael is also a husband and father of two, which keeps him grounded in the everyday realities of relationships and responsibility.
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 is an Accredited Social Worker and holds membership of the Australian Association of Social Workers (AASW).
In which languages does Michael Elwan provide therapy?
Michael 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 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 by phone, video call, live chat, or in-app messaging.
Therapeutic approaches and online care
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) invites people to notice difficult thoughts and feelings without being driven by them, and to clarify what really matters so they can take meaningful action. It is useful for anxiety, stress, and situations where values and purpose feel unclear.
Attachment-Based Therapy explores how early and current relationship patterns influence closeness, trust, and emotional responses. It helps with relationship strain, abandonment concerns, and difficulties forming secure connections.
Client-Centered Therapy focuses on meeting people with empathy and respect, helping them uncover their own solutions at a pace that feels manageable. This approach supports self-esteem, grief processing, and coping with life changes.
Finding the right approach is part of the work itself. Michael collaborates with clients and licensed professionals to tailor methods to each person’s needs, goals, and preferences, adjusting the plan as understanding grows.
Online therapy offers practical flexibility - sessions can take place by video, phone, live chat, or text-based messaging - which makes it easier to fit therapy around work, family, and daily commitments. For many people this accessibility supports consistency in care and lets therapists and clients focus on progress rather than logistics.