Michael Spackman, PACFA

Michael Spackman is a counsellor who helps people manage stress, anxiety, grief and trauma. He creates a calm, non-judgemental space where thoughts and everyday habits are talked through. Clients meet him to find practical ways to cope and to take small steps toward feeling better.

He uses plain, direct conversations to help people untangle what keeps them stuck. Sessions look at patterns of thinking and routine behaviours that feed worry, low mood or relationship strain. The aim is steady progress rather than sudden fixes, and to build skills people can use between meetings.

Michael draws on a mix of approaches, including Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy and Attachment-Based Therapy. He adapts these methods to each person’s needs, focusing on what will actually help day to day. That might mean learning new coping strategies, practising emotion regulation, or working through difficult memories.

He has eight years of professional experience and holds PACFA accreditation. He works with people facing a wide range of concerns such as ADHD, anger, identity and sexual culture issues, caregiver stress, chronic illness, divorce and communication problems. Sessions are offered in English and take place in Australia.

For people who are ready to start, the first step is a short matching questionnaire and scheduling a session. Michael aims to support and empower people as they make changes at a pace that suits them.

How his approaches translate to online work

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) helps people notice unhelpful thoughts and refocus on what matters to them. It is useful for anxiety, stress and situations where values-driven action can reduce stuckness. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) targets the connections between thoughts, feelings and behaviours and teaches practical skills for changing patterns that maintain depression or worry. Attachment-Based Therapy looks at relationship patterns and how early bonds affect current responses, which can help with abandonment, trust and communication issues.

Finding the right approach is something Michael sees as a team effort. He will discuss your goals and preferences and suggest which methods to try first. Over time the plan can be adjusted based on what is most useful for you.

If you are considering online sessions, please confirm the current session options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, reduce travel time and allow shorter check-ins when needed. It also lets people continue work when life circumstances make in-person meetings harder. Michael will talk through what will work best for your goals and daily routine.