Profile / Australia
Michael Spackman, PACFA
Australia
PACFA counsellor - Anxiety and life stress
See online therapy options- CBT techniques
- ACT for values
- Attachment work
About Michael
Michael Spackman is a PACFA counsellor in Australia with eight years of professional experience. He helps people who are dealing with stress, anxiety, family conflict, trauma and abuse, and grief. He also works with concerns like ADHD, anger and depression, and offers coaching-focused support where useful.
Michael uses straightforward conversation to identify what is getting in the way day to day. He listens to the practical parts of a problem - thoughts, routines and reactions - then looks for small experiments to try instead. Sessions often focus on noticing unhelpful thinking and testing alternatives in everyday life.
His approach draws on cognitive behavioural methods alongside acceptance and commitment therapy and attachment-based ideas. That means practical tools from CBT are balanced with attention to values and relationships when relevant. He also uses skills from dialectical behaviour therapy and client-centred ways of working as needed.
Michael has supported people with a wide range of additional concerns, including abandonment and attachment issues, autism and Asperger syndrome, body image, blended family matters, chronic illness and caregiver stress. He also has experience discussing BDSM, kink and alternative sex culture in a non-judgemental way.
Sessions are focused and task-oriented while keeping conversation clear and direct. To begin, prospective clients are asked to complete a short matching questionnaire and then schedule a first session to set goals and plan next steps.
How his therapeutic approaches translate to online work
Michael commonly uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy - a practical method that looks at thoughts, feelings and behaviours and teaches clear skills to change unhelpful patterns. This approach is useful for anxiety, stress and depression, where testing small behavioural experiments can shift day-to-day coping.He also draws on Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, which focuses on values and committed action rather than just symptom reduction. ACT can help people make room for difficult feelings while still moving toward what matters to them. Attachment-Based Therapy is used when relationship patterns and early attachment experiences are affecting current connections and emotional responses.
Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the first work together. He will help the client decide which methods fit their goals, preferences and the problems they want to solve. That decision is collaborative and may change as work progresses.
The practical benefits of online sessions include fitting therapy into a busy week and keeping momentum between appointments. Confirm the available session formats before booking, as the biography does not list specific formats. Online work can make it easier to try in-the-moment experiments, schedule short check-ins, or work without travel time, depending on the format agreed with the therapist.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
8+ years
Listed in
Australia
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does he commonly address?
He works with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, ADHD, family conflict, anger and depression, plus coaching for life changes.
How would he describe his therapeutic approach?
He blends cognitive behavioural methods with acceptance and commitment therapy and attachment-based ideas, using practical tools and values work.
How much experience does he have?
He has eight years of professional experience working with the issues listed in his profile.
What credentials and location apply to his practice?
He is a PACFA counsellor based in Australia.
In which languages can sessions be held?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does he work with international clients?
He does not accept international clients at this time.
How are sessions charged?
Cost varies with location and sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time.
How do I get started?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete a short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Details come from information the counsellor supplied to BetterHelp. A registration can be checked with the body that issued it.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are not safe, use the crisis numbers.