Michael Spackman, PACFA - Therapist in Australia

Emotionally-Focused Therapy
ACT and CBT techniques
Attachment-focused work

About Michael

Michael Spackman is a PACFA counsellor practising in Australia with eight years of experience. He works with people facing stress, anxiety, family conflict, trauma and abuse, grief and loss, and related concerns. He also supports those dealing with ADHD, anger, depression and people looking for coaching support.

Michael keeps sessions straightforward. He invites people to talk about what is happening now and how it affects day-to-day life. He pays attention to feelings that are hard to name and to patterns that keep repeating.

His approach draws on Emotionally-Focused Therapy alongside Acceptance and Commitment Therapy, Attachment-Based Therapy, client-centred work and cognitive behavioural techniques. That means sessions can include naming emotions, noticing interaction patterns, trying different ways of responding, and practising small behavioural changes between meetings.

He often helps people who are coping with more specific issues too, such as attachment wounds, abandonment, body image concerns, blended family tensions, chronic illness or pain, and sexual cultures like BDSM and kink. He also supports people facing separation, cancer-related stress, caregiving strain and dissociation.

Sessions are conducted in English. Michael uses a subscription model for sessions that can be cancelled at any time. Prospective clients begin by completing a short questionnaire and booking an initial session to see if his way of working fits their needs.

Approaches used in online sessions

Emotionally-Focused Therapy helps name and track emotions and interaction patterns that keep repeating. It can be useful when people want to understand why a feeling or reaction keeps returning and how to respond differently.

Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) focuses on values and practical steps. It helps people notice unhelpful thoughts, choose a direction that matters to them, and try small changes in day-to-day life.

Attachment-Based Therapy pays attention to early connection patterns and how they shape current relationships. It can help people see how past experiences affect trust, closeness and communication.

Finding the right approach is part of the work. Michael will discuss different methods and collaborate with clients to choose what fits their goals and preferences. That process is practical and adaptive rather than fixed.

Confirm the current session formats before booking, as the profile does not list specific delivery methods. Online sessions can make it easier to fit meetings around work or family commitments, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when schedules are tight. Ask about available session lengths and formats when you complete the short questionnaire and schedule your first appointment.

Areas of expertise

Primary focus

Stress, Anxiety LGBT Trauma and abuse GriefADHD

Also works with

Family conflictsAnger managementDepressionCoaching

Additional focus areas

Abandonment Attachment issuesAutism and Asperger SyndromeBDSM, kink, and alternative sex cultureBlended family issuesBody imageCancerCaregiver issues and stressChronic pain, illness, and disabilityCommitment issues Communication problems Control issuesDisruptive Mood Dysregulation Disorder (DMDD)DissociationDivorce and separationFatherhood issuesFirst responder issuesForgivenessGender dysphoriaGuilt and shameHearing impairedHospice and end-of-life counselingImpulsivityInfidelityIntellectual disabilityIsolation / loneliness Jealousy Life purpose Men's issues Midlife crisisVeteran and Armed Forces IssuesMoney and financial issuesMood disordersMulticultural concernsNarcissismObsessions, compulsions, and OCDPanic disorder and panic attacksPersonality disordersPhobiasPolyamory / non-monogamous relationshipsPost-traumatic stress Pregnancy and childbirthPrejudice and discriminationProcess addiction (porn, exercise, gambling)Self-harmSelf-loveSex addictionSexual assault and abuseSexual dysfunctionSexualitySocial anxiety and phobia Women's issuesWorkplace issuesYoung adult issues

Therapeutic approaches

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 Trauma-Focused Therapy Internal Family Systems

Experience

8+ years

Listed in

Australia

Languages

English

Frequently asked questions

What concerns does he help with?

He works with stress, anxiety, trauma and abuse, grief, ADHD, depression, anger and family conflict, plus a range of related issues listed on his profile.

What is his therapeutic style?

He uses Emotionally-Focused Therapy alongside ACT, attachment-based and client-centred approaches, and borrows CBT tools when helpful.

How much experience does he have?

He has eight years of professional experience working with the issues described in his profile.

What credentials and location are listed?

He is credentialed with PACFA and practices in Australia.

Which languages are supported?

Sessions are offered in English.

Can international clients work with him?

International clients are not accepted at this time.

How are sessions paid for?

Sessions use a subscription that can be cancelled at any time, with cost varying by location.

How do I start a first session?

Select the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule the first session.

Profile details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. Credential and registration rules differ between the United States, the United Kingdom and Australia.