Michael Maroney, ACA

Michael Maroney is an ACA counsellor who focuses on helping people navigate thoughts and everyday habits that get in the way of living well. He offers a calm, non-judgemental space to talk about stress, anxiety, addictions and relationship concerns. He speaks plainly and aims to make sessions feel practical and doable.

Michael centres sessions on what the person brings, and treats each client as the expert in their own life. He draws on client-centred listening to understand immediate worries, then looks at everyday patterns that keep problems cycling. That might mean talking through routines, reactions, or unhelpful self-talk and testing small changes between meetings.

He also uses cognitive behavioural tools to help people notice thought patterns and try different responses. For relationship concerns he applies ideas from the Gottman Method to improve communication and reduce common conflicts. These approaches are used together depending on what the person needs at the time.

Michael has about 10 years of professional experience in Australia. He supports people with grief and loss, self-esteem, intimacy issues, career questions and coming to terms with life changes. He also works with concerns such as obsessive behaviours, body image, midlife questions and issues connected to gender and sexuality.

Sessions are conducted in English and are offered only within Australia. He aims to help clients build practical habits that fit into daily life and that can be practised between sessions.

How these approaches work in online therapy

Client-centred therapy focuses on listening and following what matters most to the person. The therapist reflects back what they hear, helps name feelings and priorities, and supports the person's own problem-solving. This approach is helpful for people who want a supportive space to understand their thoughts and everyday habits.

Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) looks at how thoughts and routines affect emotions and behaviour. It breaks problems into manageable steps, teaches simple techniques to test unhelpful thoughts, and sets small behavioural experiments to change daily patterns. CBT can be useful for anxiety, stress, obsessions and habit change.

The Gottman Method offers practical ways to improve communication and manage common relationship conflicts. It gives tools for clearer conversations, rebuilding connection and handling difficult topics in a calmer way.

Choosing the right approach is part of the work. The therapist will talk with each person about their goals, preferences and what feels most useful, then try methods together and adjust as needed. It is a collaborative process rather than a one-size-fits-all plan.

Confirm current session options before booking, as formats are not specified here. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy week, reduce travel time and allow shorter check-ins when needed. They can also let people use quieter surroundings, turn off video for low-bandwidth moments, or schedule sessions at times that suit work and family commitments.