Michael Maroney
Practical, person-focused counselling for everyday challenges
ACA Australia
- Experience
- 10 years in practice
- Focus areas
- Addictions, LGBT, Relationship
- Approaches
- Gottman Method, Client-Centred Therapy
- Languages
- English
About Michael
Michael Maroney is an ACA counsellor who uses a practical, person-focused approach to help people navigate difficult moments. He creates a calm space where people can talk about stress, anxiety, grief, addictions and relationship concerns.
Background and approach
Conversations are straightforward and grounded in everyday language so parents can follow along on a phone or between chores. Michael draws on the Gottman Method alongside client-centred and cognitive behavioural ideas to guide sessions.
He aims to help people spot unhelpful thinking, try small behaviour changes, and practise clearer communication. Sessions often focus on immediate coping skills as well as longer term patterns that keep problems looping.
He brings ten years of professional experience and everyday life perspective to sessions. That experience informs how he helps people rebuild confidence, handle midlife shifts, or work through intimacy and sexual identity concerns.
He also supports those dealing with body image, guilt, shame and issues around ageing. Michael works with concerns such as obsessional behaviours, infidelity, polyamory and non-monogamous relationships in a non-judgemental way.
He also helps with career questions, loneliness and finding life purpose. The aim is practical change you can notice between sessions.
People who meet him can expect a collaborative style. He listens for strengths, offers simple tools to try, and reviews what works.
If someone prefers clear strategies or a gentler, listening-led approach, he adapts the sessions to suit their needs.
How therapeutic approaches work online
Michael combines the Gottman Method, client-centred counselling and cognitive behavioural ideas in online work. The Gottman-informed approach focuses on improving communication and reducing destructive interaction patterns, which can help with relationship and intimacy-related concerns. Client-centred therapy emphasises listening, empathy and following the person's priorities so sessions feel paced to the individual. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) targets unhelpful thoughts and behaviours with practical exercises to reduce anxiety, compulsions or stress.Choosing the right approach is a collaborative process. The therapist will talk through a person's goals, test different techniques and adjust plans as needed. Together they decide which mix of listening, skills practice and communication work best for the situation.
Online sessions are offered as video calls, phone sessions, live chat or text-based messaging to suit different needs. Video calls allow face-to-face conversation and role-play, phone sessions can be easier when bandwidth is limited, and chat or messaging suits shorter check-ins or people who prefer writing. These options make scheduling more flexible and help fit therapy into busy family or work lives.
Frequently asked questions
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Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
10+ years
Registered with
ACA
Languages
English