Michael Rooney

Hi, I’m Michael. I’m originally from Ireland and have been based in Melbourne for many years.

Earlier in my career, I worked in the corporate sector before choosing to move into psychotherapy—drawn by a deeper interest in understanding human behaviour and supporting meaningful, lasting change. I now work with individuals navigating addiction, trauma, and complex relational patterns, and consider it a privilege to be part of that process.

I am a Clinical Psychotherapist and Supervisor, holding a Master’s in Counselling and Psychotherapy from ACAP University College. I am a Certified Sex Addiction Therapist and Supervisor (CSAT-S) through the International Institute for Trauma & Addiction Professionals (IITAP), and a registered/accredited practitioner with PACFA and ACA. My work is also informed by advanced training in Internal Family Systems (IFS), Somatic Experiencing®, and Brainspotting.

At the core of my approach is Internal Family Systems (IFS), a powerful and compassionate framework that helps clients understand and work with different “parts” of themselves—particularly those shaped by early experiences. Rather than viewing symptoms as problems to eliminate, IFS allows us to approach them with curiosity and respect, creating the conditions for genuine healing and integration.

I specialise in the treatment of sex and love addiction, a highly specialised area of practice. I am one of a small number of Certified Sex Addiction Therapists in Australia trained through IITAP in the United States, and have also completed advanced training with Dr Kenneth Adams in the area of parent–child enmeshment.

My work recognises that many addictive and relational patterns are rooted in unresolved early life experiences. Because trauma is often held in the body, I integrate somatic approaches such as Somatic Experiencing and Brainspotting to support deeper processing—beyond what insight alone can achieve.

I also draw on Pia Mellody’s model of Developmental Immaturity to help clients make sense of the link between childhood experiences, relational patterns, and current life challenges. This provides a clear and grounded pathway toward increased self-awareness, accountability, and change.