Michelle Sicula

Michelle Sicula

Office: (510) 457-1246
msicula@gmail.com

I am a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist in the San Francisco Bay Area seeing clients in my Oakland office and virtually via Zoom.

As a therapist, I have worked with couples, individual adults, adolescents, and children and parents. I work with a culturally diverse array of clients, and I welcome clients from all backgrounds.

I use an integrative, strengths-based approach. I am Certified in Emotionally Focused Couples Therapy (“EFT” or “EFCT”) and Emotionally Focused Individual Therapy (“EFIT”) and informed by attachment theory, Acceptance Commitment Therapy — a combination of cognitive therapy, mindfulness, and a focus on values-driven action, neuroscience, somatic skills, and motivational interviewing.

In addition, I bring to my psychotherapy practice over twenty years of experience as a licensed attorney in the San Francisco Bay Area.

My training as an attorney enables me to help clients quickly organize overwhelming material so that clients can problem solve with less suffering.

This experience also strengthens my ability to understand and have insight into unique demands and challenges faced by attorneys and other licensed professionals. For more on my work with attorneys and other licensed professionals, click here.

Education

  • The Wright Institute Berkeley, California, Counseling Psychology – M.A.
  • Harvard Law School, Cambridge, Massachusetts – J.D.
  • University of California, Berkeley, Psychology – B.A.

Post-Graduate Training

  • Emotionally Focused Therapy, Core Skills Advanced Training, September 2013 – May 2014
  • Emotionally Focused Therapy, 4 Day Externship, June 2012

Professional Trainings Provided

  • Building Families with Donors and Surrogates: Many options. Many decisions.  University of the Pacific, Stockton, California.  November 12, 2014.  Michelle Sicula, M.A., J.D.
  • Psychotherapy – A Primer, Rotary Club Oakland Sunrise, Oakland, California. August 6, 2013. Michelle Sicula, M.A., J.D.

MCLE

Please check back for future MCLE courses designed to fulfill attorneys’ substance abuse course requirements.

Professional Affiliations

  • The International Centre for Excellence in Emotionally Focused Therapy (ICEEFT) Member Since: 2012 – current
  • Northern California Community for Emotionally Focused Therapy (NCCEFT) Member Since: 2012 – current Board Chair-Elect: 2017-2018 term
    Board Chair: 2018-2019 term
  • American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM) and ASRM Mental Health Professionals subgroup Member Since: 2012 – current Connections Committee, member 2015-2017 term
    Connections Committee, Chair 2017-2018 term
    Inclusion and Anti-Racism Task Force, member and Co-Chair 2020-2022
  • Association of Family Therapists of Northern California (AFTNC) Member Since: 2012 – current
  • California Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (CAMFT) Member Since: 2010 – current
  • American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists (AAMFT) Member Since: 2010 – 2014
  • State Bar of California – Membership No. 160598 Member Since: 1992 – current
  • Bar Association of San Francisco, (2010 – 2012)
  • Harvard Law School Women’s Alliance Board Member and U.S. Chapter Liaison, 2021 – present