I'm Michaela, impresario of life

About Me

I’m a critical thinker, fiercely independent, and endlessly curious. I grew up off-grid in the Sierra Nevadas—no running water, no electricity—just resilience, resourcefulness, and a whole lot of character-building. That upbringing gave me a front-row seat to survival psychology, and it shaped my lifelong fascination with what drives human behavior.

Today, I specialize in helping individuals and couples identify and reset the 7 Primal Wounds™—the invisible emotional injuries that shape our relationships, self-worth, and decision-making. These wounds become the scripts we follow unconsciously. My mission is to help you become conscious of them—and then rewrite your life.

Exposing the 7 Primal Wounds™

If you shut down, lash out, overachieve, people-please, or disappear in relationships—you’re not broken. You’re reacting from a wound. A primal wound.

These aren’t flaws. They’re survival strategies. The real problem? Not knowing the wound is there.

Using neuroscience, attachment theory, and actionable tools, I help you:

Discover the wound that drives your behavior

Decode your emotional reactivity

Reset survival patterns that keep you stuck

This is the foundation of my upcoming book: 7 Primal Wounds™ Exposing the Patterns that Keep You Stuck (coming Sept 2025).

Individual Counseling

Feeling stuck? Tired of watered-down living? Craving clarity, connection, or the ability to speak your truth without apology?

I help clients who are ready to break free from outdated patterns and step into a more conscious, thriving life. My approach is collaborative, curious, and direct—with just the right dose of irreverence and insight.

My mission is to help you reset—not repeat.

Who I Work With (and Who I Don’t)

I’m not for everyone—and that’s intentional.

I work best with clients who are:

Open to feedback

Committed to doing the work

Ready to stop blaming and start building

If that’s you, feel free to explore availability and book a session.

Specialties

Identifying and resetting the 7 Primal Wounds™

Strengthening communication & emotional safety

Rebuilding trust after disconnection

Navigating emotional & physical intimacy

Creating clarity in complex relationship dynamics

Credentials

PhD – Philosophy, Clinical Sexology

MA – Psychology

BA – Journalism & Communications

Specialty training: Trauma & Microexpressions

Licensed in California, Nevada, and Alaska
(Inquire directly for current licensure status by state)

• Read one of my books which aim to inspire positive growth and change
• Shop Happy tools to get you started on your way to happiness
• Listen to one of my guided meditations on InsightTimer.
• Listten to the SkyTalkDoc podcast