• I'm Michaela, impresario of life

    As Carl Jung wisely stated, “The privilege of a lifetime is to become who we truly are.”

    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    I help clients who are ready to break free from outdated patterns and step into a more conscious, thriving life.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)

    Not ready for counseling/coaching? Here's some other ways to grow...

    • 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