7 Primal Wounds: Break the Patterns Keeping You Stuck

Why You React the Way You Do—And What to Do About It

If you’ve ever overreacted, shut down, chased affection, or walked on eggshells—this book explains why.

In 7 Primal Wounds, psychotherapist Dr. Michaela Renee Johnson reveals the invisible emotional injuries that shape how we love, fight, and connect. These seven wounds—feeling insignificant, inadequate, damaged, like an outsider, unintelligent, powerless, or undeserving—drive unconscious patterns in both individuals and couples. But they don’t have to.

You’ll learn how to:

• Identify the wound behind your triggers and communication struggles
• Recognize your “Primal Responders” (Inner Child, Teen, and Parent)
• Pause before the spiral, shutdown, or overreaction
• Use the PRIMAL Reset to move from reactive to responsive
• Build stronger, more authentic relationships—with yourself and others

This isn’t about being perfect. It’s about understanding yourself—so you can respond, not just react, in every relationship that matters.

If you’ve ever asked, “Why am I like this?”—this book has your answer.

MICHAELA JOHNSON, PhD, is a licensed psychotherapist, author, speaker, and commercial pilot with over a decade of experience helping individuals and couples navigate trauma, emotional triggers, and relationship dynamics. Known for her unfiltered voice and grounded insight, she blends neuroscience, storytelling, and humor to make personal growth practical and deeply human. Her work centers on transforming unconscious patterns into conscious connection—without toxic positivity or perfectionism. In addition to leading ventures focused on expanding human potential, Michaela splits her time between Northern California and Alaska with her blended family—united by a shared love of awkward truths and flying planes.