About Me

Hi! I'm Makeilyn Chaviano, I´m a Psychologist and I'm thrilled that you are here reading this. I appreciate that you´re taking this precious time to read about me and what I can offer you as a mental health program.

I am passionate about my work, I specialize in trauma-sensitive approaches, I love to study and I´m always reinventing myself and researching what I can learn new. For 16 years I have had the opportunity to help hundreds of people in different projects in different areas of mental health and education.

Many things in my life led me to choose this niche, personal experiences that have shaped me, people I have met, people I have worked with, inescapable realities, injustices, and pain. But also equity, justice, love, resilience brought me here. Almost no one likes to talk about and accept their traumas and this is still a taboo subject, which produces a lot of shame in individuals, families, and communities. Our society is very complex, incoherent, and violent. It is very difficult to not have any traumatic experience in such contexts. I strongly believe that psychotherapy is not only about managing one's nervous system but about psychosocial interaction, the opportunities and limitations that the context has, and how we can navigate with and despite it.

My work is driven by empathy, hope, strength, and compassion . I ´m committed to evidence-based therapies and neuroscience but have great respect for people's culture, human rights, and spirituality. I believe in taking the best that is in each person, in each place, and growing and glowing through that. My psychotherapeutic approach is comprehensive and integrative, I have a model of recovery from traumatic experiences based on various theories and customized to the needs of the client. The approaches I use in therapy I have always tested first personally, so that not only from theory but from experience I can guide people through the different stages of the treatments. Although definitely EMDR is my favorite.

My commitment to excellence and continuous learning has led me to explore different areas of knowledge. I have a Master's Degree in Clinical and Health Psychology. (UNIBE, UNINI, Tech Institute, Honors Graduations) I´m currently pursuing a Doctorate (Ph.D) in Clinical and Health Psychology with UNINI. Mexico. I am a Certified EMDR Therapist by the Costa Rican EMDR Association and EMDR International Association (EMDRIA) and I am in the process of training to become an EMDR Approved Consultant by EMDRIA, as well as I have a Certification in Stress and Trauma Studies with the Trauma Research Foundation of Dr. Bessel Van der Kolk a leader in the trauma field and I was also supervised by him. In addition to my training in Psychology, I did another Master's Degree in Educational Management with emphasis in Leadership (Honor Graduation) and studied a Bachelor's Degree in Sociology at the National University of Costa Rica (I have pending its conclusion), as well as a Diploma in Project Management from the Technological Institute of Costa Rica, a Diploma in Human Trafficking from the Autonomous University of Mexico, a diploma in Psychoneuroimmunoendocrinology by the Peruvian Institute of Psychoneuroimmunology and Mind-Body Medicine. As well as multiple courses and training in clinical psychology, in clinical and forensic psychological evaluation.

I have had the privilege of collaborating with several academic institutions such as the Universidad Internacional de Valencia, Universidad Nacional, Universidad Hispanoamericana, Universidad La Salle, Universidad Latina, as well as with governmental and non-governmental organizations dedicated to the protection of human rights nationally and internationally. I have also had the opportunity to work with different Employee Assistance Programs of countless companies in Latin America in parallel to my private clinical practice.

When I'm not working or studying, you can find me exploring the basements/pyramids, learning about archeology, cultures or in the mountains and trying to ski or do water sports (even if I'm not really good at it).

I feel very fulfilled and grateful to be able to help people feel that they can regain control of their bodies, their decisions, and hope for their own future. Healing is not an easy task, nor is it quick, healing requires courage, bravery, willingness, and a lot of commitment when motivation is not enough. But if you are here reading this, you have already taken the first big step: getting properly informed.

Would you like to regain peace of mind, joy, and self-confidence? Do you long to be able to connect authentically and safely with the people around you, building healthy and meaningful bonds? If you are ready to take a step towards a full and satisfying life, this is the right place for you.

In this space, I offer you the opportunity to transform your life and reach that state of emotional well-being that allows you to enjoy, love, and value every moment. If you are determined to make significant and lasting changes, I am here to accompany you on this journey of building a full and satisfying life, but I need your commitment so that together we can achieve your goals. For our collaboration to be successful, you must be willing to:

•  Invest in your mental health: Recognize that your emotional well-being is a priority and be willing to allocate time and resources for your personal growth.
•  Commit to your treatment process: Be open to exploring your emotions, thoughts, and behaviors, even when it may be challenging.
•  Dedicate time to agreed-upon strategies and tasks: Be willing to actively participate in the therapeutic process by implementing the tools and strategies we agree upon together.
•  Create the discipline to practice the learnings: Be committed to incorporating the skills and teachings you acquire during our work together into your daily life.
•  Build the courage to address painful issues: Be willing to explore and confront the difficult aspects of your life, with the support and guidance I will offer.
•  Learn to set healthy boundaries: Recognize the importance of protecting your emotional well-being and learn to say "no" when necessary.
•  Love, accept, and value yourself: Cultivate a positive relationship with yourself, based on self-acceptance and self-care.
•  Grow despite challenges: Be open to grow and evolve, even in the face of adversity you have faced in the past.

If you are ready to embark on this journey of self-discovery and personal growth, I am here to guide and support you every step of the way. Together we can work to build the life you long for.

Are you ready to get started?