About - Mariana Charpentier - Psychologist & Family Therapist
About Mariana Charpentier - Psychologist & Family Therapist
Mariana Charpentier is a highly distinguished and compassionate Psychologist and Family Therapist practicing at the renowned Costa Rica Treatment Center (CRTC). With a profound dedication to mental health and addiction recovery, she provides world-class psychological care to individuals navigating the complex journey of sobriety. Utilizing a deeply holistic and systemic approach, Mariana understands that addiction does not exist in a vacuum. Instead, she focuses on the systemic environment of the individual, recognizing the crucial and undeniable impact that support networks, friendships, romantic relationships, and family dynamics have on the overall recovery process.
Armed with an elite educational background from top-tier institutions in the United States, including Texas A&M University and the University of San Diego, Mariana brings a wealth of international expertise to her role in Costa Rica. As a certified SMART Recovery facilitator and a specialized EMDR therapist, she empowers her patients to process deep-rooted trauma, manage triggers, and rebuild their lives with practical, evidence-based coping mechanisms. Her empathetic bedside manner, combined with her clinical excellence, makes her an invaluable asset to the Costa Rica Treatment Center, where she continually helps individuals and their families navigate the challenging transition to lifelong wellness and emotional stability.
Key Stats & Information
- Professional Title: Psychologist & Family Therapist
- Board Certifications & Credentials: Certified SMART Recovery Therapist, Certified EMDR Therapist
- Education: Texas A&M University (B.A.), University of San Diego (M.A.)
- Languages Spoken: English, Spanish
- Hospital Privileges: Costa Rica Treatment Center (CRTC)
- Accepting New Patients: Yes
- Primary Specialization: Addiction Psychology, Marital and Family Therapy, Trauma Reprocessing
Medical Expertise & Specializations
At the core of Mariana Charpentier’s clinical philosophy is the belief that comprehensive addiction recovery must address the entire ecosystem of the patient. Substance abuse and mental health disorders ripple outward, affecting spouses, children, parents, and close friends. By specializing in Marital and Family Therapy, Mariana approaches addiction as a systemic issue rather than an isolated individual failing. She works diligently to repair fractured family dynamics, establish healthy boundaries, and foster environments that are conducive to long-term sobriety.
In addition to her systemic family approach, Mariana is highly specialized in trauma-informed care. As a certified EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) therapist, she helps patients safely process unresolved psychological trauma, which is frequently a root cause of chronic substance abuse. EMDR is an internationally recognized, evidence-based psychotherapy that enables people to heal from the symptoms and emotional distress that are the result of disturbing life experiences. By integrating EMDR into her practice at the Costa Rica Treatment Center, Mariana effectively targets the underlying psychological triggers that lead to relapse.
Furthermore, her certification in SMART Recovery (Self-Management and Recovery Training) allows her to equip patients with practical, cognitive-behavioral tools. SMART Recovery focuses on teaching self-empowerment and self-reliance, helping individuals build motivation, cope with urges, manage thoughts and behaviors, and ultimately live a balanced life. This multifaceted clinical approach—combining systemic family therapy, trauma reprocessing, and practical cognitive behavioral management—ensures that each patient receives a highly customized, robust, and holistic treatment plan.
Conditions Treated
- Substance Use Disorders: Comprehensive psychological treatment for alcoholism, cocaine addiction, marijuana dependency, methamphetamine addiction, and opiate addiction.
- Prescription Drug Dependency: specialized psychological interventions for individuals recovering from the abuse of prescription medications.
- Co-Occurring Disorders (Dual Diagnosis): Treating patients who suffer from simultaneous substance abuse and mental health conditions.
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) & Trauma: Utilizing EMDR to address deeply ingrained trauma that contributes to addictive behaviors.
- Depressive Disorders & Anxiety: Providing therapeutic support for severe depression and anxiety that often accompany early recovery and detoxification.
- Family Dysfunction & Codependency: Addressing toxic family dynamics, enabling behaviors, and communication breakdowns within the family unit.
- Marital Conflict: Helping couples navigate the devastating impact of addiction on romantic relationships and rebuild trust.
Therapies & Procedures Performed
- Marital and Family Therapy: Systemic counseling sessions designed to heal relationships and educate family members on the disease of addiction.
- EMDR Therapy (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing): A specialized, phased approach to processing traumatic memories and reducing psychological triggers.
- SMART Recovery Facilitation: Guiding patients through cognitive-behavioral strategies to manage urges, build self-reliance, and achieve a balanced lifestyle.
- Individual Psychological Counseling: One-on-one therapy focused on identifying personal roadblocks, enhancing emotional intelligence, and building resilience.
- Systemic Environment Mapping: Analyzing the patient's external environment (friendships, work, family) to identify stressors and create a safe post-rehab transition plan.
- Relapse Prevention Planning: Collaborating with the multidisciplinary clinical team to design robust discharge and ongoing care strategies.
Education and Training
Mariana Charpentier's clinical excellence is built upon a foundation of rigorous academic training from prestigious universities in the United States, complemented by advanced certifications in highly specialized therapeutic modalities.
- Master of Arts (M.A.) in Marital and Family Therapy
University of San Diego, California, USA - Bachelor's Degree in Psychology
Texas A&M University, Texas, USA - Certified EMDR Therapist
Specialized training in Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing for trauma care. - Certified SMART Recovery Therapist
Credentialed facilitator for Self-Management and Recovery Training programs.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Below are frequently asked questions regarding Mariana Charpentier’s therapeutic approach, specializations, and the psychological care provided at the Costa Rica Treatment Center.
1. Who is Mariana Charpentier and what is her role at Costa Rica Treatment Center?
Mariana Charpentier is a highly credentialed Psychologist and Family Therapist at the Costa Rica Treatment Center. She holds degrees from Texas A&M University and the University of San Diego. In her role, she provides essential psychological counseling, specializing in trauma, addiction recovery, and healing the family dynamic to ensure patients achieve long-lasting sobriety and wellness.
2. What is Family Systems Therapy in the context of addiction rehab?
Family Systems Therapy views addiction not just as an individual struggle, but as a symptom of a larger family dynamic issue. Mariana works with both the patient and their loved ones to identify toxic patterns, such as codependency and enabling. By improving communication and establishing healthy boundaries, she helps create a supportive systemic environment that greatly reduces the risk of relapse after the patient leaves the treatment center.
3. How does Mariana utilize EMDR therapy in addiction treatment?
As a certified EMDR therapist, Mariana uses Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing to help patients process deeply rooted psychological trauma. Unresolved trauma is frequently a primary trigger for substance abuse. By guiding the patient's eye movements while they recall distressing events, EMDR helps rewire the brain's response to these memories, significantly lowering emotional distress and reducing the urge to self-medicate with drugs or alcohol.
4. What is SMART Recovery, and why is it effective?
SMART Recovery stands for Self-Management and Recovery Training. It is a science-based, cognitive-behavioral approach to addiction recovery. As a certified SMART Recovery facilitator, Mariana teaches patients practical skills to build maintaining motivation, cope with destructive urges, manage difficult emotions, and live a balanced life. Unlike 12-step programs, SMART Recovery empowers the individual by focusing heavily on self-reliance and actionable psychological tools.
5. Why is treating the "systemic environment" so important in recovery?
The systemic environment includes a patient’s friendships, romantic relationships, family, and workplace. Mariana emphasizes this because returning to a toxic or unsupportive environment is a leading cause of relapse. By mapping out and addressing the stressors within a patient's systemic environment during rehab, she ensures that the patient is mentally prepared and appropriately insulated to maintain their sobriety once they return home.
6. What types of addictions does Mariana Charpentier treat?
Working within the comprehensive framework of the Costa Rica Treatment Center, Mariana provides psychological care for a wide array of substance use disorders. This includes alcoholism, cocaine dependency, methamphetamine addiction, opiate addiction, marijuana dependency, and prescription drug abuse. Her therapeutic techniques are adaptable and highly effective across various forms of chemical dependency.
7. Can Mariana treat dual diagnosis or co-occurring disorders?
Yes. A dual diagnosis occurs when a patient suffers from a substance use disorder alongside a mental health condition, such as clinical depression, severe anxiety, or PTSD. Mariana's extensive background in clinical psychology and specialized trauma therapies makes her exceptionally well-equipped to treat complex co-occurring disorders, ensuring both the addiction and the mental health condition are addressed simultaneously.
8. Is family participation mandatory for treatment with Mariana?
While family participation is highly encouraged due to its proven benefits in preventing relapse, it is not strictly mandatory if the patient’s circumstances do not allow for it. Mariana adapts her therapeutic approach to the specific needs of the client. If family members are unavailable or if the relationships are currently too toxic, she focuses on helping the individual build independent coping mechanisms and a healthy chosen support network.
9. How does Costa Rica Treatment Center support psychological care?
Costa Rica Treatment Center provides a multidisciplinary, holistic environment that perfectly complements psychological care. While Mariana handles the therapeutic and systemic aspects of recovery, she collaborates daily with on-site medical doctors, psychiatrists, nurses, and spiritual counselors. This unified team approach guarantees that the patient is healing physically, mentally, and spiritually in a safe, controlled setting.
10. What makes Mariana’s educational background uniquely beneficial?
Mariana obtained her Bachelor's in Psychology from Texas A&M University and her Master's in Marital and Family Therapy from the University of San Diego. This rigorous US-based education ensures she is trained in the most modern, scientifically validated psychological methodologies. Bringing this elite tier of education to Costa Rica allows patients to receive world-class mental health care in a serene, tropical, and highly affordable destination.
Ready to Transform Your Life with Mariana Charpentier?
Embarking on a journey toward sobriety and mental wellness is a courageous and life-altering decision. Finding the right psychological support is the critical first step. PlacidWay partners with top-tier medical and psychological professionals globally, including Mariana Charpentier at the highly esteemed Costa Rica Treatment Center, to provide you with seamless access to world-class addiction recovery care.
Contact PlacidWay today to schedule your consultation, learn more about immersive therapeutic treatments like EMDR and SMART Recovery, and receive personalized guidance on your path to healing. Let us handle the logistical details so you and your family can focus entirely on your transformation and recovery.
Important Disclaimer
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Pricing: Prices on our site are estimates only, provided by the centers. Always confirm actual prices directly with the provider before booking to ensure full transparency and avoid hidden fees.
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