About me

My name is Mayra Pacheco Pachado, and I have both Brazilian and Argentinian roots. I’ve been living in the Netherlands since 2017, after moving here to live with my Dutch husband. We’ve built our home in a small village in Limburg with our two beloved cats, Catty and Fritzy.

At 42, I bring both life experience and professional expertise to my work as a psychologist. My career is dedicated to both clinical practice and research, focusing on helping individuals and families navigate mental health issues such as anxiety-, mood-, stress-related disorders, and addiction.

I believe in a comprehensive approach to psychology that integrates psychological therapy, group therapy, and multidisciplinary collaboration, while addressing the mind-body connection and the impact of social, cultural, and environmental factors.

I have over 10 years of clinical experience, including intensive internships and private practice. With a decade of involvement in research, I apply my scientific expertise to enhance the care I provide.

I’m also passionate about prevention, helping individuals develop healthier coping strategies before more severe issues emerge.

Education, Research AND TRAINING

  • Psychologist at U-Center - Epen, Limburg, The Netherlands (2024–present)

    Inpatient mental health centre specialized in treating mental disorders such as depression, trauma, and anxiety, as well as addiction and personality disorders.

  • Research Collaborator at Center for Drug and Alcohol Research – Hospital de Clínicas de Porto Alegre, Brazil (2024–present)
    Expertise in behavior, cognition, emotions, addiction, and models of the mind

  • PhD by the Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences – Maastricht University, The Netherlands (2019–2023)
    Expertise in dementia, neuroscience, pharmacology, biomedicine, and personalized medicine

    Title of the thesis: A Network Medicine Approach to Dementia: Diagnostics and Therapeutic Applications

  • MSc in Cognitive and Clinical Neuroscience – Maastricht University, The Netherlands (2017–2019)

    Specialization in Drug Development and Neurohealth

  • MSc in Psychology – Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul (UFRGS), Brazil (2015–2017)

    Expertise in Addiction and comorbidities

  • BSc in Psychology – Pontificia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil (2002–2007)

aDDITIONAL

  • Certified Specialist in Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – including 600 hours of training and 120 hours of supervision (2014–2015)

  • Trained in Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Mindfulness-Based Therapy, Compassion-focused Therapy (CFT), and Motivational Interviewing

My Therapeutic Approach

My practice follows the principles of evidence-based practice in psychology (EBPP), as defined by the American Psychological Association (APA). Within this framework, I utilize a Process-Based Therapy (PBT) model to guide my approach, carefully analyzing each case to determine the most appropriate evidence-based techniques for each person.

I continually update my knowledge and I am open to learning and integrating new therapies and techniques that align with EBPP to provide the best possible care.

Whenever needed, and when appropriate for the client's situation, I work in a multidisciplinary approach, collaborating with other professionals to address the person’s goals and needs.

I integrate the following therapies, along with others that fall within the EBPP perspective, to create personalized psychological treatments:

  • Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)

  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)

  • Mindfulness-Based Therapy

  • Compassion-Focused Therapy (CFT)

These approaches address a wide range of mental health challenges, including:

  • Life transitions

  • Stress and Burnout

  • Addiction

  • Anxiety

  • Mood