Merle Montalvo, LCSW

Merle Montalvo is a licensed clinical social worker in Mississippi who helps people manage stress and anxiety along with grief, anger, low self-esteem, and depression. She also supports clients facing relationship strain, trauma and abuse, career changes, and the challenges that come with midlife shifts. Her voice is calm and direct, aimed at helping people take practical steps forward.

Merle became a social worker during a midlife transition and often draws on that personal experience when supporting others through change. She has 23 years of experience working across outpatient, inpatient, intensive outpatient program (IOP), home health, and hospice settings. That range informs how she matches approaches to a person’s situation.

Her style is flexible and person-centered. She uses an eclectic mix of methods so sessions fit the individual’s needs rather than forcing a single technique. Expect conversations that balance practical problem-solving with attention to feelings and personal history.

Common tools she brings into sessions include cognitive behavioral ideas, mindfulness, motivational interviewing, psychodynamic thinking, and solution-focused techniques. These are used to address day-to-day coping, unhelpful thinking patterns, motivation for change, and exploring life stories that still matter.

Merle works with adults on issues such as aging and geriatric concerns, codependency, communication problems, hospice and end-of-life counseling, and post-traumatic stress. She conducts sessions in English and practices from her Mississippi license as an LCSW.

How therapeutic approaches translate to online work

Merle commonly uses cognitive behavioral ideas to help people notice and shift unhelpful thinking and behavior patterns. That approach focuses on specific problems and teaches tools you can practice between sessions, which can help with anxiety, mood, and everyday stress.

She also uses mindfulness techniques to build awareness of thoughts and bodily reactions. Mindfulness exercises can reduce reactivity and improve coping with strong emotions such as grief or anger.

Motivational interviewing is another tool she draws on to help people find and strengthen their reasons for change. This approach is useful when someone feels stuck about a decision or struggles to follow through on goals.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will discuss goals, preferences, and how you respond to different methods, and then adjust the plan collaboratively as needed.

If you are considering online therapy, confirm the specific session formats available before booking. Online options can make it easier to fit sessions into a busy life, reduce travel time, and allow for shorter check-ins when schedules are tight. Talk with the therapist about what will work best for your routine and needs.