Therapist profile
Merle Montalvo, LCSW
Mississippi
Licensed clinical social worker - Codependency and relationships
Continue with MerleWhere Merle stands
- Credentials
- LCSW
- License
- LCSW, Mississippi / C5031
- NPI
- 1558753707
- Experience
- 23 years
- Languages
- English
- Location
- Mississippi
About
- CBT strategies
- Solution-focused work
- Hospice experience
About Merle
Merle Montalvo is a licensed clinical social worker (LCSW) in Mississippi with 23 years of experience. She helps people who are dealing with stress, anxiety, depression, grief, anger, low self-esteem, relationship and family concerns, trauma and abuse, career shifts, ADHD, and codependency. She also works with issues around aging, end-of-life care, and coping with major life changes.
Merle came to social work later in life after a major transition of her own. That experience shaped how she thinks about change and resilience. She says, "It's not too late right now," and uses that idea to encourage small, practical steps forward.
Her background includes outpatient and inpatient settings, intensive outpatient programs, home health, and hospice work. Those varied roles have given her experience with crisis points and long-term support needs. She draws on what she learned in each setting when meeting with people now.
In sessions she blends several approaches rather than relying on a single method. Cognitive behavioral strategies are used to notice patterns and try new behaviors. Solution-focused techniques help identify next steps and build momentum. She also uses insight-oriented and humanistic elements to explore what matters most to a person.
Merle works in English and bases her practice in Mississippi. Practical matters like scheduling and fees vary by location; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time. To begin, people complete a short matching questionnaire and schedule a first session.
How sessions work
How her approaches work for online sessions
Merle draws on cognitive behavioral therapy and solution-focused therapy in her work. CBT helps identify thoughts and behaviors that keep problems going and offers practical tactics to change them, which is useful for anxiety, depression, and unhelpful relationship patterns. Solution-focused work centers on small, concrete steps and what is already working; it helps people build momentum and handle immediate concerns.Finding the right mix of approaches is part of the process. She collaborates with each person to decide which methods fit their goals and preferences. That means trying strategies, checking what helps, and adjusting the plan together over time.
The profile does not list specific session formats here, so confirm current session options before booking. Online work can make it easier to fit appointments into a busy week, shorten check-ins when needed, and reduce travel time. These practical benefits help people keep therapy as a regular part of life while focusing on real changes and coping skills.
Areas of focus
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
23+ years
Listed in
Mississippi
Languages
English
Questions
Frequently asked questions
Can she help with people-pleasing and boundary issues?
Yes. The profile lists codependency, relationship concerns, and communication problems among areas she works with, which relate to people-pleasing and boundary setting.
What is her general approach in sessions?
She uses an eclectic style that mixes cognitive behavioral, solution-focused, insight-oriented, and humanistic methods to match individual needs.
How much experience does she have?
She has 23 years of experience working in settings such as outpatient, inpatient, intensive outpatient programs, home health, and hospice.
What are her credentials and where is she based?
She holds MS LCSW and practices in Mississippi.
Does she offer sessions in languages other than English?
Sessions are offered in English.
Can people outside the United States work with her?
International clients are not currently accepted.
How are costs handled?
Cost varies with location, and sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started with scheduling a first session?
Begin by selecting the See online therapy options button, completing a short matching questionnaire, and scheduling a first session.
Details come from information the therapist supplied to BetterHelp. A license can be checked with the state board.
Online talk therapy is not emergency care. If you are not safe at home, use the crisis and helpline numbers.