Merle Montalvo, LCSW

Merle Montalvo is a licensed clinical social worker with 23 years of experience. She focuses on concerns such as stress, anxiety, grief, depression, anger, self-esteem, trauma, and life transitions. Merle also works with issues tied to aging and geriatric concerns and supports people facing hospice and end-of-life decisions.

She approaches therapy in a practical, down-to-earth way. Sessions are shaped to each person rather than using one fixed method. Merle draws from models like cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness to help people notice patterns and try new ways of coping.

Her background includes work across outpatient, inpatient, intensive outpatient program, home health, and hospice settings. That range gives her experience with medical, end-of-life, and long-term care issues as well as more everyday emotional struggles. She often frames change as something possible at any stage of life.

In the room she mixes insight-oriented conversation with solution-focused steps. People can expect a blend of noticing thoughts and feelings, setting manageable goals, and practicing small changes between sessions. The tone tends to be encouraging and realistic.

Merle trained and practices in Mississippi and holds a Master of Science and the LCSW credential. She works in English and draws on a life story that includes a long personal experience of midlife transition. That background informs how she supports people facing major changes now.

Therapeutic approaches and how they translate online

Merle commonly uses cognitive behavioral therapy and mindfulness approaches in her work. Cognitive behavioral therapy helps people spot unhelpful thinking patterns and try concrete behavior changes to reduce symptoms like anxiety or low mood. Mindfulness therapy teaches simple attention practices and grounding skills to reduce reactivity and increase present-moment focus.

Choosing the right approach is a team effort. Merle will work with each person to match methods to goals, needs, and preferences. That collaboration may mean trying a strategy for a few sessions and adjusting based on how it fits the client's life.

If you are considering online sessions, confirm the specific session options before booking since the biography does not list formats. In general, remote work can make it easier to fit therapy into a busy day, reduce travel time, and allow shorter check-ins when schedules are tight. It also makes follow-up between in-person visits simpler and can help continue care during life changes or medical needs. Licensed professionals steer the choice of approach and format to what best supports progress.