Merle Montalvo , LCSW

Merle Montalvo is a social worker licensed at the LCSW level in Mississippi. As a Licensed Clinical Social Worker (LCSW), she provides clinical social work and therapeutic services to people navigating change and challenge. She focuses on helping clients make needed changes and on tracking progress through life transitions.

Becoming a social worker was a midlife career transition for Merle, and that experience shaped a guiding phrase she now uses - "It’s not too late right now." That perspective grew from lessons learned more than 30 years ago while building a new life, and it continues to inform her work with people at different stages.

Merle describes her cultural background as mixed and values both individual uniqueness and shared human experience. Her clinical experience spans outpatient and inpatient care, intensive outpatient programs, home health, and hospice settings. She practices with an eclectic, client-centered approach so that interventions can be tailored to each person’s needs. Techniques she draws on include humanistic and insight-oriented methods, cognitive behavioral strategies, wholistic perspectives, and solution-focused techniques, all applied to fit the goals and preferences of the person seeking support.

Approaches and Online Care with Merle Montalvo

Merle Montalvo draws on evidence-based approaches to guide online therapy in a way that fits each person. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on identifying and changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviors; it is often used for anxiety, depression, and stress-related concerns and can provide practical tools for coping. Mindfulness Therapy teaches present-moment awareness and nonjudgmental attention to thoughts and feelings; it can help with emotion regulation, rumination, and managing stress. Solution-Focused Therapy centers on clients’ strengths and short-term goals, helping people build small, concrete steps toward the changes they want to see.

Choosing the right approach is part of the therapeutic process and Merle works collaboratively with clients to determine what fits best based on their needs, goals, and preferences. She adapts techniques over time so the work remains relevant and focused.

Online therapy with Merle is available by video call, phone session, live chat, or text-based messaging, offering flexibility for different schedules and comfort levels. These options make it easier to maintain continuity of care, access support from home, and fit sessions into busy lives while working with a licensed professional.