Lisa Montalvo MFT, CEAP, SAP

Conveniently located in San Carlos, California

My name is Lisa Montalvo and I'm a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist practicing in the San Francisco bay area.  I understand the ever growing and changing environment we live in. I provide counseling services to children, teens, adults, couples, and families. I have over 23 years experience as a therapist. I am also a Certified Employee Assistant Professional offering short term, brief problem resolution. Many companies offer this benefit free of charge to their employees. Ask your employer if EAP is a covered benefit. I am also a certified Substance Abuse Professional and provide evaluations and assessments for the Department of Transportation and those in safety sensitive positions.

From childhood through late adulthood, there are certain times when we may need help addressing problems and issues that cause us emotional distress or make us feel overwhelmed. When you are experiencing these types of difficulties, you may benefit from the assistance of an experienced, trained professional. I offer the caring, expert assistance that one often needs during these stressful times. I can help you identify your problems and assist you in finding the best ways to cope with the situation by changing behaviors that contribute to the problem. I offer help in addressing many situations that cause emotional stress, including, but not limited to:

• Anxiety and Depression
• Family and Relationship Issues
• Adult Children of Alcoholics
• Codependency
• Gay and Lesbian
• Self-esteem Issues
• Substance Abuse and other Addictions  
• Career Change and Job Stress
• Work/ Life Balance
• Life Transitions
• Grief and Loss
• Critical Incident Stress Management
• Substance Abuse Evaluations following the Department of Transportation Guidelines

Click on this link for a detailed description of the above list.

Good indicators of when you should seek counseling are when you're having difficulties at work, your ability to concentrate is diminished or when your level of pain becomes uncomfortable. However, you don't want to wait until the pain becomes unbearable.

I recommend counseling when you:

• Spend 5 out of 7 days feeling unhappy
• Difficulty sleeping
• Over extending yourself
• Lost someone or something (including your job)
• Have a chronic or acute medical illness
• Can no longer prioritize what is most important in your life
• Feel that you can no longer manage your stress

I am a provider for various employee assistance programs, managed care companies and I offer a sliding scale.