Dr. Idalia Montañez —​​​​Psychologist

Dr. Montañez is a licensed psychologist (L&I Provider #0551166) with experience providing care to Spanish-speaking patients and treating psychological issues related to injuries, disabilities, and occupational functioning.

 

Throughout her professional practice, she has worked exclusively with patients involved in Washington's workers' compensation system, providing care through telehealth.

 

This experience has allowed her to develop a strong understanding of the clinical needs of workers who are dealing not only with psychological symptoms, but also with changes in their functional abilities employment circumstances, and recovery process.

A Specialized Practice

 

Dr. Montañez's practice focuses on a specific population:

 

Spanish-speaking workers who need psychological care related to injuries, disabilities, recovery, or occupational functioning.

 

Dr. Montañez does not seek to replace the role of treating physicians, attorneys, vocational counselors, claims administrators, or other professionals.

 

Her role is to provide psychological care within her area of expertise and, when appropriate, maintain professional communication with other members of the care team.

 

Dr. Montañez's expertise includes:

 

  • Bilingual and culturally competent support

  • Objective, evidence-based evaluations

  • Compassionate, client-centered care

 

 

The Approach

 

Dr. Montañez combines evidence-based psychological practices with personalized care. Whether through therapy, behavioral health interventions, or independent psychological evaluations, her focus is on helping injured workers:

 

  • Heal physically and emotionally

  • Manage stress, anxiety, or depression

  • Improve coping skills and resilience

  • Navigate the industrial insurance system with confidence

 

All services are conducted entirely in Spanish, bridging the language gap between workers and other providers in the L&I system.

 

 

Professional Background

 

Dr. Montañez brings over 20 years of clinical and academic experience, including:

 

  • Licensed Psychologist in Washington State and Florida

  • Behavioral Health Consultant in multidisciplinary medical settings

  • Psychological assessment and therapy for occupationally injured workers

  • College and university teaching in psychology, counseling, and human development

  • National Health Service Corps alumna

 

Clinical Experience Highlights:

 

  • Private practice serving injured workers via telehealth

  • Behavioral health consulting in community health centers, helping primary care providers manage chronic conditions and mental health concerns

  • Telehealth and in-person psychological evaluations and therapy for workers’ compensation cases

  • Supporting children, adolescents, and adults with co-occurring medical and mental health conditions

 

 

Education & Training

 

Dr. Montañez holds a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology (Psy.D.), accredited by the American Psychological Association (APA), and completed advanced clinical training through a comprehensive internship program. Her foundational education also includes a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology.

 

Professional Development:

 

  • Extensive training in behavioral health interventions, psychological assessment, and psychotherapy

  • Specialized preparation for working with injured workers in occupational health and workers’ compensation settings

  • Received a Certificate of Completion from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration, Institute for Learning, Education and Development, for completing the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale for DSM-5 (CAPS-5) Clinician Training, an evidence-based assessment training focused on the administration and scoring of the CAPS-5 PTSD diagnostic interview​

  • Received a Certification of Credit from the Uniformed Services University, Center for Deployment Psychology, for completing the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Chronic Pain (CBT-CP) Clinician Training

  • Ongoing education in evidence-based treatments and clinical best practices

 

 

Academic & Teaching Experience

 

Dr. Montañez has over seven years of university-level teaching experience, instructing both undergraduate and graduate students in subjects including:

 

  • Abnormal Psychology

  • Child and Adolescent Counseling & Assessment

  • Life-Span Development

  • Social Psychology and Human Development

 

She has also supervised interns, peer educators, and early-career clinicians, sharing my expertise in clinical assessment, psychotherapy, and behavioral health interventions.

 

 

Publications & Community Involvement

 

  • Published articles on workplace mental health, coping skills, and psychobiology

  • Presented at conferences and workshops on psychological treatments, childhood disorders, and cancer coping strategies

  • Developed community programs supporting families of children with cancer and other mental health initiatives

 

 

Languages & Technology

 

  • Fully bilingual in English and Spanish

  • Skilled in telehealth platforms and EHR systems

  • Experienced in online and hybrid teaching technology

 

 

Personal Interests

 

In her free time, Dr. Montañez enjoys baking a wide variety of baked goods, cooking vegetarian meals, meditating, reading, exercising, walking on the beach, and watching foreign films with her husband.

 

 

I am here to guide and support you through your recovery, entirely in Spanish, helping you feel understood, empowered, and confident in your path forward.

 

 

Víctor Meléndez, M.A., M.Ed.

Víctor is Dr. Montañez's "right hand." He has years of experience as a university instructor of psychological statistics. He is also a visual artist, with works in European and U.S.-American collections. A lover of languages, he is currently a student of Italian, the language of Dante and Petrarca, Verdi and Puccini.