Loretta Collins (Begg) , MD, LCPC

Loretta Collins (Begg) brings a thoughtful blend of life experience and clinical training to her work as a mental health professional in Maryland. After a 25-year career in sales, she returned to graduate school to earn a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and later obtained credentials as an MD and an LCPC - MD indicates a medical degree and LCPC denotes a licensed clinical counselor. With four years of clinical experience, she practices from client-centered and cognitive-behavioral perspectives, emphasizing a collaborative, partnership-based approach to care.

Her clinical background includes substantial work with people coping with substance use disorders and co-occurring conditions, such as post-traumatic stress, major depressive disorder, eating disorders, bipolar disorder, and anxiety. She focuses on helping clients navigate issues including stress, addiction, trauma and abuse, mood disorders, and related challenges that affect daily functioning and relationships.

Loretta is motivated by a commitment to reduce stigma around psychological health, advocating for treatment of brain-related conditions with the same respect afforded to physical health. Her practice centers on respectful listening, practical tools, and tailored strategies designed to support recovery and resilience.

Client-centered and CBT approaches for online care

Loretta draws on Client-Centered Therapy and Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to guide online work. Client-Centered Therapy emphasizes a respectful, nonjudgmental relationship where the client’s experience leads the process; it helps people who need empathetic support to explore identity, values, and relationship patterns. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) focuses on identifying unhelpful thoughts and behaviors and learning practical skills to manage symptoms; it is well suited to addressing anxiety, mood concerns, and patterns linked to addiction and stress.

Finding the right therapeutic approach is part of the collaborative process. Loretta works with clients to assess needs, goals, and preferences, adapting methods over time so therapy feels like a shared effort tailored to each person’s situation. Licensed professionals aim to match tools and pacing to what will be most helpful.

Online therapy offers flexibility in how people connect, including video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. These options can make it easier to fit sessions into work and family schedules, reduce travel time, and maintain continuity of care when life is busy, while still allowing therapists to deliver structured, effective support.