Loretta Collins (Begg), MD, LCPC

Loretta Collins (Begg) is a licensed clinical professional counselor and a medical doctor working in Maryland. She moved into counseling after a long sales career and now draws on both life experience and clinical training. Her style is collaborative and straightforward, with a focus on practical steps people can use right away.

She uses Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, which looks at how thoughts and actions affect feelings. She also relies on client-centered methods that prioritize the person's own goals and pace. Sessions are framed as a partnership rather than a lecture.

Loretta has focused experience with substance use and co-occurring concerns, such as post-traumatic stress, mood disorders, eating issues, and anxiety. She also helps people facing stress, compulsive behaviors, anger, career strain, and compassion fatigue. Her practice addresses common problems like guilt, shame, and impulsivity as well.

People who come to her can expect clear, direct conversation about what’s happening and what to try next. She uses short-term strategies alongside longer-term work when that fits the person’s needs. The approach is practical and goal-oriented, with attention to how life circumstances affect mental health.

Loretta worked in sales for 25 years before earning a Master of Science in Clinical Mental Health Counseling. She brings real-world perspective to clinical concerns and aims to reduce the stigma around mental health. Her background informs how she helps people reframe challenges and build forward movement.

How these approaches translate to online therapy

Client-Centered Therapy centers on the person's own goals and pace. In sessions the therapist listens closely, reflects what she hears, and helps the person decide next steps. This approach helps when someone needs space to process feelings and set their own priorities.

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy focuses on the links between thoughts, behaviors, and feelings. It uses concrete exercises and experiments to test new ways of thinking and acting, which can reduce symptoms of anxiety, depression, and mood instability. CBT works well for concerns like impulsivity, addiction patterns, and stress management.

Finding the right approach is part of the work together. The therapist will talk with the person about their needs, goals, and preferences, then recommend methods to try. Adjustments are made over time based on what helps most, so therapy stays collaborative and flexible.

Online formats include video calls, phone sessions, live chat, and text-based messaging. Video mirrors in-person conversation when visual cues matter, while phone sessions can require less bandwidth and suit a brief check-in. Live chat and text messaging are useful for shorter updates, between-session check-ins, or when writing helps organize thoughts. These options make it easier to fit therapy into a busy life and keep momentum between meetings.