Loretta Collins Begg
Vetted

Loretta Collins Begg

She/Her/Hers

Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor, LCPC Specialties Insurance & Fees Locations
Maryland Accepting Online

I am available and taking on new clients. Sessions are on the hour and 45 minutes.

Updated March 6, 2024

Specialties & Expertise

  • Alcohol use disorder & addiction
  • Anxiety
  • Phobias & fears
  • Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
  • Mood disorders
  • Assertiveness

Professional statement

Loretta Begg is a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor located in Bethesda, MD. She has experience working with young adults and adults who struggle with mood disorders, which cause interruptions in their work lives, personal lives, and relationships. Many of her clients suffer from anxiety or depression and struggle to maintain regular daily routines. She also supports those with trauma backgrounds and PTSD, eating disorders, and substance use disorders. Loretta earned a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling from Walden University. She previously worked in a corporate environment, which gives her an understanding of what many of her clients go through when it comes to coping with high pressure to perform and the negative self-talk that can come with high expectations of the self.

Loretta’s approach to therapy draws from behavioral approaches and person-centered therapy. Her main therapy modality is called Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). Through CBT, clients learn about the strong connection between thoughts, emotions, and actions. Loretta offers a gentle perspective on the patterns she sees and points out when clients judge themselves unfairly. Clients are taught how to avoid negative self-talk and to create new, healthy thought patterns that lead to positive emotions.

Loretta is adamant that the term “mental health” is not only pejorative but indicates that it is “less than” in reference to medical diseases. The stigma continues because society does not understand that psychological disorders are brain diseases and show up on an fMRI just as other illnesses.


Message to clients

Thank you for reaching out. We will work as a team to find the best ways for you to feel better. It takes courage and strength to seek help; clearly, you have those. Therapy is a joint venture. A partnership is built between the client and the therapist. I believe that “clicking” is vital in working as a team.

I became interested in therapy after spending 17 years trying to discover why I struggled throughout each day feeling despondent. After 25 years in sales, I decided to change professions and started my career working with people suffering with substance use disorders. Since comorbidities are part of substance abuse, I got experience in those underlying morbidities simultaneously. I work with clients suffering from PTSD, major depressive disorder (MDD), eating disorders (EDs), bipolar disorder, and anxiety, to name a few.

I see you in your entirety, not just the problem with which you are struggling. Many people feel that therapy is for the weak. In actuality, counseling shows your resilience and desire to get better. Make no mistake; therapy is hard work. Employing techniques daily takes practice, so it becomes a type of muscle memory.

I work from a cognitive behavioral standpoint, meaning your behavior will change by reframing your thoughts. I focus on depression, substance abuse, PTSD, anxiety, and self-sabotage. I look forward to working together.


Specialties

Alcohol use disorder & addiction - Tolerating emotional discomfort; reducing or eliminating reliance on alcohol; development of new coping mechanisms for stress and suffering.

Anxiety - Coping with excessive worry, nervousness, or stress; intense discomfort in social settings (social anxiety); sudden and intense feelings of panic (panic disorder)

Phobias & fears - Providing techniques and support to overcome intense fear, anxiety, and panic related to specific triggers, such as heights or crowded spaces

Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) - Healing painful experiences and memories from the past

Mood disorders - Clinical depression, persistent depression, bipolar disorder, and other mood disorders that cause disturbances in the client's mood, causing mood swings, restless sleep, and/or elevated mood

Assertiveness - Empowering oneself to prioritize one’s needs above others, especially when it comes to mental health; practicing how to set and maintain boundaries; exploring why it can be difficult to stand up for oneself in certain situations




Clientele

  • Adults (24+)
  • Seniors (65+)
  • Young adults (18-24)

Insurance

Loretta Begg is not in-network with any insurances.

Read about the benefits of seeing an out-of-network provider here.


Out-of-pocket fees

  • Individual sessions: $180 (45min)
  • Sliding scale: $130 - $180

Location(s)

Online Sessions (Maryland)
Accepting new clients online
Currently Available Times
  • Morning (Before 10am)
  • Daytime (10am - 1pm)
  • Afternoon (1pm - 5pm)
  • Evening (After 5pm)
  • Weekends
Regular Hours
  • Mon 10 am - 6 pm
  • Tue 10 am - 6 pm
  • Wed 10 am - 5 pm
  • Thu 10 am - 5 pm
  • Fri 10 am - 5 pm
  • Sat Not available
  • Sun Not available

Work and Education

Years of Experience: 5 years

BetterHelp, LCPC, 2021 - Present
Begging for Therapy, LCPC, 2022 - Present
The Valley, LGPC, 2021 - 2021
Maryland Wellness & Recovery, LGPC, 2020 - 2021

Walden University, M.S. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, 2019
Trinity University, M.A. in Clinical Mental Health Counseling, 2017
American University, B.A. in English Literature, 1989
University of London, Semester Abroad, 1988
B.A. in English Literature, B.A. in English Literature, 1987


Licensure

Maryland: LC12064


Languages

English