Marie Collins, LCPC

I’m a Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor (LCPC) based in Maryland with over 10 years of experience in the field. I work with teens and adults navigating emotional dysregulation, including anxiety and depression, as well as major life transitions, substance use, relationship challenges, and the often-complex work of setting boundaries and building self-worth—among other concerns.

At Collins Psychotherapy, I strive to create a compassionate, trusting space where you can develop the skills needed for emotional regulation, resilience, and confidence in self.

My goal is to help you move through life’s challenges with confidence and heal from past wounds. I’m committed to fostering meaningful transformation that enhances your well-being, strengthens your sense of self, and improves your relationships—both personally and in your community.

I use an integrated approach, tailoring our work to what feels most helpful for you. Whether you're feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or simply craving a space to process and grow, I’m here to support you.

At the heart of my work are values that guide every session:

  • I aim to create a safe, nonjudgmental space where you feel seen, supported, and genuinely cared for.

  • I believe healing begins with the therapeutic relationship. I value building a strong, trusting alliance where you feel empowered and actively involved in your own growth.

  • I care about your whole self, not just your emotional health, but how you're doing physically, mentally, and spiritually. Together, we’ll explore what balance looks like for you.

  • I’m committed to ongoing learning and holding myself to the highest ethical standards, so you can trust that you’re receiving thoughtful, professional care every step of the way.

Work with me

My Therapeutic Approach

I take an integrative approach, shaping our work around what feels most supportive and meaningful for you. Here are a few modalities that align with my style and where I’ve focused most of my training.

Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) – Offers practical skills in mindfulness, emotion regulation, distress tolerance, and interpersonal effectiveness to help you navigate life with more balance and build a life that feels meaningful and worth living

Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – Focuses on identifying and shifting unhelpful thoughts and behaviors to improve emotional well-being.

Motivational Interviewing – Supports you in finding your own motivation and readiness for change, especially around habits or behaviors.

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy – Combines mindfulness and CBT to help you stay present, reduce rumination, and prevent relapse of symptoms being experienced.

Person-Centered Therapy – Offers a nonjudgmental space where you feel heard and accepted, helping you access your inner strengths and make meaningful change.

Solution-Focused Therapy – Helps you build on what’s already working and move toward your goals with a future-oriented, strengths-based lens.

Trauma-Informed Therapy – Prioritizes safety, choice, and empowerment while gently addressing the impact of trauma on your mind and body.

Art (as a therapeutic tool) – Uses creative expression to explore feelings, reduce stress, and access parts of your experience that may be hard to put into words.

Therapy: What’s It All About, Anyway?

You don’t need to be in crisis to benefit from therapy. While many people reach out when they’re feeling overwhelmed or at a breaking point, therapy can also be a space for self-growth, reflection, and deeper connection to yourself. It’s not just about getting through hard moments—it’s about learning, exploring, and growing into who you’re becoming.

What happens in therapy depends on you. There’s no one-size-fits-all approach. Some sessions might feel reflective and exploratory; others might involve practical tools for managing emotions, improving communication, or setting boundaries. Together, we’ll tailor the process to your unique goals and needs.

It’s a place to be heard without judgment, to explore what’s going on beneath the surface, and to make sense of your thoughts, emotions, and behaviors. Therapy can help you move forward with more clarity and self-compassion.  

Your Goals, Your Growth

There are many possible outcomes in therapy. What you put into the process often shapes what you get out of it. As your therapist, I’m here to guide, support, and challenge you along the way. Here are just a few outcomes my clients have shared from their own therapeutic journeys:

  • Work through pain, rejection, or past experiences with support and care

  • Embrace your whole self (even the difficult parts) a journey rooted in acceptance, empathy, and self-honoring

  • Self-awareness, ability to make decisions with greater confidence, strengthened confidence to invest in self

  • Therapy empowers you to trust yourself, own your story, and create the life you deserve

  • Stay present, grounded, and connected to yourself in each moment

  • Learn to manage stress, anxiety, and overwhelming emotions, increased ability to identify your emotions

  • Set boundaries, communicate more effectively, and build stronger connections

  • Greater capacity for positive self-regard and self-thought, feeling worthy of love and belonging

Certifications

National Certified Counselor, NCC (2015)

Maryland Board-Approved Supervisor for LGPCs (2019)

Certified Clinical Trauma Professional (2023)

Compassion Cultivation Trained; Compassion Institute (2024)