- CBT methods
- DBT skills
- Client-centered care
About L
L M (Loretta) Hartley-Bangs is a South Carolina LISW-CP with 36 years of clinical experience. She focuses on common early adult concerns like anxiety, stress, mood problems, substance use, trauma, and family issues. Loretta works directly with people navigating big life changes, including young adult issues and caregiver strain.
She uses straightforward conversation and practical tools in sessions. Loretta draws on Client-Centered Therapy to follow the client's lead and build a plan together. She also incorporates Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) to tackle unhelpful thoughts and behaviors, and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) skills for emotional regulation and distress tolerance.
In practice she addresses depression, bipolar conditions, and post-traumatic stress with a focus on daily coping and problem solving. Loretta helps people sort family of origin patterns, codependency, and communication struggles so they can make clearer choices. She also supports those dealing with drug and alcohol addiction and the stress of caregiving.
Sessions are conversational and action oriented. Clients can expect goal-setting, skill practice, and gentle feedback to try between meetings. Loretta emphasizes realistic steps people can take to manage symptoms and improve routines.
Her experience includes long-term work with adults across life stages, with particular attention to women's issues and aging concerns. People seeking help for young adult issues will find a clinician familiar with the pressures of leaving home, starting careers, and trying to find direction.
How her approaches translate to online work
Client-Centered Therapy prioritizes the client's perspective and goals. Online sessions using this approach focus on listening, clarifying what matters most, and co-creating steps that fit the client's life. This approach helps with decisions about work, relationships, and day-to-day stressors.Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, or CBT, breaks problems into thoughts, feelings, and actions. In online sessions CBT is used to identify unhelpful thinking patterns and test small behavior changes. This can be useful for anxiety, low mood, and social worry common in early adulthood.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy, or DBT, supplies practical skills for regulating emotions and tolerating distress. Online DBT work often includes learning short skills for grounding, emotion regulation, and clearer communication, which can be helpful during high-stress periods.
Choosing the right approach is collaborative. The therapist will talk with the client about goals, try methods that match those goals, and adjust the plan as work progresses. That means methods may be mixed and adapted based on what helps most.
The biography does not specify exact session formats, so confirm current options before booking. Online sessions can make it easier to fit therapy around work or school, allow shorter check-ins when needed, and avoid travel time. Therapists generally aim to set a regular meeting time that fits a client's schedule and life demands.
Areas of expertise
Primary focus
Also works with
Additional focus areas
Therapeutic approaches
Experience
36+ years
Listed in
South Carolina
Languages
English
Frequently asked questions
What concerns does she help with?
She works with stress, anxiety, depression, bipolar conditions, trauma and addiction, as well as family and caregiving-related problems.
What is her therapeutic style?
Her sessions combine client-centered listening with practical methods such as CBT and DBT skills to build coping strategies and problem solving.
How much experience does she have?
She has 36 years of clinical experience working with adults across a range of concerns.
Where is she licensed and practicing?
She practices in South Carolina and holds the credential SC LISW-CP as listed.
Can I work with her if English is not my first language?
Sessions are offered in English.
Does she work with international clients?
She is not currently accepting international clients.
How are sessions scheduled and what do they cost?
Cost varies by location; sessions use a subscription that can be canceled at any time.
How do I get started?
Select the See online therapy options button, complete the short matching questionnaire, and schedule a first session.
Online talk therapy through BetterHelp is for adults aged 18 and over and is not emergency care. If you are in danger, use the emergency numbers. Find someone else by name.