SALT LAKE CITY — More than ever we are looking for help to combat the effects of COVID-19 —both physically and mentally. That has led to many of the public to turn to the help of a therapist.

On a recent episode of the Project Recovery podcast, Dr. Matt Woolley, a licensed Clinical Psychologist, spoke about the importance of finding the right therapist for your situation.

Why it might be hard to find a therapist right now

If you try to find a therapist right now, you might encounter longer than usual wait times says Dr. Woolley.

“People are aware that going to therapy might be more helpful for them this year than in past years,” he said. “The more society realizes they can benefit from mental health care [right now], I think the more we’re getting overwhelmed with calls and waitlists.”

He’s also quick to point out how much the recent COVID-19 restrictions have affected many of society.

“It’s not just an individual problem but [it’s a] whole society [problem]. People are stuck at home. I don’t think many people realized how hard that would be on them,” he said.

One way to help get the assistance you need quickly is to understand the care that’s right for you.

How to find the right therapist by investing in your own health

If you are considering looking for a therapist, Dr. Woolley recommends asking yourself a series of questions that might help pinpoint exactly what you’re looking for.

What are my presenting problems?

Why do I need to go to a therapist?

Why is it important for me to go to a therapy that specializes is in a specific form of therapy?

You should also do as much research into a specific therapist as possible. That way you can understand the type of specialty that the therapist has studied. As well as ensuring that they are certified in the state of Utah. 

“If you’re looking for family therapy, a marriage and family therapist is probably a really good choice because that’s their focus,” Dr. Woolley said. “Everybody has a different specialty and people don’t realize that’s the same with therapists.”

So you can find a list of potential options that may or may not be applicable to you. 

Different types of therapist specialties

Addiction – An addiction therapist is a specially trained counselor with the knowledge, skills, and clinical experience to assist clients in overcoming substance abuse problems.

Behavioral – Behavioral therapists typically work with clients that are experiencing life difficulties as a result of a mental disorder.

Clinical – Clinical therapists are much like behavioral therapists. They use their training in counseling to provide clients with therapeutic interventions that help them overcome difficulties related to mental health problems.

Cognitive – Cognitive therapy focuses on the thoughts clients have that derail healthy mental functioning. 

Marriage and Family – Marriage and family therapists train in using psychotherapy and other mental health approaches to identify, diagnose, and treat mental disorders that disrupt the marriage and family environment.

To learn more about the different therapist specialties you can visit the American Psychological Association website.

Listen to the podcast to learn more about therapy and how it affects self-introspection

For more information on opioid prevention or if you or someone you know is struggling, you can find more information on Facebook, KSL TV, or from Use Only as Directed. To hear more from Casey Scott and Dr. Matt Woolley, you can listen below or subscribe to the ‘Project Recovery’ podcast on Apple Podcasts or wherever you get major podcasts.