Child and family therapist vs clinical therapist

The differences between child and family therapists and clinical therapists can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a clinical therapist has an average salary of $57,864, which is higher than the $55,339 average annual salary of a child and family therapist.

The top three skills for a child and family therapist include social work, diagnosis and mental health. The most important skills for a clinical therapist are social work, patients, and crisis intervention.

Child and family therapist vs clinical therapist overview

	Child And Family Therapist	Clinical Therapist
Yearly salary	$55,339	$57,864
Hourly rate	$26.61	$27.82
Growth rate	14%	17%
Number of jobs	120,152	136,898
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Master's Degree, 51%	Master's Degree, 51%
Average age	41	41
Years of experience	4	-

What does a child and family therapist do?

Child and family therapists are therapists who specialize in treating traumatized children due to neglect or abuse. They always formulate various techniques and activities to treat their patients and help improve the affected family's quality of living while maintaining confidentiality and following HIPAA laws and agency policies and procedures. During treatment, they monitor the progress of their patients and adjust the treatment accordingly. They also train youth counselors to maintain open communication with their families to know the cause and resolve problems faster.

What does a clinical therapist do?

A Clinical Therapist works with patients to help identify, examine, and treat mental health and emotional issues or disorders. They counsel individuals or groups regarding psychological or emotional problems, as well as observe clients to detect indications of abnormal physical or mental behavior.

Child and family therapist vs clinical therapist salary

Child and family therapists and clinical therapists have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Child And Family Therapist	Clinical Therapist
Average salary	$55,339	$57,864
Salary range	Between $37,000 And $81,000	Between $42,000 And $77,000
Highest paying City	San Rafael, CA	Los Angeles, CA
Highest paying state	Alaska	California
Best paying company	Everymind (formerly Mental Health Association Of Montgomery County)	CVS Health
Best paying industry	Finance	Government

Differences between child and family therapist and clinical therapist education

There are a few differences between a child and family therapist and a clinical therapist in terms of educational background:

	Child And Family Therapist	Clinical Therapist
Most common degree	Master's Degree, 51%	Master's Degree, 51%
Most common major	Psychology	Social Work
Most common college	California State University - Long Beach	California State University - Long Beach

Child and family therapist vs clinical therapist demographics

Here are the differences between child and family therapists' and clinical therapists' demographics:

	Child And Family Therapist	Clinical Therapist
Average age	41	41
Gender ratio	Male, 19.2% Female, 80.8%	Male, 23.4% Female, 76.6%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 7.0% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 13.9% Asian, 4.6% White, 68.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%	Black or African American, 4.0% Unknown, 3.8% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 11.2% White, 72.6% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage	6%	12%

Differences between child and family therapist and clinical therapist duties and responsibilities

Child and family therapist example responsibilities.

Develop and lead DBT base therapy groups for children and adolescents in residential treatment.
Train in HIPAA as well as an understanding of BCBA professional standards.
Create, implement, and monitor behavior programs under supervision of a BCBA.
Conduct psychological testing for social security disability, vocational rehabilitation, and hospital inpatient populations.
Perform occasional psychosocial rehabilitation services.
Perform occasional psychosocial rehabilitation services.

Clinical therapist example responsibilities.

Provide clinical consultation to consumers and clients regarding manage care services and other benefits available to them through their EAP programs.
Provide direct treatment services such as individual/group therapy and intervene in crisis situations when patients exhibit acute psychiatric symptoms.
Direct patients to designate residential or supportive living options, community base placement/ treatment or other resources as necessary.
Provide training for federal and public organizations regarding the psychological aspects of veterans having experience combat or military sexual trauma.
Work closely with a license orthotist/prosthetist to obtain orthotics for children who require them.

Child and family therapist vs clinical therapist skills

Common child and family therapist skills

Social Work, 21%
Diagnosis, 8%
Mental Health, 6%
Individual Therapy, 6%
Community Resources, 5%
Behavioral Health, 5%

Common clinical therapist skills

Social Work, 26%
Patients, 12%
Crisis Intervention, 8%
Mental Health, 4%
Discharge Planning, 4%
Community Resources, 3%

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Community and Social Services Industry
Child And Family Therapist
Child And Family Therapist vs Clinical Therapist

Updated January 8, 2025

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