Crisis counselor vs clinical counselor

The differences between crisis counselors and clinical counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a crisis counselor and a clinical counselor. Additionally, a clinical counselor has an average salary of $54,191, which is higher than the $51,142 average annual salary of a crisis counselor.

The top three skills for a crisis counselor include social work, patients and mental health crisis. The most important skills for a clinical counselor are social work, patients, and foster care.

Crisis counselor vs clinical counselor overview

	Crisis Counselor	Clinical Counselor
Yearly salary	$51,142	$54,191
Hourly rate	$24.59	$26.05
Growth rate	12%	17%
Number of jobs	76,255	146,133
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 64%	Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Average age	41	41
Years of experience	4	4

What does a crisis counselor do?

A crisis counselor is responsible for providing assistance and emotional support to clients under crises or mental health emergencies caused by stress, trauma, grief, and other factors. Most crisis counselors work at clinics or counseling centers, and there are instances where they can be at schools and organizations. Aside from diagnosing and providing specific treatments, a crisis counselor must also build rapport with clients, helping them feel comfortable every step of the way, and serving as a positive influence in their journey to recovery.

What does a clinical counselor do?

A Clinical Counselor interviews clients to assess their mental health and behavioral problems. They examine issues such as substance abuse, depression, stress, aging and self-image.

Crisis counselor vs clinical counselor salary

Crisis counselors and clinical counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Crisis Counselor	Clinical Counselor
Average salary	$51,142	$54,191
Salary range	Between $37,000 And $69,000	Between $43,000 And $67,000
Highest paying City	-	Bethesda, MD
Highest paying state	-	Maryland
Best paying company	-	Novo Nordisk
Best paying industry	-	Professional

Differences between crisis counselor and clinical counselor education

There are a few differences between a crisis counselor and a clinical counselor in terms of educational background:

	Crisis Counselor	Clinical Counselor
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 64%	Bachelor's Degree, 55%
Most common major	Psychology	Psychology
Most common college	California State University - Long Beach	California State University - Long Beach

Crisis counselor vs clinical counselor demographics

Here are the differences between crisis counselors' and clinical counselors' demographics:

	Crisis Counselor	Clinical Counselor
Average age	41	41
Gender ratio	Male, 22.9% Female, 77.1%	Male, 28.4% Female, 71.6%
Race ratio	Black or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 3.2% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%	Black or African American, 11.3% Unknown, 5.9% Hispanic or Latino, 12.2% Asian, 3.2% White, 67.0% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.4%
LGBT Percentage	15%	15%

Differences between crisis counselor and clinical counselor duties and responsibilities

Crisis counselor example responsibilities.

Conduct group check-in and co-lead group psychotherapy sessions to help clients identify and manage problems associate with psychiatric conditions.
Conduct mental health evaluations and behavioral health crisis assessments for determination of functioning and mental status of patients.
Provide education to patients about relevant aspects of mental illness and/or chemical dependency to support maximum utilization of treatment.
Train to use CPI, MOAB, and CPR as needed.
Aid callers/chatters suffering from various life crises by use of strong listening skills, empathy, and compassion.
Make patient referrals to outpatient medical clinics, community services, or rehabilitation facilities.

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Clinical counselor example responsibilities.

Manage a caseload of individuals in programs design to provide vocational rehabilitation and other services to the developmentally disable.
Conduct group check-in and co-lead group psychotherapy sessions to help clients identify and manage problems associate with psychiatric conditions.
Perform client intake assessments and conduct monthly assessments to identify progress of patients and determine individuals ready to graduate from program.
Review charts to ensure that they are in compliance with OASAS standards.
Initial assessment, diagnosis, ASAM criteria, treatment planning , 3rd party contact, group and individual therapy.
Maintain appropriate documentation per NYS OASAS regulations and APG guidelines

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Crisis counselor vs clinical counselor skills

Common crisis counselor skills

Social Work, 21%
Patients, 8%
Mental Health Crisis, 6%
Social Services, 5%
Crisis Management, 4%
Suicide Prevention, 4%

Common clinical counselor skills

Social Work, 36%
Patients, 8%
Foster Care, 7%
Independent Living, 6%
Child Abuse, 4%
Clinical Services, 3%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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