Crisis counselor vs community health counselor

The differences between crisis counselors and community health 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 community health counselor. Additionally, a crisis counselor has an average salary of $51,142, which is higher than the $43,304 average annual salary of a community health counselor.

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

Crisis counselor vs community health counselor overview

	Crisis Counselor	Community Health Counselor
Yearly salary	$51,142	$43,304
Hourly rate	$24.59	$20.82
Growth rate	12%	9%
Number of jobs	76,255	131,804
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 64%	Bachelor's Degree, 61%
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 community health counselor do?

A community health counselor typically provides health and welfare support to the disadvantaged members of a community. Their responsibilities revolve around devising strategies to reach out to community members, coordinating with schools and other institutions, and building positive relationships with the communities that they serve. They may also provide counseling sessions to individuals of all ages, conduct observations and assessments, perform interventions, and identify any signs of abuse or neglect, reporting to the authorities right away. Furthermore, they may refer families or individuals to other social services unit if necessary.

Crisis counselor vs community health counselor salary

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

	Crisis Counselor	Community Health Counselor
Average salary	$51,142	$43,304
Salary range	Between $37,000 And $69,000	Between $29,000 And $63,000
Highest paying City	-	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	-	California
Best paying company	-	Apple
Best paying industry	-	Health Care

Differences between crisis counselor and community health counselor education

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

	Crisis Counselor	Community Health Counselor
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 64%	Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Most common major	Psychology	Psychology
Most common college	California State University - Long Beach	California State University - Long Beach

Crisis counselor vs community health counselor demographics

Here are the differences between crisis counselors' and community health counselors' demographics:

	Crisis Counselor	Community Health Counselor
Average age	41	41
Gender ratio	Male, 22.9% Female, 77.1%	Male, 31.4% Female, 68.6%
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 community health 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.

Community health counselor example responsibilities.

Provide group and individual therapy along with social service coordination for patients in short term stabilization psychiatric unit.
Train in medication administration, therapeutic holds and CPR.
Maintain cleanliness of home provide assistance with cleaning rooms and common areas.
Train in MNT, TCI, first aide and CPR with several other essential trainings.
Complete insurance verification information for Medicaid participants.
Maintain caseload paperwork in accordance with Georgia Medicaid requirements.

Crisis counselor vs community health 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 community health counselor skills

Social Work, 19%
Behavioral Health, 17%
Patients, 17%
Crisis Intervention, 7%
Rehabilitation, 4%
Discharge Planning, 3%

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Community and Social Services Industry
Crisis Counselor
Crisis Counselor vs Community Health Counselor

Updated January 8, 2025

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