Crisis counselor vs family counselor

The differences between crisis counselors and family 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 family counselor. Additionally, a crisis counselor has an average salary of $51,142, which is higher than the $41,510 average annual salary of a family counselor.

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

Crisis counselor vs family counselor overview

	Crisis Counselor	Family Counselor
Yearly salary	$51,142	$41,510
Hourly rate	$24.59	$19.96
Growth rate	12%	14%
Number of jobs	76,255	93,253
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 64%	Bachelor's Degree, 56%
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 family counselor do?

A Family Counselor treats married couples or family members in order to help them overcome mental or emotional problems. They provide effective treatment measures to help the family members resolve their issues.

Crisis counselor vs family counselor salary

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

	Crisis Counselor	Family Counselor
Average salary	$51,142	$41,510
Salary range	Between $37,000 And $69,000	Between $27,000 And $62,000
Highest paying City	-	New York, NY
Highest paying state	-	New York
Best paying company	-	Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
Best paying industry	-	Professional

Differences between crisis counselor and family counselor education

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

	Crisis Counselor	Family Counselor
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 64%	Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Most common major	Psychology	Psychology
Most common college	California State University - Long Beach	California State University - Long Beach

Crisis counselor vs family counselor demographics

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

	Crisis Counselor	Family Counselor
Average age	41	41
Gender ratio	Male, 22.9% Female, 77.1%	Male, 26.3% Female, 73.7%
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, 7.0% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 13.9% Asian, 4.6% White, 68.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage	15%	6%

Differences between crisis counselor and family 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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Family counselor example responsibilities.

Conduct group check-in and co-lead group psychotherapy sessions to help clients identify and manage problems associate with psychiatric conditions.
Assist the clients in completing their DCF case plan, helping to remove any hindrances they may encounter.
Counsele and test patients who requesting confidential HIV testing services
Collaborate and coordinate patient care with resident/faculty physicians to provide appropriate levels of care to patients.
Receive and process referrals from DCF and community-base case managers for individuals suspect as substance abusers.
Utilize PowerPoint presentations to facilitate ongoing new student orientation, ensuring students understand rules and regulations.

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Crisis counselor vs family 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 family counselor skills

Social Work, 22%
Community Resources, 13%
POC, 7%
Family Support, 5%
Family Therapy, 5%
DOD, 4%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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