Crisis counselor vs group counselor

The differences between crisis counselors and group 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 group counselor. Additionally, a crisis counselor has an average salary of $51,142, which is higher than the $40,155 average annual salary of a group counselor.

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

Crisis counselor vs group counselor overview

	Crisis Counselor	Group Counselor
Yearly salary	$51,142	$40,155
Hourly rate	$24.59	$19.31
Growth rate	12%	9%
Number of jobs	76,255	84,413
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 group counselor do?

A group counselor provides counseling services primarily in a group setting, aiming to provide clients with a supportive and healthy environment where they can work on different issues and reach personal goals. They typically conduct research and assessments, establish program objectives and guidelines, arrange various activities, and facilitate positive interactions to support one another. Additionally, a group counselor has the duty to implement policies and standards, create treatment plans, and optimize strategies to ensure clients receive optimal support and services.

Crisis counselor vs group counselor salary

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

	Crisis Counselor	Group Counselor
Average salary	$51,142	$40,155
Salary range	Between $37,000 And $69,000	Between $14,000 And $110,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between crisis counselor and group counselor education

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

	Crisis Counselor	Group 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 group counselor demographics

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

	Crisis Counselor	Group Counselor
Average age	41	41
Gender ratio	Male, 22.9% Female, 77.1%	Male, 40.8% Female, 59.2%
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 group 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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Group counselor example responsibilities.

Administer first aid and CPR when need.
Develop leadership skills while training younger counselors.
Execute leadership skills by planning and facilitating activities.
Work towards empowering juveniles and their families to support a positive lifestyle by providing strength base intensive intervention and rehabilitation services.
Provide behavior modification and social skills training to children and adolescents with ADHD and other behavioral and emotional disorders.

Crisis counselor vs group 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 group counselor skills

Mental Health, 23%
Patients, 21%
Crisis Intervention, 8%
Social Work, 8%
Rehabilitation, 7%
Group Therapy Sessions, 5%

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Updated January 8, 2025

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