Crisis counselor vs mental health specialist

The differences between crisis counselors and mental health specialists 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 mental health specialist. Additionally, a crisis counselor has an average salary of $51,142, which is higher than the $47,321 average annual salary of a mental health specialist.

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

Crisis counselor vs mental health specialist overview

	Crisis Counselor	Mental Health Specialist
Yearly salary	$51,142	$47,321
Hourly rate	$24.59	$22.75
Growth rate	12%	9%
Number of jobs	76,255	131,449
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 64%	Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Average age	41	45
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 mental health specialist do?

A mental health specialist is responsible for evaluating a patient's mental health condition and develop appropriate treatment plans to help the patients cope up with their mental difficulties. Mental health specialists provide counseling to the patients, listening to their situation, and responding with the utmost consideration. They also create regular progress reports and medical charts to monitor ongoing medication, updating treatment plans as needed. A mental health specialist must have excellent communication and organization skills, helping the patients deal with their mental stress and return to a healthy lifestyle.

Crisis counselor vs mental health specialist salary

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

	Crisis Counselor	Mental Health Specialist
Average salary	$51,142	$47,321
Salary range	Between $37,000 And $69,000	Between $31,000 And $71,000
Highest paying City	-	San Francisco, CA
Highest paying state	-	California
Best paying company	-	Research Foundation For Mental Hygiene Inc
Best paying industry	-	Government

Differences between crisis counselor and mental health specialist education

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

	Crisis Counselor	Mental Health Specialist
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 64%	Bachelor's Degree, 62%
Most common major	Psychology	Psychology
Most common college	California State University - Long Beach	California State University - Long Beach

Crisis counselor vs mental health specialist demographics

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

	Crisis Counselor	Mental Health Specialist
Average age	41	45
Gender ratio	Male, 22.9% Female, 77.1%	Male, 32.9% Female, 67.1%
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, 7.9% Unknown, 6.2% Hispanic or Latino, 7.9% Asian, 3.1% White, 74.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.6%
LGBT Percentage	15%	15%

Differences between crisis counselor and mental health specialist 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.

Mental health specialist example responsibilities.

Provide individualize intervention for problematic behaviors using TCI techniques such as de-escalation, to prevent and/or manage crisis.
Assist and encourage patients with ADL's including feeding, ambulating, and hygiene to promote patient care.
Utilize rehabilitation principles to support individuals, families and communities in developing effective strategies to improve client mental health functioning.
Provide psychological care to patients in an in-patient psych unit, including facilitating group activities, crisis intervention, implementing therapeutic approaches
Meet physical requirements to complete SAMA and CPR training.
Provide kindness and compassion to the deceased and their families.

Crisis counselor vs mental health specialist skills

Common crisis counselor skills

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

Common mental health specialist skills

Patients, 19%
Social Work, 11%
Rehabilitation, 6%
Mental Health, 5%
CPR, 5%
Vital Signs, 4%

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Crisis Counselor
Crisis Counselor vs Mental Health Specialist

Updated January 8, 2025

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