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Direct care counselor vs counselor

The differences between direct care counselors and counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a counselor has an average salary of $36,225, which is higher than the $33,422 average annual salary of a direct care counselor.

The top three skills for a direct care counselor include crisis intervention, autism and CPR. The most important skills for a counselor are patients, crisis intervention, and substance abuse.

Direct care counselor vs counselor overview

Direct Care CounselorCounselor
Yearly salary$33,422$36,225
Hourly rate$16.07$17.42
Growth rate36%10%
Number of jobs123,51977,536
Job satisfaction-2
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 50%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Average age4844
Years of experience--

What does a direct care counselor do?

A direct care counselor provides direct counseling and assistance to the elderly or individuals with disabilities and mental issues. They usually work at rehabilitation centers or care facilities and work together with nurses or caregivers to administer different treatment plans, monitor and support the patients' progress, and help the patients carry out daily activities such as performing hygienic or routine living tasks. Moreover, a direct care counselor may also develop and implement various healthcare programs and recreational activities while adhering to the facility's policies and regulations.

What does a counselor do?

Often, counselors are known to be the go-to person in times we are in need of emotional and psychological support. They help people to manage and overcome the issues which affect their mental health and well-being. Counselors face different kind of situations which may involve trauma, addiction, disabilities, abuse, suicide, anger management, career, and even personal relationships. They provide care, counseling, rehabilitation, and support services. Every counseling requires collaborative effort both from the counselor and client to become effective.

Direct care counselor vs counselor salary

Direct care counselors and counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Direct Care CounselorCounselor
Average salary$33,422$36,225
Salary rangeBetween $22,000 And $49,000Between $19,000 And $67,000
Highest paying City--
Highest paying state-California
Best paying company--
Best paying industry-Education

Differences between direct care counselor and counselor education

There are a few differences between a direct care counselor and a counselor in terms of educational background:

Direct Care CounselorCounselor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 50%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Most common majorPsychologyPsychology
Most common college-University of Pennsylvania

Direct care counselor vs counselor demographics

Here are the differences between direct care counselors' and counselors' demographics:

Direct Care CounselorCounselor
Average age4844
Gender ratioMale, 31.5% Female, 68.5%Male, 38.5% Female, 61.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 4.3% Hispanic or Latino, 17.6% Asian, 8.3% White, 57.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.1%Black or African American, 15.6% Unknown, 5.1% Hispanic or Latino, 11.1% Asian, 3.5% White, 63.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 1.2%
LGBT Percentage7%9%

Differences between direct care counselor and counselor duties and responsibilities

Direct care counselor example responsibilities.

  • Obtain SCIP-R, CPR, and AMAP certifications.
  • Provide training to residents in improving ADL and independent living skills per the IHP and any/all relate behavior or medical requirements.
  • Obtain AMAP certification and administer medications under the supervision of assign nursing staff.
  • Provide direct care assistance for campers with autism, intellectual disabilities, and/or developmental delays.
  • Perform one-on-one supervision of children with disabilities including autism, complex mental health problems, and complex behavioral problems.
  • Help develop and carry-out treatment goals for individual clients as outlined in treatment plans and/or ISP goals and objectives.
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Counselor example responsibilities.

  • Maintain a safe program through ongoing CPI training.
  • Utilize de-escalation skills (CPI) when necessary.
  • Instill confidence, improve all components of writing and reading, and study strategies.
  • Arrange ESL tutoring and perform as liaison between students, parents, and school administrators.
  • Advise students into their major field of study, and assisting them with choosing the correct curriculum.
  • Operate a full service litigation office that evolve from general litigation to criminal litigation to federal criminal trials.
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Direct care counselor vs counselor skills

Common direct care counselor skills
  • Crisis Intervention, 12%
  • Autism, 11%
  • CPR, 10%
  • Developmental Disabilities, 10%
  • Incident Reports, 9%
  • Data Collection, 8%
Common counselor skills
  • Patients, 13%
  • Crisis Intervention, 12%
  • Substance Abuse, 12%
  • Social Work, 10%
  • Community Resources, 4%
  • CPR, 4%

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