Direct care counselor vs group counselor

The differences between direct care counselors and group counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. Additionally, a group counselor has an average salary of $40,155, 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 group counselor are mental health, patients, and crisis intervention.

Direct care counselor vs group counselor overview

	Direct Care Counselor	Group Counselor
Yearly salary	$33,422	$40,155
Hourly rate	$16.07	$19.31
Growth rate	36%	9%
Number of jobs	123,519	84,413
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 50%	Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Average age	48	41
Years of experience	-	4

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 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.

Direct care counselor vs group counselor salary

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

	Direct Care Counselor	Group Counselor
Average salary	$33,422	$40,155
Salary range	Between $22,000 And $49,000	Between $14,000 And $110,000
Highest paying City	-	-
Highest paying state	-	-
Best paying company	-	-
Best paying industry	-	-

Differences between direct care counselor and group counselor education

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

	Direct Care Counselor	Group Counselor
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 50%	Bachelor's Degree, 61%
Most common major	Psychology	Psychology
Most common college	-	California State University - Long Beach

Direct care counselor vs group counselor demographics

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

	Direct Care Counselor	Group Counselor
Average age	48	41
Gender ratio	Male, 31.5% Female, 68.5%	Male, 40.8% Female, 59.2%
Race ratio	Black 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, 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	7%	15%

Differences between direct care counselor and group 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.

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.

Direct care counselor vs group counselor skills

Common direct care counselor skills

Crisis Intervention, 12%
Autism, 11%
CPR, 10%
Developmental Disabilities, 10%
Incident Reports, 9%
Data Collection, 8%

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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Direct Care Counselor
Direct Care Counselor vs Group Counselor

Updated January 8, 2025

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