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Drug and alcohol treatment specialist vs crisis counselor

The differences between drug and alcohol treatment specialists and crisis counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. While it typically takes 4-6 years to become a drug and alcohol treatment specialist, becoming a crisis counselor takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a crisis counselor has an average salary of $51,142, which is higher than the $32,253 average annual salary of a drug and alcohol treatment specialist.

The top three skills for a drug and alcohol treatment specialist include mental health, crisis intervention and group therapy sessions. The most important skills for a crisis counselor are social work, patients, and mental health crisis.

Drug and alcohol treatment specialist vs crisis counselor overview

Drug And Alcohol Treatment SpecialistCrisis Counselor
Yearly salary$32,253$51,142
Hourly rate$15.51$24.59
Growth rate-12%
Number of jobs67,19276,255
Job satisfaction5-
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Average age3941
Years of experience64

Drug and alcohol treatment specialist vs crisis counselor salary

Drug and alcohol treatment specialists and crisis counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Drug And Alcohol Treatment SpecialistCrisis Counselor
Average salary$32,253$51,142
Salary rangeBetween $26,000 And $39,000Between $37,000 And $69,000
Highest paying CityOxnard, CA-
Highest paying stateHawaii-
Best paying companyCommonwealth Of Pennsylvania-
Best paying industryGovernment-

Differences between drug and alcohol treatment specialist and crisis counselor education

There are a few differences between a drug and alcohol treatment specialist and a crisis counselor in terms of educational background:

Drug And Alcohol Treatment SpecialistCrisis Counselor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 64%
Most common majorPsychologyPsychology
Most common collegeSUNY at AlbanyCalifornia State University - Long Beach

Drug and alcohol treatment specialist vs crisis counselor demographics

Here are the differences between drug and alcohol treatment specialists' and crisis counselors' demographics:

Drug And Alcohol Treatment SpecialistCrisis Counselor
Average age3941
Gender ratioMale, 33.9% Female, 66.1%Male, 22.9% Female, 77.1%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.4% Unknown, 4.6% Hispanic or Latino, 15.4% Asian, 4.6% White, 63.2% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.9%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 Percentage12%15%

Differences between drug and alcohol treatment specialist and crisis counselor duties and responsibilities

Drug and alcohol treatment specialist example responsibilities.

  • Provide individualize intervention for problematic behaviors using TCI techniques such as de-escalation, to prevent and/or manage crisis.
  • Conduct substance abuse assessments and submit treatment recommendations for DUI and felony offenders.
  • Facilitate positive consumer and personal relationships base on positive consumer and personal relationships base on courtesy, compassion, and respect.
  • Provide individualize intervention for problematic behaviors using TCI techniques such as de-escalation, to prevent and/or manage crisis.

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.
  • Show more

Drug and alcohol treatment specialist vs crisis counselor skills

Common drug and alcohol treatment specialist skills
  • Mental Health, 31%
  • Crisis Intervention, 9%
  • Group Therapy Sessions, 8%
  • Substance Abuse Issues, 8%
  • Motivational, 7%
  • Community Programs, 7%
Common crisis counselor skills
  • Social Work, 21%
  • Patients, 8%
  • Mental Health Crisis, 6%
  • Social Services, 5%
  • Crisis Management, 4%
  • Suicide Prevention, 4%

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