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Group facilitator vs counselor

The differences between group facilitators 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 $31,316 average annual salary of a group facilitator.

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

Group facilitator vs counselor overview

Group FacilitatorCounselor
Yearly salary$31,316$36,225
Hourly rate$15.06$17.42
Growth rate12%10%
Number of jobs72,87777,536
Job satisfaction-2
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Average age4344
Years of experience12-

What does a group facilitator do?

A group facilitator plans and guides group events to ensure everyone's objectives are met by guiding everyone through the process. They are involved in the overall outcome of the meeting, including participation. Your job as a facilitator is to create an environment where everyone can participate in the group discussion, understand each other's views, and share responsibility. An important thing to note as a facilitator is that you don't take sides and remain neutral.

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.

Group facilitator vs counselor salary

Group facilitators and counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Group FacilitatorCounselor
Average salary$31,316$36,225
Salary rangeBetween $20,000 And $47,000Between $19,000 And $67,000
Highest paying CitySan Francisco, CA-
Highest paying stateCaliforniaCalifornia
Best paying companyHawaii Pacific Health-
Best paying industryGovernmentEducation

Differences between group facilitator and counselor education

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

Group FacilitatorCounselor
Most common degreeBachelor's Degree, 60%Bachelor's Degree, 59%
Most common majorPsychologyPsychology
Most common collegeCalifornia State University - Long BeachUniversity of Pennsylvania

Group facilitator vs counselor demographics

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

Group FacilitatorCounselor
Average age4344
Gender ratioMale, 28.7% Female, 71.3%Male, 38.5% Female, 61.5%
Race ratioBlack or African American, 11.2% Unknown, 5.2% Hispanic or Latino, 18.8% Asian, 6.5% White, 56.3% American Indian and Alaska Native, 2.1%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 Percentage11%9%

Differences between group facilitator and counselor duties and responsibilities

Group facilitator example responsibilities.

  • Analyze online learning experience and achieve improvement through implementing use of social networking, interactive PowerPoint and additional software.
  • Provide individual and family therapy to the community at large and select clients of the IOP program.
  • Facilitate adult groups for mental health intensive outpatient program where focus are on DBT and CBT skills.
  • Provide DBT groups to adult populations with personality disorders.
  • Facilitate intensive wraparound services to families with emotionally disturb children and adolescents.
  • Gather facts and evidence to establish eligibility benefits base on HIV and medical conditions.
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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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Group facilitator vs counselor skills

Common group facilitator skills
  • Social Work, 15%
  • Substance Abuse, 14%
  • Crisis Intervention, 7%
  • Mental Health Issues, 5%
  • Community Resources, 4%
  • Domestic Violence, 4%
Common counselor skills
  • Patients, 13%
  • Crisis Intervention, 12%
  • Substance Abuse, 12%
  • Social Work, 10%
  • Community Resources, 4%
  • CPR, 4%

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