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The differences between mental health therapists and mental health consultants can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a mental health therapist and a mental health consultant. Additionally, a mental health consultant has an average salary of $51,006, which is higher than the $50,259 average annual salary of a mental health therapist.
The top three skills for a mental health therapist include social work, patients and mental health. The most important skills for a mental health consultant are healthcare, substance abuse, and patients.
| Mental Health Therapist | Mental Health Consultant | |
| Yearly salary | $50,259 | $51,006 |
| Hourly rate | $24.16 | $24.52 |
| Growth rate | 9% | 9% |
| Number of jobs | 114,386 | 127,233 |
| Job satisfaction | - | - |
| Most common degree | Master's Degree, 49% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Years of experience | 4 | 4 |
The job of mental health therapists is to guide individuals, groups, couples, and families with problems that are impacting their well-being and mental health. Their duties and responsibilities include encouraging clients to talk about their experiences, examining issues that may affect mental health such as substance abuse and bullying, and assisting clients in defining their goals and action plans. Mental health therapists are also responsible for developing therapeutic processes, referring clients to other services or resources like psychologists, and helping them adjust to life changes.
A mental health consultant is responsible for providing counseling and emotional support to manage a client's issue and control behaviors. Mental health consultants must have excellent communication and listening skills to understand and assess the client's situation and evaluate the level of their emotional and psychological distress. They also need to monitor progress on the client's state and use different psychotherapy methods and treatment plans. A mental health consultant should also reach out to other health professionals to ask assistance for any recovery options as needed.
Mental health therapists and mental health consultants have different pay scales, as shown below.
| Mental Health Therapist | Mental Health Consultant | |
| Average salary | $50,259 | $51,006 |
| Salary range | Between $35,000 And $70,000 | Between $34,000 And $75,000 |
| Highest paying City | San Francisco, CA | San Francisco, CA |
| Highest paying state | Connecticut | California |
| Best paying company | Tykes And Teens | Guidehouse |
| Best paying industry | Non Profits | Government |
There are a few differences between a mental health therapist and a mental health consultant in terms of educational background:
| Mental Health Therapist | Mental Health Consultant | |
| Most common degree | Master's Degree, 49% | Bachelor's Degree, 53% |
| Most common major | Social Work | Psychology |
| Most common college | California State University - Long Beach | University of Pennsylvania |
Here are the differences between mental health therapists' and mental health consultants' demographics:
| Mental Health Therapist | Mental Health Consultant | |
| Average age | 45 | 45 |
| Gender ratio | Male, 23.3% Female, 76.7% | Male, 29.3% Female, 70.7% |
| Race ratio | 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% | 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% |