Primary counselor vs family counselor

The differences between primary counselors and family 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 primary counselor, becoming a family counselor takes usually requires 2-4 years. Additionally, a primary counselor has an average salary of $44,580, which is higher than the $41,510 average annual salary of a family counselor.

The top three skills for a primary counselor include group therapy sessions, mental health and crisis intervention. The most important skills for a family counselor are social work, community resources, and POC.

Primary counselor vs family counselor overview

	Primary Counselor	Family Counselor
Yearly salary	$44,580	$41,510
Hourly rate	$21.43	$19.96
Growth rate	9%	14%
Number of jobs	65,753	93,253
Job satisfaction	-	-
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 58%	Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Average age	39	41
Years of experience	6	4

Primary counselor vs family counselor salary

Primary counselors and family counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.

	Primary Counselor	Family Counselor
Average salary	$44,580	$41,510
Salary range	Between $31,000 And $63,000	Between $27,000 And $62,000
Highest paying City	-	New York, NY
Highest paying state	-	New York
Best paying company	-	Shirley Ryan AbilityLab
Best paying industry	-	Professional

Differences between primary counselor and family counselor education

There are a few differences between a primary counselor and a family counselor in terms of educational background:

	Primary Counselor	Family Counselor
Most common degree	Bachelor's Degree, 58%	Bachelor's Degree, 56%
Most common major	Psychology	Psychology
Most common college	Hunter College of the City University of New York	California State University - Long Beach

Primary counselor vs family counselor demographics

Here are the differences between primary counselors' and family counselors' demographics:

	Primary Counselor	Family Counselor
Average age	39	41
Gender ratio	Male, 34.5% Female, 65.5%	Male, 26.3% Female, 73.7%
Race ratio	Black 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, 7.0% Unknown, 5.5% Hispanic or Latino, 13.9% Asian, 4.6% White, 68.5% American Indian and Alaska Native, 0.5%
LGBT Percentage	12%	6%

Differences between primary counselor and family counselor duties and responsibilities

Primary counselor example responsibilities.

Coordinate individual client treatment plans to achieve individual and department rehabilitation goals.
Conduct intake screenings and assessment for treatment entry and appropriateness per ASAM criteria.
Develop and implement individualized treatment plans base on patient needs and ASAM criteria.
Maintain accurate and complete chart documentation regarding patient attitude and progress in the rehabilitation process following program protocols.
Facilitate group activities, arrange for outside recovery-orient NA/AA meetings, and provide a safe environment for recovering patients.
Facilitate substance abuse group counseling sessions to assist patients in recognizing causal factors of substance abuse and in developing coping behaviors.

Family counselor example responsibilities.

Conduct group check-in and co-lead group psychotherapy sessions to help clients identify and manage problems associate with psychiatric conditions.
Assist the clients in completing their DCF case plan, helping to remove any hindrances they may encounter.
Counsele and test patients who requesting confidential HIV testing services
Collaborate and coordinate patient care with resident/faculty physicians to provide appropriate levels of care to patients.
Receive and process referrals from DCF and community-base case managers for individuals suspect as substance abusers.
Utilize PowerPoint presentations to facilitate ongoing new student orientation, ensuring students understand rules and regulations.

Primary counselor vs family counselor skills

Common primary counselor skills

Group Therapy Sessions, 10%
Mental Health, 10%
Crisis Intervention, 10%
Patients, 8%
Intake Assessments, 8%
Substance Abuse Treatment, 8%

Common family counselor skills

Social Work, 22%
Community Resources, 13%
POC, 7%
Family Support, 5%
Family Therapy, 5%
DOD, 4%