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Senior clinician vs mental health counselor

The differences between senior clinicians and mental health counselors can be seen in a few details. Each job has different responsibilities and duties. It typically takes 2-4 years to become both a senior clinician and a mental health counselor. Additionally, a senior clinician has an average salary of $57,908, which is higher than the $49,471 average annual salary of a mental health counselor.

The top three skills for a senior clinician include social work, patients and substance abuse. The most important skills for a mental health counselor are social work, patients, and crisis intervention.

Senior clinician vs mental health counselor overview

Senior ClinicianMental Health Counselor
Yearly salary$57,908$49,471
Hourly rate$27.84$23.78
Growth rate14%9%
Number of jobs32,129110,752
Job satisfaction-2
Most common degreeMaster's Degree, 46%Bachelor's Degree, 58%
Average age4141
Years of experience44

Senior clinician vs mental health counselor salary

Senior clinicians and mental health counselors have different pay scales, as shown below.

Senior ClinicianMental Health Counselor
Average salary$57,908$49,471
Salary rangeBetween $44,000 And $74,000Between $34,000 And $70,000
Highest paying CityScranton, PALongview, WA
Highest paying statePennsylvaniaWashington
Best paying companyWellpathFamily Life Counseling & Psychiatric Services
Best paying industryGovernmentHealth Care

Differences between senior clinician and mental health counselor education

There are a few differences between a senior clinician and a mental health counselor in terms of educational background:

Senior ClinicianMental Health Counselor
Most common degreeMaster's Degree, 46%Bachelor's Degree, 58%
Most common majorSocial WorkPsychology
Most common collegeUniversity of PennsylvaniaCalifornia State University - Long Beach

Senior clinician vs mental health counselor demographics

Here are the differences between senior clinicians' and mental health counselors' demographics:

Senior ClinicianMental Health Counselor
Average age4141
Gender ratioMale, 32.5% Female, 67.5%Male, 31.4% Female, 68.6%
Race ratioBlack 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%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 Percentage6%15%

Differences between senior clinician and mental health counselor duties and responsibilities

Senior clinician example responsibilities.

  • Utilize strengths base approach as well as DBT and CBT techniques.
  • Develop rehabilitation programs for assign offenders or inmates, establishing rules of conduct, goals, and objectives.
  • Assist in providing parenting skills training, individual skill building, individual and family rehabilitation, and case management.
  • Facilitate DBT groups and offer training and support to clinicians around understanding the concepts and principles of this treatment approach.
  • Assess patients assign and evaluate their needs to assure for a successful customize recovery.
  • Provide education to patients and families, health professionals and lay community through professional presentations.
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Mental health counselor example responsibilities.

  • Provide clinical consultation to consumers and clients regarding manage care services and other benefits available to them through their EAP programs.
  • Conduct group check-in and co-lead group psychotherapy sessions to help clients identify and manage problems associate with psychiatric conditions.
  • Certify in CPI (crisis intervention technique).
  • Assist with crisis intervention, (CPI) maintains treatment activities.
  • Provide mental health assessment and evaluation of detainees refer by facility staff or identify by pre-screening (booking or nursing).
  • Assess for special needs during booking process.
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Senior clinician vs mental health counselor skills

Common senior clinician skills
  • Social Work, 30%
  • Patients, 11%
  • Substance Abuse, 6%
  • Group Therapy Sessions, 5%
  • Clinical Services, 4%
  • Mental Health, 4%
Common mental health counselor skills
  • Social Work, 17%
  • Patients, 16%
  • Crisis Intervention, 9%
  • Patient Care, 6%
  • Mental Health Issues, 5%
  • Rehabilitation, 4%

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