Should I be a crisis counselor?

Crisis counselors are in demand.

The shortage of mental health professionals is expected to continue over the next few years.

Crisis counselors help people cope with stressful situations and their emotional responses to them.

Crisis counselors work in hospitals, mental health centers, and humanitarian aide organizations, or they work on telephone hotlines as staff or volunteers.

As a crisis counselor, you might...

• Provide support right after a traumatic situation and coordinate referrals to other social service agencies.

• Assess suicide, homicide or self-harm risk.

• Teach coping skills and run community trainings.

• Write reports and maintain client files.

• Is a skilled problem-solver.

• Is able to handle other people's distress while remaining calm.

• has excellent interpersonal communication skills.

• is flexible and patient.

• is a self-aware and positive thinker.

Photo by Charles DeLoye on Unsplash

You can be a volunteer crisis counselor if you're at least 18 years old. No degree is required.

You will need at least a bachelor's degree in psychology, sociology, social work, or education to work in the field of crisis intervention.

If you want to work with individuals, you'll need to get a master's degree in social work, counseling, or behavioral health from an accredited social work or counseling program.

Crisis counselors in Canada earn $48,692/year on average.

Crisis counselors in the US earn $40,902/year on average.

If you're thinking about becoming a crisis counselor, you might want to: