What Do Crisis Intervention Specialists Do?
Wondering what the job is really like for crisis intervention specialists?
You've come to the right place.
Keep reading to find detailed information about what crisis intervention specialists do, including the type of work they are tasked with on a daily basis, industries in which they work, and the specific skills needed for a successful career.
Crisis Intervention Specialists Overview & Description
Let's get started with the basics about crisis intervention specialists by taking a look at a simple description and popular job titles.
Crisis Intervention Specialists assess and treat individuals with mental, emotional, or substance abuse problems, including abuse of alcohol, tobacco, and/or other drugs. Activities may include individual and group therapy, crisis intervention, case management, client advocacy, prevention, and education.
Popular Job Titles For Crisis Intervention Specialists
Sample of Reported Job Titles
- Mental Health Clinicians
- Behavior Specialists
- Mental Health Professionals
- Behavioral Health Clinicians
- Behavioral Health Specialists
- Behavior Interventionists
- Behavioral Health Case Managers
- Mental Health Specialists
- Licensed Mental Health Professionals
- Behavioral Health Social Workers
- Assessment Specialists
- Mental Health Case Managers
Read on for insight into the industries where the highest concentration of jobs for crisis intervention specialists can be found.
Best Industries for Crisis Intervention Specialists
Crisis Intervention Specialists Jobs By Industry
- Outpatient Care Centers: 20.4%
- Individual and Family Services: 14%
- Offices of Other Health Practitioners: 11.9%
- Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 11.3%
- Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities: 10.2%
- State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals: 4.8%
- Other: 27.4%
When it comes to jobs in the United States, the largest single category of crisis intervention specialists can be found working in the Outpatient Care Centers sector. In 2023, about 20.4% of all jobs for crisis intervention specialists were found there.
Other top industries by percentage include Individual and Family Services (14%), Offices of Other Health Practitioners (11.9%), Local Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals (11.3%), Residential Intellectual and Developmental Disability, Mental Health, and Substance Abuse Facilities (10.2%) and State Government, Excluding Education and Hospitals (4.8%).
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What Do Crisis Intervention Specialists Do on a Daily Basis?
So you have a high-level understanding of what crisis intervention specialists do and the types of industries in which they work - but what do they really do each day?
A great way to understand the type of work crisis intervention specialists do is to examine actual job postings and focus on the specific skills that employers are seeking. That will help paint a clearer picture of the tasks that crisis intervention specialists tackle each day.
Continue reading for a breakdown of specialized skills found in job postings for crisis intervention specialists, as well as common skills - interpersonal qualities and attributes - that can help you thrive in the workplace.
In-Demand Skills for Today's Crisis Intervention Specialists
Based on 67,835 job postings
Top 5 Specialized Skills for Crisis Intervention Specialists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Mental Health | 36,890 | 54% |
| Social Work | 30,577 | 45% |
| Behavioral Health | 25,602 | 38% |
| Psychology | 24,377 | 36% |
| Treatment Planning | 20,900 | 31% |
Top 5 Common Skills for Crisis Intervention Specialists
| Skills | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 22,301 | 33% |
| Management | 13,246 | 20% |
| Coordinating | 10,807 | 16% |
| Planning | 9,586 | 14% |
| Advocacy | 8,171 | 12% |
Based on 67,835 job postings related to crisis intervention specialists, mental health was the top specialized skill sought by employers, with 54% of all postings looking for that skillset. Skills for social work, behavioral health, psychology, treatment planning and case management were also highly sought.
As for common skills, communication was the most desired skill found in job postings for crisis intervention specialists, followed by management, coordinating, planning, advocacy and writing.
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Mental Health | 36,890 | 54% |
| Social Work | 30,577 | 45% |
| Behavioral Health | 25,602 | 38% |
| Psychology | 24,377 | 36% |
| Treatment Planning | 20,900 | 31% |
| Case Management | 16,978 | 25% |
| Crisis Intervention | 16,439 | 24% |
| Psychiatry | 14,727 | 22% |
| Mental Diseases | 10,849 | 16% |
| Substance Abuse | 9,569 | 14% |
| Human Services | 8,558 | 13% |
| Family Therapy | 8,282 | 12% |
| Community Mental Health Services | 6,941 | 10% |
| Discharge Planning | 6,537 | 10% |
| Psychotherapy | 6,107 | 9% |
| Nursing | 6,024 | 9% |
| Clinical Experience | 5,750 | 8% |
| Medical Records | 5,546 | 8% |
| Group Therapy | 5,269 | 8% |
| Electronic Medical Record | 5,257 | 8% |
| Skill | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Communication | 22,301 | 33% |
| Management | 13,246 | 20% |
| Coordinating | 10,807 | 16% |
| Planning | 9,586 | 14% |
| Advocacy | 8,171 | 12% |
| Writing | 8,021 | 12% |
| Problem Solving | 7,903 | 12% |
| Leadership | 7,582 | 11% |
| Ethical Standards And Conduct | 6,834 | 10% |
| Customer Service | 5,959 | 9% |
| Computer Literacy | 5,577 | 8% |
| Multilingualism | 5,496 | 8% |
| Teaching | 5,076 | 7% |
| Interpersonal Communications | 4,986 | 7% |
| Operations | 4,349 | 6% |
| Good Driving Record | 4,324 | 6% |
| Microsoft Office | 4,324 | 6% |
| English Language | 4,125 | 6% |
| Time Management | 4,109 | 6% |
| Verbal Communication Skills | 4,041 | 6% |
Most In-Demand Jobs for Crisis Intervention Specialists
Top 5 Posted Job Titles
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Mental Health Clinicians | 14,750 | 13.6% |
| Behavior Specialists | 6,210 | 5.7% |
| Mental Health Professionals | 7,422 | 6.8% |
| Behavioral Health Clinicians | 6,186 | 5.7% |
| Behavioral Health Specialists | 8,154 | 7.5% |
According to job postings that were published between September 2022 and August 2023, the top job sought by employers was mental health clinicians, with 3,331 unique job postings. Behavior specialists were second, with 2,624 postings, followed by mental health professionals, behavioral health clinicians and behavioral health specialists.
Expand the section below to see unique job postings for all occupations related to crisis intervention specialists.
| Job Title | Postings | % of Total Postings |
|---|---|---|
| Mental Health Clinicians | 14,750 | 13.6% |
| Behavior Specialists | 6,210 | 5.7% |
| Mental Health Professionals | 7,422 | 6.8% |
| Behavioral Health Clinicians | 6,186 | 5.7% |
| Behavioral Health Specialists | 8,154 | 7.5% |
| Behavior Interventionists | 7,648 | 7% |
| Behavioral Health Case Managers | 5,361 | 4.9% |
| Mental Health Specialists | 5,410 | 5% |
| Licensed Mental Health Professionals | 7,202 | 6.6% |
| Behavioral Health Social Workers | 5,327 | 4.9% |
| Assessment Specialists | 5,608 | 5.2% |
| Mental Health Case Managers | 4,906 | 4.5% |
| Qualified Mental Health Professionals | 5,459 | 5% |
| Clinicians | 4,966 | 4.6% |
| Behavioral Health Professionals | 3,606 | 3.3% |
| Outpatient Clinicians | 2,597 | 2.4% |
| Mental Health Practitioners | 2,102 | 1.9% |
| Mental Health Social Workers | 2,058 | 1.9% |
| Licensed Behavioral Health Clinicians | 1,768 | 1.6% |
| Behavioral Health Care Managers | 2,076 | 1.9% |
Additional Links
Ready to dig deeper into career information for crisis intervention specialists? Visit our other pages focused on salary and education for crisis intervention specialists.
How much do crisis intervention specialists make?
Crisis Intervention Specialists: How do you become one?
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