Skills Needed to Be a Crisis Intervention Specialist

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A crisis intervention specialist supports individuals who are experiencing a mental health crisis and need immediate attention before they harm themselves or others. This is a very rewarding and challenging career choice that requires a college degree and specialized training. There are many different skills needed to be a crisis intervention specialist. If this is a career path you are interested in, continue reading to learn what it takes to thrive in this vital position.  

The Behavioral Health Jobs website specializes in the healthcare industry and is your best resource for finding career advice and a new job helping others. Our job board contains new jobs in administration, medical technicians, and clinical roles for all experience levels at hospitals, schools, and treatment centers around the country. We also have career tips to improve your chances of landing that dream job.  

Check out all of the crisis intervention specialist jobs online today at the Behavioral Health Jobs website.  

Skills Needed to Be a Crisis Intervention Specialist 

Supporting people who are going through a crisis is a difficult process. You have to maintain a level head while thinking on your feet to prevent the situation from worsening. To function well as an intervention specialist, you need a number of hard and soft skills.  

Your hard skills are learned through post-secondary education and on-the-job experience. It involves reading and understanding medical charts, knowing how to diagnose mental health disorders, and specialized training in medical practices and equipment.  

Soft skills include emotional intelligence, being flexible and adaptable, and having a strong desire to help others in their worst moments. You learn these through everyday experiences with family, friends, and your peers.  

Here is a breakdown of the job skills for crisis intervention specialists: 

  • Patient advocacy 
  • Crisis assessment 
  • Knowledge of mental health disorders 
  • Counseling/therapist training 
  • Conflict resolution and de-escalation 
  • Active communication 
  • Time management 
  • Interpersonal skills 
  • Able to express empathy and compassion 
  • Problem-solving skills 

These are just a few of the skills needed to be a crisis intervention specialist. If you are interested in this rewarding career path, you will need a bachelor’s degree in psychology, social work, behavioral science, or a related field. More advanced positions may require a master’s degree along with crisis intervention certifications. 

When you are ready to start searching for a new job helping people struggling with their mental health, Behavioral Health Jobs can connect you with hundreds of positions in your area.  

Crisis Intervention Specialist Jobs 

Jobs for substance abuse and mental health counselors are at an all-time high. This is one of the fastest-growing industries, with an expected 18% growth rate between now and 2032.  

Here are some crisis intervention specialist jobs that you can apply for today: 

  1. Crisis Specialist – Provides telephone crisis counseling to determine appropriate interventions as well as participate in mobile outreach within the community. This position requires a bachelor’s degree. 
  2. Family Specialist/Case Manager – In this role, you will manage multiple families and respond to crises on weekdays and weekends using a Family Centered Treatment program (FCT). This position requires a bachelor’s degree and one year of experience in child welfare. 
  3. Psychiatric Nurse Practitioner – You will conduct thorough psychiatric assessments of residents while formulating treatment plans, assist in crisis interventions, and support the patient and their families with education and advocacy. This position requires an advanced nurse practitioner certification. 
  4. Early Intervention Specialist – In this job, you will work with young children with developmental disabilities and implement specialized treatment programs, coordinate services, and assist in crisis interventions as necessary. This position requires a bachelor’s degree in early childhood development and early childhood certifications.  

When applying for a new job, be sure to tailor the resume to the specific job skills listed in the description. This will improve your chances of scoring well with applicant tracking systems and getting the attention of hiring teams.  

At Behavioral Health Jobs, our goal is to help job seekers find a rewarding career in the behavioral health field. You can begin a new career search by entering the job title or keywords as well as filtering for industries if you want to work in a specific organization, like treatment centers, schools, or hospitals.  

If you have the job skills for a crisis intervention specialist position, check out all of the available jobs on the Behavioral Health Jobs website today.  

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