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Training to
be a genetic counsellor |
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| Definition
and Aims of genetic counselling |
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Genetic
counselling is defined as 'a communication
process which deals with human problems
associated with the occurrence, or the risk of
occurrence, of a genetic disorder in a family
(American Society of Human Genetics, 1975).
The aims of genetic counselling are to help the
individual or family: |
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understand the information about the genetic
condition -
appreciate the inheritance pattern and risk of
recurrence -
understand the options available
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make decisions appropriate to their personal and
family situation -
make the best possible adjustment to the
disorder or risk. |
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Genetic counselling may change the client's
quality of life. Quality of life may change
positively or negatively. Positive change
requires not only provision of factual
information but also:
the formation of good relationships between the
client and the counsellor enabling the client to place factual genetic
information into the family context facilitating the client to integrate lay
knowledge with factual information. |
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| What skills
are needed by a genetic counsellor? |
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There is a clear
distinction between genetic counsellors, who are
working primarily with families at high genetic
risk, and other health professionals who may
need a basic knowledge of genetics to practise
in their own settings. The term 'genetic
counsellor' has been adopted in the United
Kingdom as the title for non-medical health
professionals working in clinical settings,
providing genetic counselling.
A study by the Working Party of the Association
of Genetic Nurses and Counsellors (AGNC)
indicated that the education and training of
genetic counsellors needs to include experience
of working with people, genetics education,
counselling skills training, and training in
teaching adults.
A process for standardised education and
training of genetic counsellors has been
developed by the AGNC. Practitioners who are
eligible to register will have either a
background in nursing or midwifery OR have
completed a Master's degree in genetic
counselling with a substantial clinical
component. In either case, the practitioner
should have undergone counselling skills
training of at least 120 hours duration. Genetic
counsellors seeking professional registration
will be expected to have completed a period of
training (probably 2 years) covering a broad
spectrum of genetic counselling. |
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| How do I
become a genetic counsellor? |
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If you are a
graduate nurse or midwife, have two years post-
registration experience, and have completed
counselling skills training of at least 120
hours duration, you will be eligible to apply
for a position as a genetic counsellor. When
applying for a post in a genetics centre,
community experience is helpful, as many genetic
counsellors visit families at home. Additional
education or experience in the field of genetics
is also desirable. There are a number of courses
on human or medical genetics available, these
are listed in the
courses
directory.
If you are a graduate of a discipline related to
clinical genetics, such as genetics, biology,
psychology or sociology, then you could apply to
do a Master's degree in genetic counselling.
When selecting students for such courses,
selectors will usually require evidence of
experience of caring work, either paid or
voluntary. At present, there are two
institutions offering a Master's degree in
genetic counselling in the United Kingdom. These
are the University of Manchester and the
University of Wales. |
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| MSc Genetic
Counselling |
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| University of
Manchester:
http://www.medicine.manchester.ac.uk/geneticcounselling |
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| University of
Wales:
http://www.uwcm.ac.uk/study/medicine/medical_genetics/study/msc/ |
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