About the Profession

What is Genetic Counseling?

Genetic counseling is the process of helping people understand and adapt to the medical, psychological and familial implications of genetic contributions to disease. This process integrates:

• Interpretation of family and medical histories to assess the chance of disease occurrence or recurrence.
• Education about inheritance, testing, management, prevention, resources and research.
• Counseling to promote informed choices and adaptation to the risk or condition.

(The National Society of Genetic Counselor’s Definition Task Force, 2006, p.77)

For more information about genetic counseling, visit the National Society of Genetic Counselors website.