Medical specialties
As members of the health care team, certified genetic counselors help families affected by (or at risk for) inherited conditions. They serve as resources for other health care professionals, patients and the general public.
Many certified genetic counselors work in medical settings. They work with people seeking a diagnosis, who have just received a diagnosis or who have questions about their chances of developing an inherited condition.
It is not unusual for multiple genetic counseling sessions to occur and, at a minimum, include a pre-testing and post-testing session. During the initial genetic counseling visit, the genetic counselor will determine why the patient/family is seeking genetic counseling, identify what information they wish to obtain from the session, collect and record a family history, and assess and record the psycho-social history of the patient.