A genetic counselor is a health professional who has a specialized graduate degree and experience in counseling and medical genetics.

1. Genetic Counseling www.helpingpsychology.com http://www.uwplatt.edu/biology/news/uploaded_images/dna-double-helix-347-795521.jpg

2. A genetic counselor is a health professional who has a specialized graduate degree and experience in counseling and medical genetics. These counselors may have a background in social work, psychology, genetics, public health, nursing or biology. www.helpingpsychology.com http://www.thereforyou.com/images/content/genetics-counseling.jpg

3. What Does A Genetic Counselor Do? A genetic counselor works in a team of health care specialists to provide support and information to individuals who suffer from genetic disorders or birth defects. www.helpingpsychology.com http://www.mssm.edu/static_files/MSSM/Images/Education/Graduate%20School/Prospective%20Students/GeneticCounselingProgram.jpg

4. He or she may also work with a family whose members are at risk for an inherited genetic condition. www.helpingpsychology.com http://www.findingdulcinea.com/docroot/dulcinea/fd_images/news/science/2009/march/Designer-Baby-Service-Criticized-as-Misuse-of-Genetic-Counseling/news/0/image.jpg

5. Most counselors will identify if a family is at risk and may perform a variety of other functions with the family. www.helpingpsychology.com http://www.amedes-group.com/uploads/media/humangenetik.jpg

6. Functions include investigation of the problem experienced by the family, providing and interpreting information about the genetic disorder, studying inheritance patterns to evaluate the risks of a disorder reoccurring, and discussing available treatment options. www.helpingpsychology.com

7. What About Counseling? A genetic counselor will work as a therapist with families, providing counseling to individuals or families or referring them to external support sites in the community or state. www.helpingpsychology.com http://www.dfbwcc.org/images/treatments_endocrine_365.jpg

8. Some genetic counselors also conduct research in the fields of genetics and genetic counseling. www.helpingpsychology.com

9. What Do I Do To Become a Genetic Counselor? To become a genetic counselor, it is necessary to complete an undergraduate degree in psychology and then go on to get a graduate-level education. A master’s degree is the typical requirement at the graduate level. www.helpingpsychology.com http://www.cgm.northwestern.edu/var/nucgm/storage/images/cgm/academics/graduate-program-in-genetic-counseling/5260-4-eng-US/Graduate-Program-in-Genetic-Counseling_page_header.jpg

10. A graduate program in genetic counseling usually includes topics such as psychosocial theory, ethics, genetics and counseling. www.helpingpsychology.com http://medicine.iu.edu/images/medmolgen/students-labs.jpg

11. Upon completion of a graduate program, graduates must obtain certification, which requires a number of hours of documented clinical experience, as well as an examination through the American Board of Genetic Counseling. www.helpingpsychology.com http://www.abgc.net/images/templates/ABGC/header01.jpg

12. The National Society of Genetic Counselors provides a listing of training programs available in the United States in genetic counseling. www.helpingpsychology.com http://navigenics.pmhclients.com/images/uploads/DNAmagnifiedPhoto.jpg

13. Where Can I Work as a Genetic Counselor? This profession is projected to increase in popularity in the coming years due to growing advances in the field of genetics. Once trained, graduates may work in a variety of fields including clinical and commercial settings, education and public policy settings, diagnostic laboratory settings and research settings. In each of these settings, a genetic counselor would work as part of a health care team. www.helpingpsychology.com http://www.urmc.rochester.edu/ob-gyn/divisions/maternal-fetal-medicine/genetics/images/4161054_cropped.jpg

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