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. The process integrates the following elements:

• Interpreting family history and medical information to assess risk of disease occurrence or recurrence
• Education about inheritance, testing, management, prevention, resources and research
• Counseling to promote informed decision-making and adaptation to the risk or condition

Trained genetics professionals include doctors who specialize as medical geneticists, genetic counselors (health professionals with specialized graduate degrees) and genetic nurses.

If you are concerned about hereditary disease, you may benefit from a genetic consultation, an important part of the decision-making process for genetic testing.