Module information
Module details
- Title
- Counselling and Communication Skills for Genetic Counsellors
- Type
- Specialist
- Module code
- S-GC-S1
- Credits
- 10
- Phase
- 2
- Requirement
- Compulsory
Aim of this module
This module will provide the trainee with an introduction to counselling theories relevant to the practice of genetic and genomic counselling, in addition to training in counselling skills. Trainees will appreciate the process of psychological adaptation to a genetic or genomic diagnosis in the family, including the range of coping responses to deal with uncertainty and potential future loss. Trainees will observe and participate in patient-centered genetic and genomic counselling consultations, practicing and applying effective counselling and communication skills to meet the psychological, social and cultural needs of individuals and their families.
Work-based content
Training activities
| # | Learning outcome | Training activity | Type | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| # 1 | Learning outcome 1,2,3,7 |
Training activities
Identify the patient’s agenda for a range of trainee led genetic counselling consultations taking into account the concerns and priorities for the individual/couple and/or family |
Type ETA | Action View |
| # 2 | Learning outcome 1,2 |
Training activities
Take three-generation family histories and interpret the medical, family and psychological history provided |
Type ETA | Action View |
| # 3 | Learning outcome 1,5 |
Training activities
Recognise and reflect on the adaptation process individuals and families go through as they adjust to their genetic situation in one of more cases |
Type DTA | Action View |
| # 4 | Learning outcome 1,3,5,6,7 |
Training activities
Reflect on the use of a range of communication and counselling skills through audio and/or video, recording, with a registered Genetic Counsellor |
Type DTA | Action View |
| # 5 | Learning outcome 1,3,5,7 |
Training activities
Prepare cases for discussion at counselling supervision which focus on the counselling relationship in a trainee consultation, critically reflect on the cases and develop an action plan for future patient interaction |
Type DTA | Action View |
| # 6 | Learning outcome 1,3,4,6,7 |
Training activities
Provide genetic and genomic counselling, using a shared decision-making approach in a supportive manner, in a case where pre-conceptual choices are being discussed with an individual or couple at increased risk of having a pregnancy affected with a genetic condition |
Type ETA | Action View |
| # 7 | Learning outcome 1 |
Training activities
Identify and respond to the emerging needs of the patient or family within a trainee led consultation |
Type DTA | Action View |
| # 8 | Learning outcome 1,2,7 |
Training activities
Tailor communication where there is an additional consideration such as language, education culture or sensory impairment in a trainee-led consultation |
Type DTA | Action View |
| # 9 | Learning outcome 1,3,4 |
Training activities
Facilitate patients’ decision-making when considering whether to have a predictive/pre-symptomatic genetic test in a trainee-led consultation |
Type ETA | Action View |
| # 10 | Learning outcome 1,6,7 |
Training activities
Deliver result for positive and negative test outcomes, under direct supervision by a registered Genetic Counsellor |
Type ETA | Action View |
| # 11 | Learning outcome 4,7 |
Training activities
Make referrals for individuals and/or families to other health or social care professionals |
Type ETA | Action View |
Assessments
Complete 2 Case-Based Discussions
Complete 2 DOPS or OCEs
Direct Observation of Practical Skills Titles
- Draw and interpret a three-generation family tree for a case.
- Identify a support need and provide information during a consultation about either a patient organisation or relevant support agency.
- Respond appropriately to an individual or couple following a bereavement or loss or a new diagnosis in a relative.
- Discuss with parents the options and implications of testing following a diagnosis in a child.
- Summarise at the end of a consultation the plans for follow-up.
- Reflect on learning from a case discussed at supervision.
Observed Clinical Event Titles
- Deliver a bad news result.
- Discuss different pre-conception choices with a patient.
- Provide genetic counselling to a patient or family where English is not the first language.
- Provide genetic counselling to a patient or family where there is a sensory impairment.
Learning outcomes
| # | Learning outcome |
|---|---|
| 1 | Apply counselling skills within genetic and genomic counselling consultations. |
| 2 | Interpret and elicit appropriate medical, family and psychological history from patients in a sensitive and culturally appropriate manner. |
| 3 | Employ counselling skills to facilitate individual/couple and family decision-making. |
| 4 | Identify opportunities to make referrals for individuals and/or families to other support agencies. |
| 5 | Use counselling supervision and reflection to appraise practice and develop counselling skills. |
| 6 | Apply communication skills within genetic and genomic counselling consultations, tailoring the method and style of communication to facilitate understanding of complex information. |
| 7 | Practice in accordance with the relevant standards. |
Clinical experiences
Clinical experiences help you to develop insight into your practice and a greater understanding of your specialty's impact on patient care. Clinical experiences should be included in your training plan and you may be asked to help organise your experiences. Reflections and observations from your experiences may help you to advance your practice and can be used to develop evidence to demonstrate your awareness and appreciation of your specialty.
Activities
- Observe a bad news result consultation and reflect on the process with reference to SPIKES.
- Observe a range of genetic counselling sessions covering a disparate range of conditions and scenarios e.g. prenatal, dysmorphic child, cancer risk assessment and pre-symptomatic testing.
- Reflect on the range of counselling approaches used, the nature of information given and the skills used by the Genetic Counsellor.
- Talk to a patient about their expectations and experience of genetic counselling following a clinic appointment.
Academic content (MSc in Clinical Science)
Important information
The academic parts of this module will be detailed and communicated to you by your university. Please contact them if you have questions regarding this module and its assessments. The module titles in your MSc may not be exactly identical to the work-based modules shown in the e-portfolio. Your modules will be aligned, however, to ensure that your academic and work-based learning are complimentary.
Learning outcomes
On successful completion of this module the trainee will be able to:
- Define and evaluate the counselling skills integral to conducting an effective genetic or genomic counselling session.
- Critically evaluate relevant counselling theories and how these relate to the genetic and genomic counselling context.
- Identify the scope of a ‘normal’ response to bereavement and loss, drawing on current literature and contemporary models of grief and loss.
- Critically evaluate from a patient perspective, the range of counselling support agencies that may be used by patients.
- Discuss the role of critical reflection and use of supervision to support the development of counselling skills.
- Develop and reflect on the importance of the therapeutic relationship in genetic and genomic practice, having positive regard and respect for the autonomy of the individual and preserving confidentiality.
- Practice and use a range of counselling skills to enable individuals to express their beliefs, values and emotions.
- Demonstrate a critical awareness of their own professional strengths and limitations, whilst developing and implementing action plans to support professional development.
Indicative content
- Introduction to counselling theory
- Counselling theory as applied to practice, including:
- Person-centered counselling
- Family system approaches
- Narrative practices
- Introduction to models of grief and loss including wide variation in ‘normal’ responses to loss
- Introduction to the tasks of mourning
- Indications of a more complex grief response and role of specialist support
- Responses to loss associated with genetic diagnosis or risk
- Psychological responses to genetic risk (e.g. monitoring or blunting)
- Individual and cultural influences on decision-making in a genetic counselling context
- Ethical approaches to genetic counselling and professional guidance (e.g. Association of Genetic Nurses and Counsellors (AGNC) Code of Ethics, The Genetic Counsellor Registration Board (GCRB) Code of Conduct, HCPC and their standards of proficiency for clinical practice)
- Counselling skills
- Core skills (empathy, congruence and warmth)
- Advanced skills (advanced empathy, concreteness and challenge)
- How communication skills affect assessment of, and engagement with, individuals
- Non-verbal communication, such as body language
- Language, the use and interpretation of words
- How to modify means of communication to address and take account of factors such as age, capacity, learning ability and physical ability
- The characteristics and consequences of verbal and non-verbal communication and how this can be affected by factors such as age, culture, ethnicity, gender, socio-economic status and spiritual or religious beliefs
- How and when to assist the communication needs of patients and their families, including the use of an appropriate interpreter or advocate, where appropriate and taking into account different communication preferences/styles
- Skills development and assessment through use of role-play and video- recorded sessions
- Brief psychotherapy interventions for application in clinical practice
- Ways of enhancing positive coping and resilience
- Reflective practice
- Continual development of counselling skills through the cycle of reflective practice
- Tools for reflective practice (e.g. use of KIDS framework/Johns model of structured reflection)
- The role of transference and counter-transference in the counselling relationship
- Becoming a reflective practitioner
- The use of supervision in a genetic counselling context
- The code of professional conduct for Genetic Counsellors
- Support networks and other agencies
- The use of psychological support networks to help patients
- The role of lay organisations in relation to counselling support for example bereavement support