Erin Ash

This Interviewing and Counseling Based Methods in Genetic Counseling course provides exploration and practice of counseling skills applied to genetic counseling practice. Counseling skills are applied to genetic counseling scenarios as well as to professional interactions. Students learn to utilize different counseling models as they relate to genetic counseling practice, identify counseling strategies that can be applied to specific patient scenarios, and apply motivational interviewing in a genetic counseling session to facilitate patient management.

This course reviews the basic clinical skills required to facilitate the transition between basic medical sciences and the study of specific genetic disease entities. Emphasis will be on understanding the symptoms and physical signs needed to construct and decipher the medical history, physical examinations, written case summary, and oral presentation. Specific genetic counseling cases, as well as general principles, will be discussed in a workshop format.

The interview is a fundamental component in the genetic counseling process. This course provides an overview of concepts and skill in this area of practical learning. Through engaging in activities and practice opportunities the student will test their knowledge, learn skills, and refine techniques for interviewing patients. In clinical work, we use an interview to begin to see our patients, to learn about them as individuals, and to let them see us, to learn about us as helping professionals.