Actively Engaging with Patients in Decision‐Making

Defining orienting language in the genetic counseling process

“…The category of Guidance has implications for the long‐standing discussions in the field about the appropriate use of a spectrum of directiveness. The conversation has evolved beyond the tenet of non‐directiveness to a goal of increasing patient autonomy (Kessler, 1992) and using techniques, such as shared decision making (Elwyn et al, 2000; Shugar & Shuman, 2020) and motivational interviewing (Resnicow et al, 2022), to aid clients in making informed decisions that improve their health and the health of their families while incorporating their own personal values. Such techniques are compatible with the range of guidance identified in our study, which found many examples of genetic counselors providing guidance, ranging from subtle language to strongly worded health promotion (for example, see Table 2 in sections on Guidance as Strategy and as Purpose).…”