The Convergence of Counseling and Psychiatric Genetics: An Essential Role for Counselors

Abstract

Research in psychiatric genetics shows that many mental disorders commonly seen by counselors are associated with the presence of specific genes. Although findings in gene research call for some changes in the way counselors approach intervention, in most cases, the importance of the counseling profession's core commitments is underscored. This article introduces the field of psychiatric genetics, clarifies the importance of counseling interventions in gene‐associated mental disorder, and highlights practice questions stimulated by growing knowledge in pychiatric genetics.

Commentary on Freedom, or, Maybe Integration Is Not Just for Counseling Anymore

“…Even more broadly, the Integral Model may offer a means of inclusively framing what each of the allied helping professions offers, successfully avoiding subtle or overt implications of any one profession being superior or inferior to the others. Douthit (2006) articulated what many readers might have observed; in the recent past, the medical model (namely psychiatry) in Western mental health service reigned economically and politically dominant. From a more balanced, egalitarian viewpoint, a less hierarchical conceptualization of the mental health field is that the allied mental health professions each have a somewhat different emphasis while all simultaneously intend to promote human health, development, empowerment, and justice.…”

“…There seem to now be core principles in the counseling profession. Douthit (2006) identified a "rich tradition of prevention, developmentalism, multiculturalism, contextualism, and social activism" (p. 17) among professional counselors. Mellin, Hunt, and Lindsey (2011) cited multiple scholars who have identified the primary characteristics of counselors as professionals who emphasize developmental, preventive, and wellness issues, and Hansen (2007) stated, "[The counseling profession] places emphasis on client strengths, potential for growth, and developmental transitions" (p. 289).…”

Averting Dementia of the Alzheimer's Type in Women: Can Counselors Help?

“…Although there is evidence that inheritance plays a role in depression (Abkevich et al, 2003;Douthit, 2006a), there is also considerable evidence pointing to chronic stress as an etiologic agent in the development of a depressive disorder. Researchers have revealed complex physiological pathways that connect stress and depression (Wilson et al, 2003).…”

Models of Sexual and Relational Orientation: A Critical Review and Synthesis

“…Evidence that sexuality is more fluid, unfixed, and is both situation and context dependent (Diamond, 2003;Gooren, 2006) seems to align with the current consensus in the biological sciences regarding the role that physiology and genes play in determining human behavior. Current theory on the role of genes in human development is based on the view that genes do not dictate behavior, that most human traits are linked to multiple genes, and that the ecology surrounding an organism has a powerful impact on the expression of certain gene-linked traits (Douthit, 2006). Counselors who overrely on the biological-essentialist model for conceptualizing same-sex sexuality may fall back into a dichotomous mode of thinking about sexuality (De Cecco & Elia, 1993) and may fallaciously rely on biological determinism to explain human behavior (Douthit, 2006).…”

“…Current theory on the role of genes in human development is based on the view that genes do not dictate behavior, that most human traits are linked to multiple genes, and that the ecology surrounding an organism has a powerful impact on the expression of certain gene-linked traits (Douthit, 2006). Counselors who overrely on the biological-essentialist model for conceptualizing same-sex sexuality may fall back into a dichotomous mode of thinking about sexuality (De Cecco & Elia, 1993) and may fallaciously rely on biological determinism to explain human behavior (Douthit, 2006). The causal direction for biological findings related to same-sex sexuality has not been established (Hammack, 2005), and counselors who commit to simple biological determinism will have a difficult time understanding client impulsivity, relational connections and motivations for sex, changes in self-identification, and conceptualizing the role of homoprejudice at the individual and social level.…”