What next for “counseling” in genetic counseling training: A reflection on how CBT and ACT approaches can contribute to the genetic counseling toolkit

Abstract

Counseling techniques are an important component of genetic counseling training and are focused on the person‐centered counseling philosophy. While this has a long tradition within the profession and underpins the empowerment goal, it should not limit consideration of the potential benefits of education on other psychotherapeutic approaches such as the cognitive philosophy. The goal of empowerment in genetic counseling requires patients to receive information in a way that is accessible to them and to make sense of it in relation to their own health, lifestyle, and family information. This assimilation of new information is a complex cognitive process, and yet it is one that genetic counselors do not routinely actively facilitate. Rather the counseling component of genetic counseling has traditionally focused on emotionally supporting the patient which is driven by the person‐centered philosophy that is covered in genetic counseling training. This paper argues for the potential for adopting more cognitive approaches informed by cognitive–behavioral therapy (CBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), as these short interventions can have wide impact, including engaging patients who do not want to discuss feelings, helping people to make sense of information (not just gain knowledge), and helping people to change the relationship they have with their thoughts. This paper advocates for an introduction to CBT and ACT to be incorporated into prequalification training and for more advanced training to be available to postqualification genetic counselors.

What next for “counseling” in genetic counseling training: A co‐production workshop exploring how CBT and ACT approaches can contribute to the genetic counseling toolkit

“…DAVIES et al (Davies, 2024). Davies (2024) considered the various cognitive tasks that the genetic counselor is interested in: decision-making, facilitating coping, helping people to clarify their thinking, adaptation, cognitive assimilation of information, and taking control of reactions such as anxiety (Biesecker et al, 2016;Redlinger-Grosse, 2017). Learning about cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) may help GCs to address these tasks, as previously argued by Biesecker et al (2016) and David et al (2016), and the newer "third-wave" CBT-derived approaches such as acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT; Broley, 2013) can provide additional approaches that they may want to consider.…”

“…DAVIES et al (Davies, 2024). Davies (2024) considered the various cognitive tasks that the genetic counselor is interested in: decision-making, facilitating coping, helping people to clarify their thinking, adaptation, cognitive assimilation of information, and taking control of reactions such as anxiety (Biesecker et al, 2016;Redlinger-Grosse, 2017).…”