The social worker's role in genetic counseling

Genetic counseling is one major aspect of medical practice. It is a recent addition to the medical field that focuses on the etiology of genetic abnormalities.In the past the emphasis of genetic counseling was on determining the etiological diagnosis and on informing the patient of genetic facts and possible medical options. Areas such as the psychological adjustment and resource location for family support virtually were ignored by the majority of genetic counselors.For genetic counseling to be effective, the focus of counseling should be on psychological and social adjustment, with an emphasis on therapy, counseling, education, and liaison services for the patient and family. Social work can provide this expertise.