Facilitating the Genetic Counseling Process Practice-Based Skills, Second Edition

301

Influence: “It’s good that you are seeking as much information as you can because
of how frightened you are about testing positive.”

Exercise 3: Role-Play

Engage in a 30-min role-play of a genetic counseling session with a classmate. The
role-play can be based on a patient you saw in a clinic or it can be a made-up patient
situation. During the role-play, focus on all of the helping skills you’ve learned so
far. Try to include at least one advice and one influencing response. Audio record
the role-play. Next transcribe the role-play and critique your work. Use the follow-
ing method for transcribing the session:

Counselor Patient Self-critique Instructor

Key phrases of

dialogue

Key

phrases

Comment on your own

responses

Will provide feedback on your

responses

Create a brief summary:

1. Briefly describe patient demographics (e.g., age, gender, ethnicity, socioeco-
   nomic status, relationship status) and reason for seeking genetic counseling.


2. Identify two things you said/did during the role-play that were effective and two
   things you could have done differently:
   Give the recording, transcript/self-critique, and summary to the instructor who
   will provide feedback.
   [Hint: This assignment encourages self-reflective practice regarding your clinical
   performance. The goal is not to do a perfect session. Rather the goal is to assess the
   extent to which you can accurately assess your psychosocial counseling skills. You
   will gain more from this exercise if you refrain from scripting what you plan to say
   as the counselor.]

References

Andersen J, Øyen N, Bjorvatn C, Gjengedal E. Living with long QT syndrome: a qualitative study
of coping with increased risk of sudden cardiac death. J Genet Couns. 2008;17:489–98.
Barragan DI, Ormond KE, Strecker MN, Weil J. Concurrent use of cultural health practices and
Western medicine during pregnancy: exploring the Mexican experience in the United States. J
Genet Couns. 2011;20:609–24.
Butler CW, Potter J, Danby S, Emmison M, Hepburn A. Advice-implicative interrogatives: build-
ing “client-centered” support in a children’s helpline. Soc Psychol Q. 2010;73:265–87.
Cavanagh M, Levitov JE. The counseling experience a theoretical and practical approach. 2nd ed.
Prospect Heights IL: Waveland Press; 2002.
Couture SJ, Sutherland O. Giving advice on advice-giving: a conversation analysis of Karl Tomm’s
practice. J Marital Fam Ther. 2006;32:329–44.

References