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

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A 1.7.4 Notable Genetic Counselor Skills

a. Identify two specific counselor behaviors (something the counselor said or did)
that you would be likely to use in your genetic counseling sessions.
b. For each of the two genetic counselor behaviors identified, explain when in a
genetic counseling session you might use the behavior and why.
c. How would you modify each behavior, if at all, to use it in your genetic
counseling?

Objective This assignment is similar to a case debriefing, a common activity in
genetic counseling clinical supervision. It also allows the instructor to assess stu-
dent understanding of basic skills and concepts covered in the course.

Appendix 1.8: Integration of Skills—Stimulus Questions Activity

Pairs of students take turns answering each of the following questions, or they
can select any questions they wish to answer in the order they wish to answer
them.

1. How would you describe your current level of confidence in your counseling
   skills?


2. What have you learned about yourself as a genetic counselor in training?


3. What do you think is the most important skill?


4. Are there things you are still confused about?


5. What is the hardest skill we’ve talked about?


6. What is one of the most helpful things you’ve learned in this course?


7. How has this course affected your communication style?


8. What else do you feel you need to learn?


9. What makes genetic counseling so difficult?


10. What differences do you see between genetic counseling and listening to a
    friend?


11. What could make you feel “burned out” as a counselor?


12. What is one thing you expected to learn, but did not? One thing you did not
    expect to learn, but did?


13. How have your ideas changed about genetic counseling?


14. How helpful is genetic counseling? Why?

Estimated time: 20–75 min.

Instructor Note

• Processing in the large group is optional.


• A variation of this exercise is to write each question on a separate sheet of paper.
  Students randomly draw questions and respond to them.

Appendix 1.8: Integration of Skills—Stimulus Questions Activity