About genetic counsellors

Genetic counsellors are health professionals qualified in genetics and genetic counselling. They work as part of teams, often with clinical geneticists.

If you have a genetic condition in your family, genetic counsellors can help you learn about:

• how the condition might change over time
• how the condition might affect your life
• how likely it is that other family members will get the condition
• how you might be able to prevent other family members getting the condition
• how you might be able to connect with other families with similar genetic conditions.

Genetic counsellors can give you information, help you make informed decisions, or suggest lifestyle changes to help you manage the condition.

Genetic counsellors are trained to respect and think about your family circumstances, beliefs and values. They can help you understand complicated information and come to terms with uncertainty or anxiety about the future. They can also help you adapt to having a genetic condition yourself or having a genetic condition in your family.

Why you might see a genetic counsellor

A genetic counsellor’s most important job is making sure you have all the information you need about possible genetic conditions in your family. The counsellor can also arrange genetic testing.

You might see a genetic counsellor if:

• a condition seems to run in your family and there’s concern that you or your children might get it
• a child in your family has a serious problem that affects growth, development or health, and there’s concern the problem has a genetic cause
• you and your partner are closely related and are thinking of having a child
• you’re pregnant and tests have picked up an increased chance of a genetic condition in your baby or an ultrasound has found abnormalities in your baby.

Your doctor is always a good place to start if you’re worried about your health. Your doctor can help you decide about seeing a genetic counsellor and help you find someone who’s right for you. 

Before going to a genetic counsellor

Before seeing a genetic counsellor, it’s a good idea to find out about the following things:

• Why you’re going: talk with your doctor about why you need to see a genetic counsellor.
• Is there anything you can do while you’re waiting for the appointment?
• Costs: how much will the appointment with the genetic counsellor cost? 
• Locations: find out where you have to go to see the genetic counsellor.