Diversity In Counselling

Families and family relationships are overwhelmingly complex, with unconventional networks of relationships built up as a result of marriages, divorce and separation, remarriage, and combined families. Whilst the definition of ‘family’ is multiplex, people are always conscious of their connections to others, whether good or bad, and some of these connections carry more weight than others (Carsten, 2000). Family structure is both culturally and socially located (Oltedal & Nygren, 2014). It is defined by gender, education and marital status (Wall & Gouveia, 2014) and shaped by governmental policies: the social problems of one era set the agenda for the next (Shanahan, 2005). For many, the concept of ‘family’ is based around the group of individuals
The process involves the interpretation of family history to assess the risk of the disease occurring, the provision of information regarding inheritance, genetic testing, medical management (such as screening), outside resources which the patient may choose to investigate for further information and peer-support and possibilities relating to research participation. Finally, non-directional counselling is provided to the patients in order for the patient to make informed choices which fit with their own belief systems and values in a safe and non-judgemental environment, and to aid with adaptation to the individual’s risk or condition (Resta et al, 2006; Uhlmann et al, 2011; Harper,
Family history is used to assess the familial transmission of inherited conditions through the process of interviewing patients about their own and their blood relatives’ medical histories. It is most useful to have a minimum of three generations (Wattendorf & Hadley, 2005), so this information ideally covers the grandparents of the patient (consultand) and any children or grandchildren. The family history interview also gives access to psychosocial issues, such as discord within the family, which may need to be addressed at some point, particularly in terms of sharing genetic risk information or genetic test results. The family history is a cheap, quick and efficient way of collecting medical data in which large numbers of individuals from a family can be screened and the information they contain provides the foundation upon which genetic testing occurs, and may help in the diagnosis of a