A framework for youth-friendly genetic counseling

Abstract

Young people represent a unique cohort in the context of both healthcare and genetic risk. Genetic counselors have long recognized and documented the challenges of working with young people and their families compared with working with older adults. Challenges for health professionals include engagement with the young person, communication, developmentally appropriate psychosocial assessment, and working with the young person and their family. Likewise, young people also report experiencing challenges within the genetic counseling process. In response to these challenges, and increasing numbers of young people presenting for genetic testing, genetic counselors at the Parkville Familial Cance..