In the role play video that you watched, comment on the:
1. The attending skills that the genetic counselor employed. Identify the skills that you saw and explain how these contribute to the overall counseling session.
The skills that the GC conveyed in the video are very well executed and she adapted very quickly when there was a slight change in tone in her voice when explaining a specific aspect of her family. She maintained eye contact throughout the video. She is very courteous and paid attention to the non-verbal cues the patient is giving while also continuing to write her notes, maintaining good flow of the conversation and also exhibited both primary and advanced empathy.
2. The primary empathy skills that the genetic counselor employed. Identify the empathy responses of the counselor and explain how these contributed in further elucidating the thoughts and emotions of the client.
One particular example of empathic communication the GC used is when she cited her own experiences in her previous patients wherein the risk of cancer is actually lower than what her previous patients initially perceives. The GC also states her own understanding of the clients experience and understanding as when the patient relates her own anxieties to the actress Angelina Jolie’s experiences about her risk for cancer. The GC responds empathically and allow the client to respond, while also paraphrasing, using minimal encouragers and summarizing what the patient has said.
3. The effectiveness of the questions the genetic counselor asked.
I think the GC is very effective in her questions all throughout the video, while also maintaining good flow of the conversation without being forced, and getting information regarding the patients current way of life, her anxieties, her concerns and her current understanding on why she seeks genetic counseling while also being focused on the overall objective of the session.