Counseling supervision for genetic counselors: A proposed outsider witness structure

Abstract

Counseling supervision for genetic counselors is recognized as an important aspect of professional registration. Professional bodies in countries, including the United States, Australia, and the United Kingdom, have published recommendations for the delivery of counseling supervision covering such things as access and frequency of delivery. Yet, there has been little written about the theoretical frameworks underpinning counseling supervision or how these have been applied within this setting. We present a structure for group counseling supervision for genetic counselors (GCs), informed by narrative therapy, and suggest how it can be adapted for online delivery. The format of the group session is detailed to allow for the outsider witness approach to supervision to be replicated in other genetic centers. We wish to encourage more research in this area to explore models of supervision, including involvement of counseling supervisors trained in strength-based approaches such as narrative and compassion-focused therapy. These types of counseling approaches to supervision may be beneficial for sustaining staff morale and team working, particularly important at a time when demands on genetic services are increasing. Effective models of counseling supervision will help to sustain the work of genetic counselors, which in turn will benefit patients and their families.