What is a genetic counselor?

A genetic counselor advises and guides a client who has a genetic disorder in understanding the disease and making decisions.  A genetic counselor has a masters degree in genetic counseling and has studied genetic diseases and how those diseases run in families.

There a few different areas in genetic counseling

• Clinical - working with patients and families in hospitals, private practice, or on a consulting basis. Genetic counselors may specialize in genetic counseling in the prenatal, pediatric, cancer-risk, adult, cardiovascular, hematology, neurogenetics setting. Commercial - working with biotech companies which design, sell, and administer genetic tests
• Diagnostic Laboratories – working as a liaison between the diagnostic laboratory and referring physicians and their patients
• Education and Public Policy - teaching and advising companies, students, and lawmakers
• Research – working as a study coordinator for research projects involved in genetics
   

http://www.ornl.gov/sci/techresources/Human_Genome/medicine/genecounseling.shtml

http://www.genetichealth.com/Resources_What_Is_Genetic_Counseling.shtml