The genetic counseling: Toward a medical-psychological integrated model

In this paper, authors intend to define the communication process of genetic counseling through a short theoretical excursus about its evolution and its meaning. They analyze the discourse about the care relationship between counselor/counsulees and the space given to the psychological profession in this intervention context. The aim is to explore existential implications that the choice to request genetic counseling, as well as to have genetic test, has in the probands' lives. Therefore, the main focus is on psychological aspects based on the informative process, concerning the utility to have genetic test and the impact of genetic results communication (negative/positive) and on the decision-making process, concerning the preliminary stage of genetic counseling request, as much as the final one of consultation process, with all consequences of knowing/not knowing.