People may commonly associate the term "counselor" with a school or mental health professional, but the emerging career field of genetic counseling offers far different services. According to the National Society of Genetic Counselors (NSGC), the job is filled by health professionals from diverse backgrounds who assist families facing serious decisions when it comes to genetic conditions, birth defects, and one's risk for various inherited conditions. The NSGC adds that counselors analyze information about genetic inheritance patterns and review the various treatment options families have when it comes to genetic conditions. They also tend to serve in a counseling and support role for the families. The emerging career field was even recently named by U.S. News and World Report as one of the top career options for 2009. The field is likely to enjoy even stronger growth in the coming years as advances continue to be made in understanding the human genome. The NSGC reports that more than half of genetic counselors currently work for hospitals and university research facilities, although some also work in private practice, for drug companies, and for the federal or state governments.  |