What is a genetic counsellor?

What is a genetic counsellor?

From Behind the Genes by Genomics England

November 12, 2025 · 8 min · Episode 179

About this episode

This episode features Amanda Pichini explaining the role and importance of genetic counsellors in healthcare.

In this explainer episode, we’ve asked Amanda Pichini, clinical director at Genomics England and genetic counsellor, to explain what a genetic counsellor is. You can also find a series of short videos explaining some of the common terms you might encounter about genomics on our YouTube channel. If you’ve got any questions, or have any other topics you’d like us to explain, let us know on podcast@genomicsengland.co.uk. You can download the transcript or read it below. Florence: What is a genetic counsellor? I'm Florence Cornish, and today I'm joined with Amanda Pichini, a registered genetic counsellor and clinical director for Genomics England, to find out more. So, before we dive in, lots of our listeners have probably already heard the term genetic counsellor before, or some people might have even come across them in their healthcare journeys. But for those who aren't familiar, could you explain what we mean by a genetic counsellor? Amanda: Genetic counsellors are healthcare professionals who have training in clinical genomic medicine and counselling skills. So they help people understand complex information, make informed decisions, and adapt to the impact of genomics on their…

People in this episode

Host: Florence Cornish

Guest: Amanda Pichini

Topics covered

  • genetic counselling
  • genomics
  • healthcare
  • patient advocacy
  • genetic testing

Keywords

  • genetic counsellor
  • genomic medicine
  • health decisions
  • patient support
  • genetic testing

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Genomics England

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