The last chapter clarified how individuals differ in their management of anxiety and grief and linked it to the perception of genetic counselling and whether it was seen as stressful or not. In addition, individuals were shown to differ in their coping responses and to fall broadly into one of three groups: mature, defensive and symptomatic. This is particularly relevant to the counsellor as it explains different approaches and responses to genetic counselling. There are however individual differences in a number of other areas which have relevance for genetic counselling. These differences relate to the way a genetic family story is told, the thinking behind decision-making and the nature and pattern of relationship with the counsellor. All these differences of individual behaviour can be understood by referring to the concepts contained in attachment theory. The theory provides a framework which explains how these differences have arisen and how they are played out in genetics. Armed with these concepts, the counsellor will be equipped to recognise different patterns of behaviour and relating and to connect them to underlying attachment patterns. The counsellor can then adjust their personal response correspondingly so enhancing the professional relationship.

Attachment theory

Attachment theory is an up-to-date approach now being adopted and integrated into the different theoretical bases and thinking of the various schools of psychotherapy. It was conceived in the post-Freudian era and, in recent times, there has been a resurgence of interest from researchers, psychiatrists, psychotherapists and counsellors.