Relationship counselling Health Dictionary

  1. Health Encyclopedia
  2. Relationship Counselling

Relationship Counselling: From 1 Different Sources

Formerly known as marriage guidance, relationship counselling is a type of professional therapy for established partners aimed at resolving the problems within their relationship.

The couple attends regular sessions together in which the counsellor promotes communication and attempts to help resolve differences between the partners.

Relationship counselling is largely based on the ideas and methods of behaviour therapy.

If some of the couple’s problems are sexual, the counsellor may refer them for sex therapy.

Health Source: BMA Medical Dictionary
Author: The British Medical Association

Counselling

Interaction offering an opportunity for a person to explore, discover and clarify ways of living with greater well-being, usually in a one-to-one discussion with a trained counsellor.... counselling

Genetic Counselling

The procedure whereby advice is given about the risks of a genetic disorder and the various options that are open to the individual at risk. This may often involve establishing the diagnosis in the family, as this would be a prerequisite before giving any detailed advice. Risks can be calculated from simple Mendelian inheritance (see MENDELISM) in many genetic disorders. However, in many disorders with a genetic element, such as cleft lip or palate (see CLEFT PALATE), the risk of recurrence is obtained from population studies. Risks include not only the likelihood of having a child who is congenitally affected by a disorder, but also, for adults, that of being vulnerable to an adult-onset disease.

The options for individuals would include taking no action; modifying their behaviour; or taking some form of direct action. For those at risk of having an affected child, where prenatal diagnosis is available, this would involve either carrying on with reproduction regardless of risk; deciding not to have children; or deciding to go ahead to have children but opting for prenatal diagnosis. For an adult-onset disorder such as a predisposition to ovarian cancer, an individual may choose to take no action; to take preventive measures such as use of the oral contraceptive pill; to have screening of the ovaries with measures such as ultrasound; or to take direct action such as removing the ovaries to prevent ovarian cancer from occurring.

There are now regional genetics centres throughout the United Kingdom, and patients can be referred through their family doctor or specialists.... genetic counselling

Peer Counselling

Provision of support and advice to older persons by non­professional persons who are or have been in similar circumstances.... peer counselling

Fiduciary Relationship

a relationship in which one person holds a position of trust with respect to the other and is expected to act solely in the *best interests of that person and to treat information shared as confidential. In medicine, the doctor–patient relationship is a fiduciary relationship.... fiduciary relationship

Health encyclopedia icon Health Encyclopedia

Recent Searches