What are the counseling needed for a recipient and donor before renal transplant?

The counseller/psychologist who sees you will generally be associated with the transplant unit at the hospital which intends to transplant you.

The recipients counselling session generally revolves around how they see their current life, what they'd like to improve and whether or not they consider that having a renal transplant would improve their life (i.e whether expectations are realistic but not pessimistic). It may also attempt to establish whether they have fully absorbed the prospect of having a transplant and whether they are psychologically able to deal with the trauma.

The donor's counselling is generally simpler and attempts to establish (and check) motives for donation. (The basic check being that there are not ulterior motives, including financial). It should also establish that the donor is psychologically fit for donation - i.e can cope with the potential trauma.