What is counseling?

• Counseling is a supportive relationship that helps a person cope with some aspect of his/her life.
• The process of counseling aims to empower people to acknowledge and understand their problem(s) so that they can reduce/solve them.
• Counseling is an interpersonal communication through which a person is helped to assess his/her current situation, explore his/her feelings, and arrive at a solution to cope with the problem.

Who should be offered HIV counseling?

• Those who want to know their HIV status.
• Pregnant women and their partners.
• Those worried about HIV infection.
• Those intending to marry.
• Those intending to enter into a sexual relationship.
• Those planning to have children.
• Patients coming to health facilities.
• Families of HCT clients.
• Those affected by HIV.

Why is counseling important?

1. Helps clients make informed decisions.
2. Helps clients to make appropriate plans for the future.
3. Helps clients cope with challenging situations.
4. HIV infection is chronic and fatal; counseling offers continuous support.

Our methods of counseling are bases on these three categories of counseling:
1. helping the client to tell his/her story (problem identification)
Here the client discusses the problem by describing it and locating its cause(s) and effect(s). The counselor should be able to differentiate between the real problems versus the presented problem, if such a difference exists. The counselor guides the client to prioritize his/her problems –– to deal with the life threatening issues first and address the underlying or root causes later.

2. Identifying problem solving options (consider options)
The counselor helps the client to consider his/her options; what can be done to solve the problem? Together the client and counselor identify and discuss possible interventions. The counselor provides necessary information for each option and conveys its specific advantages and disadvantages.

3. Make an implementation plan (action plan)
Here the counselor helps the client to develop the steps to implement his/her chosen option. Together they review the plan, and the counselor equips the client with the knowledge and skills to carry it out. This involves demonstration wherever necessary/possible, such as proper condom use. Counselor and client schedule a future appointment to appraise the strategy.

Many people find comfort and support in spiritual guidance and may seek this kind of support. Different people may find this source of support in the faiths or religions that they practice.  This could be a meaningful form of support and often people need this in addition to a support group.

 

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