Purpose and Objectives

Persons charged with the important task of counseling individuals about HIV must draw upon a variety of competencies. Counselors need to not only have an in-depth knowledge of the disease but also possess the skills that will help clients explore, express, understand and accept their own unique life circumstances. This training teaches health care providers working in HIV/AIDS the client-centered counseling method. Client-centered counseling's premise is behavior changes are more likely to occur when
  • the client explores his/her own unique risk-taking

  • determines his/her own prevention goals

  • develops his/her own action plan.
"This class was so informative; it makes the thought of dealing with new programs, especially HIV, not quite so scary."
-Janet D., HIV Case Worker

Counselors proficient in this method use skills that help clients determine their readiness to know their HIV status, interpret the HIV test results, and help develop and implement a plan of action that reduces their risk or the risk to others. Objectives As a result of attending this training, participants will:

  • Clarify their communication boundaries and address issues of privacy and openness in sexual and drug use communication.

  • Discuss the subjective nature of risk-taking.

  • Examine personal risk-taking behavior.

  • Learn the components of quality HIV education.

  • Increase their understanding of Hepatitis A, B and C and how it relates to HIV

  • View and discuss the use of a self-administered risk assessment.

  • Learn and utilize the two essential concepts of HIV Prevention Counseling.

  • Learn and practice five Primary Skills of HIV Prevention Counseling.

  • Learn a model for use with clients to identify risk, set goals, and take the necessary action/s.

  • Identify questions that can help a person discern both the benefits and barriers to behavior change.

  • Explore effective criteria for making client-centered referrals.

  • Discuss the major points of the HIV/AIDS Public Health Law related to HIV counseling and testing.

  • Explain the concepts and process of HIV testing, including various testing modalities.

  • Learn and practice giving HIV test results.

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