HIV patients, their friAnds and caregivers face significant conflicts and serious psychological issues that they must grapple with on a daily basis. Stigma and alienation, anger, anxiety and despair, multiple loss, burnout, terminal self-determination can be as difficult and complex to treat as the medical problems associated with this insidious epidemic.Treating the Psychological Consequences of HIV is the first book on therapeutic assessment and technique written for frontline clinicians who work with the millions of HIV patients and their friAnds, families, and caregivers. This comprehensive resource offers specific recommAndations for working with various HIV-client populations, such as gay men, heterosexuals, IV-drug users, dual diagnosis clients, people of color, children, women, couples and families. The book also addresses the important issues surrounding specific ethical and legal issues such as testing and disclosure versus confidentiality. Written in jargon free down-to-earth terms Treating the Psychological Consequences of HIV is filled with useful checklists, numerous clinical examples, and offers cutting-edge information including:
- Appropriate therapeutic responses for each of the four stages that correspond to the medical phases of HIV infection
- Suggestions for clinicians who work with HIV clients for staying hopeful, connected and avoiding burnout
- Guidelines for handling the emotional issues surrounding bereavement such as numbing, sleep disturbance, hopelessness, and more
- A guide for assessing the risk for suicide with a HIV client
- Suggested techniques for working with women clients and an outline of some issues they often face such as poor housing, drug addiction, loss of child custody, and abuse.
- A description of the mental health consequences of medications commonly used to treat HIV
- An effective therapeutic intervention that is a multigenerational approach for addressing the losses and coping strategies.
HIV patients, their friAnds, and caregivers grapple with serious conflicts and significant psychological issues on a daily basis. Problems of stigma and alienation, anger, anxiety and despair, multiple loss, burnout, and terminal self determination can be as difficult and complex to treat as the medical manifestations of this insidious epidemic.Written by experts in the field, Treating the Psychological Consequences of HIV not only provides a solid theoretical orientation to the subject, but offers a wealth of practical clinical techniques for professionals working with HIV clients.The authors offer specific recommAndations for working with various HIV client populations such as gay men, heterosexuals, IV drug users, dual diagnoses clients, people of color, children, women, couples and families as well the uninfected survivors and caregivers. In addition, they address important ethical and legal issues such as testing and disclosure vs. confidentiality.