Zimbabwean Counselors' Knowledge of and Attitudes Toward HIV/AIDS
Zimbabwean Counselors' Knowledge of and Attitudes Toward HIV/AIDS

Author: Kimberly A. Richards

Publisher:

Published: 2003

Total Pages: 530

ISBN-13:

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Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS) has become the world's foremost health threat and is the number one killer in Zimbabwe. Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome impacts not only the individual who has AIDS, but on nuclear and extended families, and all aspects of society in Zimbabwe. Since studies have indicated that counseling could be an effective tool in preventing the spread of Human Immuno Deficiency Virus (HIV) and helping those who are already impacted by the virus, it would be important for counselors to be knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS and have positive attitudes towards people with HIV/AIDS. Therefore, the main purpose of this study was to investigate eight practicing Zimbabwean counselors' attitudes towards and knowledge of HIV/AIDS. Additionally, the study explored the emotions the counselors experienced while counseling HI V/AIDS clients, their beliefs about the origin of HI V/AIDS, and their perceptions about HI V/AIDS counseling in Zimbabwe. Eight practicing counselors in Zimbabwe participated in this study. A mixed method Model III with a sequential exploratory design was used amid phenomenological underpinnings. The counselors provided information through a mailed (electronic mail) questionnaire and telephone interviews. Follow-ups to the interviews were carried out through the electronic mail. Results indicated that the counselors in the study were generally knowledgeable about HIV/AIDS, had positive attitudes toward people with HIV/AIDS, and did not think that the origin of HIV/AIDS was important and that it was better to focus on the solutions to the problem. The counselors experienced a wide variety of feelings while counseling HIV/AIDS clients. The counselors reported more negative than positive feelings, but most of the feelings were not directed toward the client. The counselors revealed that HIV/AIDS counseling was complex and difficult. The counselors thought counselor training in Zimbabwe was too limited and that counselors in Zimbabwe in general lacked both support and supervision services. Despite the difficulties of, and the lack of support and supervision, the counselors found meaning in counseling HIV/AIDS clients.

Perceptions, Emotions, and Competencies of Graduate Level Counselor Trainees Working with African American and Caucasian Female Clients with HIV/AIDS
Perceptions, Emotions, and Competencies of Graduate Level Counselor Trainees Working with African American and Caucasian Female Clients with HIV/AIDS

Author: Pamela McMichen Wright

Publisher:

Published: 2007

Total Pages:

ISBN-13:

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Many people with HIV/AIDS are experiencing increased life expectancy along with a better quality of life due to the advances of HIV/AIDS medications such as highly active antiretroviral therapies (HAART). Individuals in this growing population often experience psychological and psychosocial concerns that require the assistance of mental health counselors. Counseling interventions represent one of the most effective ways to address the psychosocial aspects of HIV/AIDS. The purpose of this study is to investigate counselor trainees' attitudes and perceptions about HIV/AIDS disease and individuals living with HIV/AIDS. Participants are masters and specialists level counseling students enrolled in a large southeastern university that is accredited by the Council for Accreditation of Counseling and Related Educational Programs (CACREP). The present study will qualitatively and quantitatively measure counselor trainees' attitudes toward women clients with HIV and women clients without HIV. The study will also quantitatively measure counselor trainees' potential biases toward black female clients. Several hypotheses will be tested in this study. One hypothesis is that counseling students in the masters and specialists degree programs will express more negative emotions and perceptions about female clients with HIV than about female clients without HIV. The second hypothesis is that these counseling students will express relatively more negative emotions and perceptions toward the African American female clients, particularly the African American client with HIV. Four separate case vignettes will be used in the study. Each vignette is worded identically with the exception of four separate demographic characteristics. One vignette will feature an African American female who is not HIV positive. Another vignette will feature an African American female who is HIV positive. The same pattern will be followed for the other two vignettes, except a Caucasian female will be featured instead of an African American female. The Roseman et al. (1996) cognitive appraisal model will be used to obtain emotional responses about how a client is perceived. A questionnaire will be used to elicit demographic information and counselor training experiences.

An Assessment of Attitudes of Mental Health Counselors Toward Persons with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome
An Assessment of Attitudes of Mental Health Counselors Toward Persons with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome

Author: Terri Jo Christenson

Publisher:

Published: 1995

Total Pages: 248

ISBN-13:

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This study investigated the attitudes of mental health counselors toward persons with Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS). Three hundred and fifty-eight members of the American Mental Health Counselors Association were mailed a survey packet including an Attitude Towards AIDS Victims scale and an additional two questions assessing comfort with clients with AIDS. Demographic information was also collected. There were 255 useable surveys, for a response rate of 72%. The results of the survey indicated that gender was not a significant independent variable in the attitudes of the mental health counselors. Professional and/or personal contacts with a person with AIDS were highly predictive of positive attitudes. Sexual orientation of the respondent was also highly significant as was personal acquaintance with a gay male or lesbian. Formal AIDS training of one hour or more showed a significant relationship with attitudes of mental health counselors toward persons with AIDS, with the relationship becoming more significant at 11 or more hours. The study indicated that mental health counselors are largely uninvolved in providing mental health treatment to persons with AIDS, with 5% of the subjects providing 70% of the services. Recommendations follow regarding preservice and inservice AIDS training and the need for mental health counselors to be more proactive in the AIDS epidemic.

AIDS and Mental Health Practice
AIDS and Mental Health Practice

Author: R Dennis Shelby

Publisher: Routledge

Published: 2013-11-12

Total Pages: 410

ISBN-13: 1317790405

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Addressing contemporary issues faced by individuals with HIV/AIDS, AIDS and Mental Health Practice: Clinical and Policy Issues provides psychologists, psychiatrists, social workers, and counselors with research and case studies that offers models for effective clinical practice at this stage of the epidemic. Each chapter is written by experts in the field and demonstrates ways to provide better services to different populations, many of whom are ignored in AIDS and mental health literature. As a result, this book will provide professionals in the field and students in training with the most current practice information about mental health practice and HIV/AIDS. AIDS and Mental Health Practice will help you understand the diverse needs of people with HIV/AIDS and organize services to assist these populations. AIDS and Mental Health Practice discusses issues that affect several different groups in order to help you understand the unique situations of your clients. You will learn how to design treatments that will be most beneficial to Latinos, intravenous drug users, orphaned children, African Americans, HIV-negative gay men, HIV nonprogressors, HIV-positive transsexuals, end-stage AIDS clients, couples of mixed HIV status, and individuals suffering from HIV-associated Cognitive Motor Disorder. This book provides you with approaches that will improve services for these populations, including: talking to patients about the positive and negative aspects of taking protease inhibitors and discussing their feelings of hope, skepticism, and fear of being disappointed by the treatment preparing clients to go back to work by exploring the meaning of work and referring them to vocational services if necessary providing support groups for people living with AIDS (PLWAs), their loved ones, their families, and individuals in bereavement as a result of an AIDS-related death organizing a HIV-negative gay men’s support group that uses exercises and homework to focus on the members’ambivalent connection to the AIDS community, how they remain HIV negative, and ways to deal with separation and grief issues assessing and/or correcting underlying racism in AIDS service organizations The prevention and intervention strategies in Mental Health and AIDS Practice will help you address and treat mental health issues associated with HIV/AIDS and offer clients more effective and relevant services.

Mental Health Practitioner's Guide to HIV/AIDS
Mental Health Practitioner's Guide to HIV/AIDS

Author: Sana Loue

Publisher: Springer Science & Business Media

Published: 2012-12-09

Total Pages: 421

ISBN-13: 146145283X

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Although efforts have been made and continue to be made to reduce the rate of HIV transmission in the U.S. and globally, the rates continue to increase in the majority of countries. In the U.S., members of minority communities remain especially at risk of HIV transmission. An individual’s discovery that he or she has contracted HIV, or that a loved one has contracted the illness, often raises significant issues that necessitate interaction with mental health professionals. Mental Health Practitioner’s Guide to HIV/AIDS serves as a quick desk reference for professionals who may be less familiar with the terminology used in HIV/AIDS care and services.