COURSE OVERVIEW Counselling someone about HIV/AIDS and someone affected by HIV/AIDS is different from other types of counselling. The goals of HIV/AIDS counselling are to promote behavior change to prevent HIV infection and its transmission to other people and to give psycho-social support to those whose lives have been affected by HIV. Therefore, the counsellor is referred to as an HIV/AIDS counsellor. An HIV/AIDS counsellor must be comfortable discussing sexual practices of men, women and young people, discussing death and dying, be able to recognize and accept people who have different opinions/values than their own, be non-judgmental, have thorough HIV/AIDS knowledge, be empathetic, be aware of resources to which he /she can refer the client when necessary, and be able to deal with the emotional challenges and stress.
WHO SHOULD ATTEND? HIV/AIDS counselling committee members within organizations, HR practitioners.
HOW PARTICIPANTS WILL BENEFIT At the end of the course, participants will be able to: • Define counselling; • Identify goals of HIV/AIDS counselling; • Explain qualities and basic skills of an effective counsellor; • Explain importance of confidentiality; • Explain essential concepts of HIV counseling; • Describe the HIV Counsellor’s roles and tasks; • Identify the stages of counselling process and corresponding skills; • Practice counselling skills; • Describe steps in the behavior change process.
TOPICS INCLUDE • Facts about HIV/AIDS; • Behavior change; • Basic counselling skills; • Stages of counselling process; • Essential counselling concepts; • Exploring value-loaded statements; • Goals of HIV/AIDS counselling; • Qualities of an effective counsellor; • HIV/AIDS confidentiality guidelines; • Counsellor’s personal resources; • Care, coping and social support at the workplace; • Psychological issues; • Crisis counselling; • Bereavement counselling. |