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. | 
