Recommendations for the Inclusion of Training about Persons with HIV Disease in Counseling Psychology Graduate Programs

Abstract

Historically, exposing future mental health professionals to diversity has primarily meant preparation for different racial and ethnic groups. Recently, however, thanks in large measure to the efforts of counseling psychologists, there has been an increasing interest in acknowledging the special needs of other underrepresented groups, such as the elderly, gay men and lesbians, and persons with disabilities. This article presents a rationale for including training about persons infected with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in psychology graduate programs. Some of the reasons why students need training about HIV include the prevalence of the disease, ethical obligations, and competency considerations. A specific way to introduce students to the many issues related to HIV disease is to include persons with HIV disease in courses on providing services for diverse populations. Specific information that should be covered includes the epidemiology of HIV disease, confidentiality concerns, the issue of rational suicide, the students 'personal prejudices, HIV disease basic, HIV-related semantics, neurological conditions, and psychosocial factors and stressors.

HIV/AIDS Training in CACREP‐Approved Counselor Education Programs

“…A discussion about counseling people who are HIV infected could be included in a course on special or diverse populations. Having a guest speaker from the local AIDS support organization or a panel of people who are HIV infected could be included in a community agency or rehabilitation course (Werth, 1993). Sharing course responsibilities and resources with other programs and disciplines is another way to provide training information to students.…”

Rational suicide reconsidered: Aids as an impetus for change

“…In addition to these empirical studies, one need only open a book or article on counseling persons with AIDS, read interviews of persons with AIDS, or talk to persons with AIDS or those who work with this population to find some mention of suicide (e.g., Braun, 1988;Goldblum & Moulton, 1987McKusick, 1993;Iofani, 1990;Werth, 1993;Winiarski, 1991). The connection is so explicit, in fact, that in 1987 the American Association of Suicidology established a task force to study AIDS and suicide (McKinney, 1987), and those who discuss risk factors for suicide have begun explicitly mentioning AIDS as a special risk factor for young adults (e.g., Stillion 8c McDowell, 1991;Winokur & Black, 1992).…”

“…The literature is replete with descriptions of the difficulties persons with AIDS endure as a result of their disease (e.g., Hoffman, 1991;Werth, 1993Werth, , 1994. A brief list includes potential neurological impairment due to HIV infection of the brain, resulting in a condition called AIDS dementia complex, or impairment due to an opportunistic infection that affects the brain, such as toxoplasmosis; physical factors, including decline of functioning and abilities; and psychosocial factors such as multiple losses, social stigma and isolation, and disregard for personal wishes.…”

Integrating Health and Vocational Psychology

“…Although HIV has been present in the United States since at least 1980 and can be documented as being in existence since the 1950s (Kalichman, 1998), it was only in the early 1990s that counseling psychologists began discussing issues related to this PWHIV group and various ways to help them with psychosocial issues in The Counseling Psychologist and the Journal of Counseling Psychology (e.g., Hayes & Gelso, 1993;Hoffman, 1991Hoffman, [and associated responses], 1993Rogers & Britton, 1994;Werth, 1992Werth, , 1993. Since that time, only a few articles discussing members of this group have appeared in the counseling psychology literature (e.g., Gushue & Brazaitis, 2003;Hayes & Erkis, 2000;Lightfoot & Healy, 2001;Newcomb et al, 1998;Simoni, Martone, & Kerwin, 2002;Stewart & Gregory, 1996).…”