The Meaning of Counseling

Despite the fact that the terms guidance and counseling are used interchangeably, but
both terms have different meaning. In a family, parents counsel their children, doctors counsel
patients, lawyers to clients and teachers to students. More importantly, Counselling is a
professional relationship between a counsellor who is professionally trained and a client
(counsellee) who is seeking help to resolve a problem. (Okech and Ngumba 1991)

Importane of Counselling Service to HIV/AIDS Patients

Counseling in HIV/AIDS is an important element of HIV care. It deals with the psychological needs
of the individuals with HIV. Counseling is the best help that a provider can provide to the individual to cope up
with the disease and its consequences. HIV virus not only attacks immune mechanism of a human being, but
also affects person’s mental health. People living with HIV/ AIDS (PLHAs) have to face a lot of uncertainties
pertaining to their social status, health and well being, issues pertaining to families, jobs etc. The uncertainties
arise mainly due to the perceived stigma and anxiety that an individual with HIV faces. Thus it is a mandate to
provide HIV counseling at the time of its diagnosis in order to best deal with the psychosocial issues of the
person (Saeed, 2011).

Counselling service are important to HIV/AIDS Patients because it provide relationship

support with the infected person. Strong interpersonal and familial relationship in case of HIV
disease emerges out to be a central theme for management of patients with HIV disease. Good
relationships are known to be associated with enhanced happiness, quality of life, resilience and
cognitive capacity (Fowler & Christakis, 2008; Jetten, Haslam, Haslam & Branscombe, 2009).

Analyses of different domains of life indicate that quality of life is dominated by the
domain of intimacy (Cummins, 2005). Therefore, identification of an encouraging confidante
from the community of the PLWHA to share the burden and the reality of this disease can be
important. The role of such a person/ persons could be to encourage acceptance and appropriate
lifestyle changes to support better quality of life, adherence to treatment and faith in drugs in the
PLWHA (Nama et al., 2008; Marcellin et al., 2008). A confidante of such nature and role is
termed as ‘significant other’.

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 Various studies throughout the world suggest that HIV/AIDS counseling assists people
to make informed decisions, cope better with their condition, lead more positive lives, and
prevent HIV transmission. HIV/AIDS counseling is important because infection with HIV is a
lifelong phenomenon and during the course of the infection, a broad range of physical, social and
psychological needs and problems are likely to be experienced. (Gerbert B, et al.200).The
changing nature of the illness imposes a variety of psychological and emotional strains on
individuals and those closest to them (Rwechoka, 2010).

Counselling service are important to HIV/AIDS Patients because it provide clients with
information on HIV/AIDS (example, means of transmission, prevention and testing).To help the
infected individual, family and friends to handle possible emotional reactions to HIV/AIDS
(example, grief, anger, fear, denial). People who find out that they are HIV positive often deal
with the news by denying that it is true. You may believe that the HIV test came out wrong or
that there was a mix-up of test results. This is a natural and normal first reaction
(Chippindale,2001).

Counselling service are important to HIV/AIDS Patients because it gives him or her time
to get used to the idea of infection. However, if not dealt with, denial can be dangerous you may
fail to take certain precautions or reach out for the necessary help and medical support. It is
important that one talk out his or her feelings with a health care providers or someone she trust.
It is important to do this so that you can begin to receive the care and support you need (Saeed,
2011).

Counselling service are important to HIV/AIDS Patients because it help to prevent

further transmission of the disease. Counseling for safer sex is used in individuals who are HIV
infected to prevent further transmission of the disease (Saeed, 2011). Motivational interviewing
has been used as an effective technique by some of the HIV care providers. In this counseling
technique, the health care provider takes into account the readiness of the client to change his/her
risky behavior and helps them resolve the ambivalence associated with changing the behavior

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Conclusion
In general, Counseling in HIV and AIDS has become a core element in a holistic model of health
care, in which psychological issues are recognized as integral to patient management. HIV and
AIDS counseling has two general aims: (1) the prevention of HIV transmission and (2) the
support of those affected directly and indirectly by HIV. It is vital that HIV counseling should
have these dual aims because the spread of HIV can be prevented by changes in behaviour. One
to one prevention counseling has a particular contribution in that it enables frank discussion of
sensitive aspects of a patient's life such discussion may be hampered in other settings by the
patient's concern for confidentiality or anxiety about a judgmental response.

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 References
Chippindale S. (2001). ABC of AIDS: HIV counseling and the psychosocial ... - NCBI

Gerbert B, et al. (200). Reframing “prevention with positives: incorporating counseling

techniques that improve the health of HIV-positive patients. AIDS Patient Care STDS.

NACO, (2007c), Operational Guidelines for Integrated Counseling and Testing Centers

Patnik, G. (2013). Vice Chancellor’s Welcome Address. Lucknow University, Lucknow.

Rwechoka, M. (2010). Principles of guidance and counseling. Muslim University of

Morogoro,Tanzania

Saeed, A. (2011). Counseling for HIV/AIDS. The National Guidelines. Islamabad