The Experiences of Counselors Treating Individuals With HIV

According to the World Health Organization, 36. 7 million people are currently living with HIV worldwide. Due to the paucity ofliterature containing current experiences of counselors who have actively or are currently working with people living with HIV/AIDS (PLWHA), this paper explored the counselors’ role and significance in HIV/AIDS mental health care services and prevention for treating PL WHA. The purpose of this phenomenological research study is to examine the life experiences of counselors who are actively working with clients who are living with HIV/AIDS. This resulted in the emergence of 6 major themes from the interviews: Soiled HIV Care, It’s Just Not the Same Urgency, Therapy Part of the Day, Purely by Accident, In an Ideal World, and Value of Dignity. In addition, counselors in this study described the limitations, implications, and experiences of providing services to PLWHA.