AEGiS-07IAC: Family therapists working with HIV/AIDS infected and affected people.

7th International AIDS Conference


Florence, Italy — June 16-21, 1991

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Family therapists working with HIV/AIDS infected and affected people.

Int Conf AIDS 1991 Jun 16-21; 7:460 (abstract no. W.D.4290)
Stynes R, Carter L; HIV-Team Bouverie Family Centre Parkville 3052 Victoria Australia

OBJECTIVES: To present the experience and findings of a team of family therapists who work with HIV-infected and affected individuals, couples and families. To outline the essential elements, as identified by this Team that have improved the impact of counselling interventions.

METHOD: The following elements will be outlined in the presentation. A) The nature and function of BFTC, eg the impact on research, training, general field education and the generalist caseload task of the agency; B) The particular strengths and orientations of multidisciplinary team that contribute to work with HIV infected people; C) A stats. overview and description of the clients seen; D) An explanation of Team's mode of working-outlinig Team approach, use of oneway screen, developmental framework, systemic epistemology and use of Team message and reflections; E) The process of ongoing clarification within the Team of its members' assumptions and beliefs concerning the vast range of issues pertinent to this work.

RESULTS: 1. The explicit process of looking past assumptions has influenced the impact of our counselling work. 2. Case examples will be presented to illustrate a) the nature of our intervention style; b) the range of salient issues arising from systemic and developmental work; c) the ongoing development and sensitivity of the Team to therapeutic conseguences in this field.

DISCUSSION: Conclusions will be drawn from our experience of the factors effecting counselling impact. In maintainig a strong team approach to our work, taking into account broader contextual issues, focusing on interactional patterns and constantly challenging assumed notions within the team about our work, we have established therap. opportunities not previously available to this diverse group of clients.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, Family, HIV Infections, Health Personnel, Work, Counseling, Professional-Family Relations, Family Therapy, Social Work, Human, ICA7KWDaegis,acquiredimmunodeficiencysyndrome,family,hivinfections,healthpersonnel,work,counseling,professional-familyrelations,familytherapy,socialwork,human,ica7
910616
WD4290

Copyright © 1991 - International AIDS Society (IAS). Reproduction of this abstract (other than one copy for personal reference) must be cleared through the IAS.