Addressing 'Dreaded issues': A Description of a unique counselling intervention with patients with AIDS/HIV

The authors describe an approach to counselling patients with AIDS/HIV in which the patients main anxieties can be addressed. A definition of 'AIDS Counselling' and 'Dreaded issues' is offered. The choice of method is derived from experience with over 1,000 patients. A therapeutic strategy is used in which hypothetical and future-orientated questions asked by the counsellor can help to sidestep denial and resistance with patients. Clinical case examples are described in order to illustrate the approach. Some of the advantages as well as the limitations of the approach, for patients and staff, are considered.