Human Immunodeficiency Virus Infection and the Gay Community: Counseling and Clinical Issues.

The gay community has been and continues to be disproportionately affected by the acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS) and the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. Need for risk- reduction education, mental health service provision, and assistance in grieving the ongoing loss of loved ones continues to exist among members of the gay community. Clinicians who work with gay clients should be aware of the critical issues confronting gay men who are at risk for infection, those who may already be infected with HIV, and their loved ones. This article highlights critical issues in introducing prevention in therapy and counseling, in supporting asymptomatic seropositive gay men and gay men with AIDS-related complex (ARC) and AIDS in their attempts to cope, and in assisting in the grieving process for those who have lost loved ones to AIDS-related illnesses. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]