Taking Advantage of Post-Test HIV Counseling
Walking into a clinic or doctor’s office, feeling tense and nervous, wondering whether an undesired diagnosis will be given and trying to keep panicked or worried thoughts at bay, many people can experience emotional and mental difficulty when approaching medical test results. For a wide range of specific medical issues, tests can determine vitally important things such as an expected prognosis or the severity of a disease, as well as indicating whether a person has a certain condition. One of the most prominent medical tests available in an outpatient or clinical setting today is the HIV test. Helping society at large work towards greater containment of the virus, these tests are an important tool in the effort to keep the spread of HIV as minimal as possible, and while only a tiny percentage of the population opts to get tested, medical and scientific professionals have high hopes for a greater embrace of the procedure. Scheduling an HIV test may seem like a frightening prospect, but many venues have developed specific counseling programs in order to assist clients in securing a more peaceful and beneficial experience.
Post-test HIV counseling is part of a two-step counseling system employed by many clinics and medical offices to help clients understand the test itself as well as to receive more information about HIV and its risk factors and methods of transmission, and to provide test-takers with moral and social support throughout the process. Post-test HIV counseling, like pretest counseling, is often performed by a mental health professional who retains proper licensing and training for the job. This specific type of counseling is carried out when the results of a client’s test are available; for some testing methods, this may be shortly after the test is administered, while for other methods, the wait may consist of one or more days.
Clients whose tests return with a positive indication of HIV infection may feel overwhelmed or emotionally volatile upon learning about their status, and the presence of an experienced professional can greatly help to sooth the client and help explain treatment options. Counselors can discuss specific concerns that clients may have about the infection, and serve as a powerful connection point for community resources and support groups. Mental health professionals with a specialization in HIV-related topics can also be of substantial benefit to those without the virus, as they can help explain how HIV is transmitted, and how to protect oneself from future transmission. Throughout the experience of receiving the test results, post-test HIV counseling workers can provide clients with the support and information they need to get the maximum possible benefit from their test.
Though opting to take an HIV test can be a daunting experience, the use of post-test HIV counseling, along with a pretest session, can greatly improve way in which the test is perceived as well as its efficacy in fostering happier and healthier lives.