Treatment of HIV/STD Related Clinical Issues with LGBT Clients

Catalog description

HIV continues to be a public health crisis in the United States that has disproportionately affected the LGBTQ community since its inception. While much has changed in the availability and types of treatments that now make HIV a chronic non-lethal disease, infection rates continue to remain steady at approximately 40,000 new infections per year. Most of these new infections are within the gay male community. However a disproportionate number affect MSM Latino and African-American men as well as the transgender communities. While the disease is now medically manageable, the psychosocial needs of the LGBTQ individuals living with and affected by HIV deserve clinical understanding and attention on the role of possible oppressions related to various identity components of each individual and how this might influence physical and mental health to support a self-valuing LGBTQ sense of self. An LGBTQ affirmative position empathically and clinically appreciates the often complex interplay and trauma-related responses between sexual orientation, gender, racism, socioeconomic challenges, religion, sexual abuse and the still powerful stigma attached to HIV and LGBTQ identities. This workshop will be facilitated from a broad-based perspective that encourages understanding of issues related to the treatment of HIV-infected and affected populations with the LGBT community. We will specifically consider the psychological, social and cultural influence of HIV on the LGBTQ community. Therapeutic skills will be taught that will assist student clinicians with a basic framework with which to provide compassionate and ethical treatment of HIV and co-occurring sexually transmitted diseases including the advances to prevention through the administration of PEP and PrEP protocols.