Fears and Phobias Associated with Individuals engaging in High Risk Behaviors or Who Have HIV.

Overview:  Like other individuals, counselors often have fears and phobias related to individuals engaging in high risk behaviors, or who have HIV/AIDS, STDs, or other diseases.   Also, some counselors have fears of individuals having different lifestyles than their own.  These fears can become problematic when they are unknown to you while working with others.

Goals:  This section will help you identify some issues that you are uncomfortable with.  [Note:  It is not designed to make you change your opinions, only identify the issues].

Objectives:

1.         Assist in examining issues related to biases about human sexuality, biases about sexually related topics, and information related to lifestyles.

2.         Assist in identifying biases and fears counselors may have when working with clients engaging in high-risk behaviors.

Readings: 

Assessing Sexual Risks:  Issues for counselors

Counselor Attitude Bias

 http://www.managingdesire.org/June96Suppl.html

Overcoming homophobia

Homosexuality and Homophobia  Read all of the material in this website

It is ok to

It is not ok to

Guidelines for Counselors

Tasks:

1.         Read the Heterosexual Questionnaire.  Then write a brief reaction paper (approximately ½ page) to it and send it to your instructor.  It is also in the material you have read.  However, I have specifically hyperlinked the questionnaire for you.
Heterosexual Questionnaire

2.         Identify three fears or issues that may be associated with individuals having HIV/AIDS, who are members of a minority population, or are in high-risk groups for HIV.  Share your thoughts about these issues with your classmates in the on-line Discussion for Topic 6.

3.      Review one of the following websites listed below.  They  provide a wide variety of information related to gay/lesbian issues.  You can choose others if you wish.  [Note, these sites may be sensitive or disturbing to you.] 

Then write a brief reaction paper about your impressions, feelings, or whatever.  Then send it to your instructor.  These comments will remain confidential.

http://www.gay.com

http://www.planetout.com

http://gaylife.about.com/people/gaylife/mbody.htm

http://gaylesissues.about.com/newsissues/gaylesissues/mbody.htm

Another center that describes a wide variety of sexual behavior and provides many websites is Yahoo.com.

Resources:

There are some websites that categorize a variety of sexual behavior.  Once you pick a category, it provides you with a wide variety of articles and activities individuals participate in.  [Note; some of these sites are very graphic and visual in describing sexual behavior.]

http://www.sexhealth.org