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Pretest and Posttest Counseling
Pretest counselingPretest counseling provides an opportunity for counselors and clients to talk about the HIV testing process, the meaning of positive and negative test results, the client’s potential risks, ways to reduce risk, and the client’s intended plan of action once he or she has received the test results. Pretest counseling should not focus on getting the client to admit to various behaviors, which may be considered socially unacceptable or which he or she may feel uncomfortable discussing. The keys to HIV counseling are to discuss all of the behaviors that may increase the risk of HIV infection in a client-centered, nonjudgmental way, as well as to discuss ways to reduce risk. Pretest counseling and education will help both the health care provider and the client assess the client’s understanding of HIV/AIDS, testing, modes of transmission and prevention, along with his or her ability to handle the results. In addition, counselors should attempt to work with clients to develop personalized HIV risk-reduction plans, focusing on realistic, incremental steps toward behavior change. It is important to note that before taking an HIV test, a client should be aware that if the result is positive, he or she will have an illness that carries a social stigma. In some settings, people with HIV have been thrown out of their homes, fired from jobs, victimized in their community, and physically assaulted. Clients need to think through these possible problems before they decide to be tested.
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All individuals who are tested
for HIV should have access to a counseling and education session before
the test is done, and then again once the test results are available.