Guidelines for Counselling around HIV and Pregnancy - Southern ...

What is counselling?Counselling IS:listening actively to a client;giving a client space to talk about his or her problem;helping a client understand his or her problem;giving a client correct and appropriate information;helping a client make an informed decision;helping a client to understand the results of that decision;helping a client recognise and build on his or her own strengths.Counselling IS NOT:telling a client what to do;making decisions for a client;judging a client for his or her behaviour or cultural and .religious beliefs;blaming a client;arguing with a client;telling a client what you would do if you were him or her;making a client depend on you for advice and solutions.Counselling is helping a person find the solution to his or her ownproblem. It is not telling someone what you would do in his or hersituation.Skills and attitudes needed to be a treatmentcounsellorTo be an effective counsellor you need to:show respect for your client and other people;take responsibility for what you do or say to your client;listen actively;know your limits as a counsellor;be honest and trustworthy;not judge anyone;be patient and compassionate;be able to leave your own worries behind, and focus on your client;be empathetic.You also need to know your own cultural, personal or religious beliefs aroundHIV and pregnancy. You need to think about how these beliefs might affectyour opinion. Some people might believe that it is a woman’s duty to havechildren; others might believe it is a woman’s choice to have children. Somepeople might believe that termination of pregnancy is wrong, and otherpeople might think that giving birth by Caesarean section is wrong.To be an effective counsellor you also need to be knowledgeable about HIVand AIDS, and pregnancy. You also need to know when to refer your clientto someone else. Referring a client means giving him or her the contactdetails of another counsellor, health worker or helper. This person maybe able to help more effectively than you can.The second part of this book will give you some important informationabout pregnancy and the prevention of parent-to-child transmission(PPTCT). You need to have the correct information to be able to guideyour clients to make a decision.RememberMedical science is always making new discoveries and inventing newtests, producing new drugs and finding out more about PPTCT. As acounsellor you must read and research as much as you can, to find outthe latest information. This will mean you are always up to date, andcan give your clients accurate information. You also need to look afteryour own health and emotions, so that you have enough strength andenergy to care about your clients.