Grief is a natural response to mourning and loss. It is the emotional pain of separation that one feels when someone or something beloved is lost. The more subjectively significant the loss, the more intense the grief. Difficult and unexpected emotions from the shock, such as anger, disbelief, guilt, and deep sadness, can burden mental and physical health. Often, the intensity is exhausting, and the individual may need psychotherapeutic and/or counselling support to manage and go through the experience of these feelings.
HIV (Human Immunodeficiency Virus) is a virus that, under certain conditions, can cause Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (AIDS). HIV and AIDS are different terms and refer to different things. HIV generally acts by destroying immune system cells, CD4, and T-lymphocytes, which play an important role in protecting the body from infections and diseases. In the long term, when antiretroviral therapy is not taken, it can lead to the medical condition known as AIDS, which refers to the complete exhaustion of the immune system to the extent that the person cannot fight off an infection, which may lead to death. U=U: Undetectable = Untransmittable, meaning undetectable is not transmittable. In the last decade, with scientific evidence that changes everything we knew about HIV and how the virus is transmitted, it has been proven that a person living with HIV, taking antiretroviral therapy, and having achieved an undetectable viral load in their blood for at least six months, cannot practically transmit the virus to a sexual partner, even with unprotected sexual contact.
After a diagnosis, it is normal and common for an individual to feel fear, anxiety, guilt, shame, anger, and sadness. Some people feel numb, while others feel relieved to have finally discovered what was wrong. At the beginning of the diagnosis, it is likely to seem unbearable, and the individual may not be able to continue their daily life routines (professional and social life, family relationships etc.), with the same internal strength and balance, as their mental health is significantly burdened. The negative feelings and shock are entirely normal, and if the individual feels the need for support, psychotherapy can help them reapproach, understand, accept, and show compassion to themselves, so that they gradually feel comfortable with the new personal, social and health circumstances. Any illness and the commencement of permanent treatment is a core change in life and personal values view that can cause anxiety, emotional distress, psychosomatic symptoms, and even a reassessment and revision of feelings and views about meaning of life. Therefore, psychotherapy is also addressed to most seropositive individuals who may find that their mental well-being is affected by HIV seropositivity, regardless of how well they initially reacted to the diagnosis. A safe environment of empathetic therapy with acceptance, authenticity, and understanding of issues related to sexual health and HIV aims to reduce negative view and experience of social stigma, Moreover, to mentally and socially educate the individual in their new reality, empowering them to regain personal responsibility and control of their physical and emotional health.
Anyone can work profitably and effectively; however, this may occur in an environment with tasks, responsibilities, and conditions that cause discomfort, stress, and a sense of dissatisfaction. These conditions often create a feeling of not belonging, even though the individual may feel competent and skillful in performing their job role tasks. For these reasons, and many others such as automatic routines and unpleasant habits due to entrenched or distorted beliefs, the individual feels confused and trapped by the familiarity created for long time (institutionalized). Deep down, they seek change, in which career counselling and orientation with specialised tools can empower them to recognise and identify their skills, interests, inclinations, and, in other words, their authentic motivations. Similarly, there are people who have been out of work and need support in re-entering the job market (resume building, networking, job research) in the same or a similar field, developing and evolving their skills. Support and counselling provide a companion in creating a change plan and a safe transition or reintegration plan into the labor market provided with the appropriate tools (interview skills, job branding and self-confidence through professional awareness).
The stress experienced by minorities and stigmatized groups (LGBTQIA+, refugees, vulnerable individuals) requires the individual development of adequate mental resilience to face adverse social conditions, which can significantly and often fatally harm the person who has lost the safe feeling of belonging.
This involves therapeutic and counselling approaches defined as minimal intervention in terms of time and the number of sessions mutually agreed upon between the counsellor/psychotherapist and the client. Each approach is chosen mutually depending on the individual and their needs, aiming to activate their connection with their values, strengths, and resources in the here and now, empowering them in terms of self-awareness to address current obstacles and difficulties to choose their desired path.
Sexual contact is a pleasure and should remain so in everyone's life. Within this context, the therapist and client explore the uniqueness of each person in how they can experience a state of physical, emotional, spiritual, and social well-being in relation to sexuality, not necessarily accompanied by illness, dysfunction, or a feeling of evaluating what is normal and what is not depending on social visibility practices as the “permitted” sexual practices. Health in sexual life includes organic sexual health and the acceptance and understanding of the individual's needs, with the essential condition that sexual contact and desire are the product of mutual consent and respect with their partners.