1. W HAT O BSTACLES DOES HIV I NFECTION POSE TO F INDING, A CCEPTING, K EEPING AND G IVING L OVE ? C HARLOTTE C HAGOYA, RN, PG P SYCH N R, D IP F AM T HER. cchagoya©October,2014

2. Mount Sinai Hospital Department of Psychiatry Clinic for HIV Related Concerns 1987- Individual, Couple, Family and Group Therapy Couples where both are HIV+ Couples where one is HIV+ HIV- couples, worried about infection Families with one adult member HIV+, Families with parent and child HIV+ Collaboration with hospitals, agencies, and practitioners Research

3. Before 1996: Impending death. After 1996: “Transitional” couples Living with HIV Medication side-effects Premature aging Substance abuse Psychiatric Illness From 2013 to 2014: 4452 visits (approx. 440 / month) Main Problems Related to the HIV Infection

4. TYPES OF THERAPY: -Psychodynamic -CBT (Cognitive-Behavior Therapy) -IPT (Inter-Personal Therapy) -Narrative Group Therapy -Meditation Group Therapy -EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing) for Trauma -Psycho-education

5. Patients received: --- Individual Therapy --- Couple Therapy --- Family Therapy --- Group Therapies --- Psychiatric Medication Clinic Many patients receive combinations of the above.

6. Beliefs We Assess in Couples and Families include: Expectations re each stage in their life cycle Sexuality norms, Religious, moral and ethical standards Meaning of the HIV infection Implicit Taboos, Prejudices Re: Socio-economic position & Misconceptions Re: Physical symptoms All these beliefs are related to the culture in which the patients grew up.

7. BELIEF: An acceptance that a statement Is true or something exits. MYTH: An idea or story, believed by many people, but that is not true. STIGMA: A set of negative and often unfair beliefs that a group of people have about something. PREJUDICE: Pre-conceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience.

8. “I CAN NOT GET, ACCEPT, KEEP OR GIVE LOVE… - IF I AM HIV+ OR HAVE AIDS -IF I CARE FOR SOMEONE WHO IS HIV+ OR WITH AIDS -IF I TELL I AM HIV+ TO POTENTIAL LOVERS PARTNERS OR SPOUSES CHILDREN Common Beliefs of HIV + Patients

9. Thank You. October 2014. Oshawa,