Couples Who Care Group Supports Pos/Neg Couples
Couples Who Care is a support group sponsored by AIDS Services of Austin. To be eligible, you must be in a male/female relationship or marriage with one partner HIV-positive and one HIV-negative. Sexual orientation is not a criterion. The six-week group is free and confidential. A voluntary research component will be included. The group will be a venue for providing new social relationships, group counseling, interactive exercises, sharing of resources and information, etc.
Couples will explore the impact of HIV on their relationships and children. We will help these couples to express their needs and wants to each other; to express anger openly, rather than through hostile behavior; and to increase the frequency of positive messages. A trial group earlier this year proved to be highly successful in forming deep relationships, working through betrayal issues, addressing alcoholism and its effects on relationships, dealing with anger at the partner and anger at the HIV infection, and strengthening the marriage or partner relationship. If you are a couple who needs a support system, this could be an important step to take. Please call Lois VanLaningham (708-3500) or leave a message on her voice mail (469-6260) for information. The group is limited to six couples.
— Lois VanLaningham, LMS/ACP
Paula Whittingham, MA
Group Facilitators
This article appears in October 24 • 1997 and October 24 • 1997 (Cover).