Support Group Starts March 4
The Negative-Positive Connection is a support group sponsored by AIDS Services of Austin. To be eligible, men must be in a male/male relationship with one partner who is HIV-positive and one who is HIV-negative. The group begins Thursday, March 4, and will run from 5:30 to 7:00 for six weeks. The group is free and confidential. A voluntary research component will be included.
This 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 families. We will help these couples 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. Couples groups can be highly successful in forming deep relationships, working through betrayal issues, addressing alcoholism and its effect on relationships, dealing with anger at the partner and anger at the HIV infection, and strengthening the partner relationship.
If you are a couple who needs a support system, this could be an important step to take. Please call Lois VanLaningham at 708-3500 or leave a message on her voice mail (469-6260). Facilitators are Lois VanLaningham, LMSW/ACP, and Dr. Beth Pomeroy.
�Linda Schneider, MSW Intern
ASA Info Line: 458-AIDS
E-mail: ASA@fc.net
This article appears in February 19 • 1999 and February 19 • 1999 (Cover).