Becoming a mental health counselor for an HIV/AIDS patient is a position of dignity that can often be distorted or unjustified due to the negative side that our society placed at diagnosis. . The main function of the HIV/AIDS counselor is to support their infected and affected clients, listen to their problems and empower them to solve their problems and improve their lives. These abilities may come easy to some; more difficult for others. As an HIV/AIDS counselor, I will accept future clients who seek my services. Support and empowerment should be an underlying task of any counseling profession, but particularly when working with a client with HIV/AIDS. Early in my counseling career, I will be faced with clients who have been diagnosed with HIV/AIDS. This confrontation presents me with different personal and professional issues that I will need to address as my career progresses and I become more immersed and educated in the career. As a gay white man, many of my clients will have ideas about me that are easily influenced by society's opinions. These assumptions, as a therapist, will need to be addressed and transformed into an understanding of HIV/AIDS and the different factors/modes of contraction as well as the ability to live and cope with the illness. Treatment aside, I don't think I would. do not hesitate to take care of clients suffering from HIV/AIDS. I believe in HIV/AIDS and I believe that every therapist should be aware of the infection and its ability to affect anyone. “If a mental health professional believes that HIV infection does not exist in his or her community and therefore does not learn how to appropriately address this issue with his or her clients, he or she is doing a great disservice. " (Winiarski) I do it, however, ...... middle of paper ...... as if I might have HIV or fear contracting the disease due to my similar lifestyle; ultimately leading to the distress of early mortality. In conclusion, I have a particular interest in educating my client. I believe that the promotion of safe sex education, HIV/AIDS education, life coaching and coping skills is an extremely influential factor in the management of chronic diseases. I want to be that counselor who can show my client how to talk to loved ones, friends and colleagues about HIV/AIDS and manage feelings of loneliness, depression, helplessness and suicide; all this is possible through consistent education. Works Cited Walker, G. (1991). In the middle of winter: counseling families, couples and people infected with AIDS. NY: WW Northon & Co. Winiarski, M. Understanding HIV/AIDS Using the Biopsychosocial/Spiritual Model.