At the end of the 1980s, counselors largely lacked an integrated approach to counseling people living with HIV disease. This book describes the experience of counseling this group of persons. The major premise here is that counselors who counsel HIV-positive clients must come to understand and affirm their clients' experiences. The text defines a new counseling approach--HIV affirmative counseling--that takes into consideration the medical advances of the last decade. The basic tenets of this approach are that HIV affirmative counseling is atheoretical; developmental; sensitive to issues of sexual and affectional orientation as well as of gender, culture, class, and age; and contextual. It focuses on quality not quantity of life, and on healing, not the cure. A large number of issues are examined: deciding to get tested, adjusting to being positive, telling others, sex and sexuality, the workplace, fortifying the spirit, hospitalization, depending on others for care, rational suicide, surviving, and other concerns. The text provides the counselor a blueprint for addressing the issues that arise during the development of the disease. HIV affirmative counseling is about providing clients an experience of respect and validation for their lives. Contains a list of resources for HIV affirmative counselors, 178 references, and an index. (RJM)