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The L.I.F.E. Program for HIV/HCV Co-infection
L.I.F.E. helps individuals with HIV, Hepatitis C, or co-infection improve their health by gaining awareness of and addressing their performance on biological, psychological and social Cofactors. Whether newly diagnosed, in treatment, post-treatment, or dealing with acute or ongoing issues, L.I.F.E. participants build real connections with each other, gain real information and hope about health-progression, and make real changes to their health. Currently we are one of the only health-enhancement and peer support programs for HIV and HCV in the Bay Area, and all of our programs are offered at no cost. L.I.F.E. provides individuals with HIV, HCV, or co-infection with:
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Practical knowledge about
HIV/HCV Co-infection & Treatment
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The latest medical research
on how to support and nourish immune system functioning, enhance
physical health & increase quality of life
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Workshops that teach
approaches to increasing HCV treatment success, and tolerability of treatment & side-effects that are based on the
principles of mind-body medicine.
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Trusted peer support
between co-infected individuals
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One-on-one health
counseling to support health-enhancement, treatment adherence, and
improved quality of life.
Real Connection
Research shows trusted support with peers can reduce stigma, isolation, depression, and anxiety. Trusted support can also reduce Survival stress, leading to better health outcomes, stronger immune system functioning, and longer survival time. L.I.F.E. participants use the Shanti model of peer support to share their knowledge and experience of living with HIV/HCV with other
HIV/HCV co-infected individuals to build lasting trusted emotional and practical support with each other.
Real Hope
More then thirty years of research in psychoneuroimmunology (PNI) shows the connection between our psychosocial wellbeing and our physiological functioning and health (including that of the central nervous system, immune system, the thymus, bone marrow, and hormone production). Over the last 16 years, L.I.F.E. has refined the best and latest of this research into a workshop that offers participants real hope for health improvement and long term-survival. Thousands of graduates have used L.I.F.E. to improve or maintain their health, and at each meeting L.I.F.E. graduates are on hand to help participants foster realistic optimism for their own journey to wellness.
Real Change
Clinical evaluation of L.I.F.E. shows that our participants reduce overall health problems (by 27-44%) and overall personal problems (by 38-50%); decrease drug/alcohol use and other health risking behaviors; increase trusted support; increase adherence to health routines; and increase coping with grief, depression, and Survival Stress. Through L.I.F.E.'s innovative and effective learning methods and group processes, L.I.F.E. participants gain the knowledge, motivation, skills, and support necessary to improve their health in as few as 18 weeks.
L.I.F.E.'s Bay Area Programming for HIV/HCV Co-infected individuals includes :
L.I.F.E. Drop-in Support
Every Thursday, from 3:00-4:45pm at St. Mary's Medical Center
2235 Hayes, 4th Floor
San Francisco, CA 94117
L.I.F.E.
Health Workshops for HIV/HCV Co-infection
12-week workshops designed for gay/bi co-infected men. Workshops provide the knowledge, motivation, skills, and support necessary to make changes in health behaviors that can support
and nourish the immune system & enhance physical health, and increase
quality of life, success of treatment, and tolerability of treatment &
side-effects.
Acute
Survivors Group
A weekly closed support group for gay/bi men who continue to survive &
thrive with HIV/HCV co-infection. This group provides information about
Cofactors, or issues that impact immune functioning, experiential exercises
that encourage clients to gain awareness of their own performance on
health-related issues, and facilitated peer support to eliminate the
isolation and stigma of co-infected status.
Individual Health Counseling
Using the principles of mind-body medicine, participants receive one-on-one emotional and practical support in developing and maintain health supporting routines for biological, psychological, and social health.
For
information about any of these FREE activities, or to learn more about The
L.I.F.E. Program for HIV/HCV Co-infection, contact Clayton Robbins at
(415) 674-4716 or
crobbins@shanti.org.
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Client
Testimonials |
"My partner died two years ago, and since that time all I thought
about was life without him. I was full of anger and pain. I began
drinking heavily and forgot about taking my pills. My L.I.F.E. counselor
helped me to see that there were possibilities beyond my life with John.
Today, I am clean and sober and my viral load is undetectable! I miss
John, but I know that I can move forward with my new life."
— Mario
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