Program Basics
 
The L.I.F.E. Program^® is a psycho-educational program for people living with HIV/AIDS. L.I.F.E., which stands for Learning Immune Function Enhancement,is designed to address and harness the power that social relationships and psychological issues have on physical health. The program is based on scientific research showing that psychological and social "cofactors" can affect the functioning of the nervous and immune systems, and consequently, physical health. These psychosocial Cofactors have been shown in HIV disease and other life-threatening illnesses to trigger symptom onset, speed up or slow down disease progression, and enhance or reduce survival time. If people living with HIV/AIDS and other illnesses understand this dynamic relationship between mind and body, and improve their performance on certain cofactors, then they may benefit from improved physical and psychological health, as well as enhanced immune function and survival time.

Through a series of meetings and Individual Health Counseling Sessions, 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.
 
The L.I.F.E. Program is available through online participation on this website, or for individuals living in various communities across the United States through facilitated groups that meet weekly for 12-16 weeks.  

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.