ABSTRACT
The situation in which one member of a couple is HIV seropositive and the other is HIV seronegative (mixed HIV status or “serodiscordant”) is a relatively new phenomenon confronting mental health workers their clinical practice. As new HIV infections continue to occur in both the heterosexual and homosexual populations, coupled with the phenomenon of people living longer and healthier with HIV than before, the likelihood of such couples presenting for treatment is increasing. Therapists must increase their skills to enable work at the dyadic level with the many challenges these couples face, to reduce distress and strengthen the partnership rather than referring each to his or her separate support group or individual therapy. This chapter will focus on therapy and policy considerations for the couple (heterosexual, homosexual, married, and unmarried) as a unit.
