Client Services
Mental Health Services
Albany Medical Center's AIDS Program offers mental health services to assist people with the emotional and psychological impact of living with HIV disease. Services are available for adults with HIV who live in northeastern New York. These services are collaboratively offered through Albany Medical Center's AIDS Program and the AIDS Council of Northeastern New York.
Living with HIV disease presents many challenges. Mental Health Counselors are available at each agency to assist people living with HIV disease in coping with the day-to-day stress of their illness. Therapy is available to help with understanding and managing thoughts, feelings and behaviors and to enhance coping skills. Some common treatment issues include: HIV diagnosis, disclosing HIV status, handling life transitions, relationship difficulties, anxiety, fear, depression, anger, loss and concern around disease progression, stress, problem-solving, assertiveness, self-esteem, living well with chronic illness. Both mental health and physical health are important aspects of maintaining overall well being. Services include: assessments for therapy, brief supportive counseling, individual, couples and family counseling, support groups and group therapy, psychiatric consultation and medication management.
Patients may be referred for participation in these services by their healthcare provider or case manager. A referral form needs to be completed by your healthcare provider at the time of referral. Services are available regardless of ability to pay. Clients who have mental health treatment offered through their health insurance plan or who are involved with other mental health treatment options should utilize the mental health services to which they have access.
Funding support for the Mental Health Services Program is provided by Albany Medical Center's AIDS Program through a grant from the New York State Department of Health's AIDS Institute and other support from Albany Medical College.
Our current Mental Health Services staff is:
Penelope 'Penny' Trieb, LCSW, HIV Mental Health Counselor
Dr. Pankaj Kishore, MD, Psychiatrist
Support Groups
The AIDS Program sponsors several different support & education groups on an on-going basis (both on-site and in the community) including:
- HIV & Recovery Support Group- providing support to patients who are in recovery
- Adherence Support Group- assisting patients to adhere to their medication regimens
- HIV + Mom's Group
- "Im Every Woman"- A support and Education group for HIV+ women with a history of trauma
- Smoking cessation group
- HIV & Hepatitis C Support Group- support and education for patients who are currently receiving treatment for Hepatitis C or are contemplating starting treatment
To find out more about Client Services please contact Sarah Etkin-Sefcik, MSW, Director of Client Services, at 518-262-4026.
