After much planning and developing, our new Peer Support Program at HIV Community Link is rolling out a Women Support Group starting this month on February 21st, 2018. Every person has unique experiences concerning their HIV status. To be able to come together with fellow women going through similar things and connect with one another can be such a powerful and supportive experience.
Learning how to live with HIV and navigate life does not have to be overwhelming and no one has to do it alone. No one understands the reality of HIV better than someone who lives with it every day. Within the Peer Support Group, there are women who have learned to cope with the daily realities of living with HIV and women who are just beginning this journey.
The Women’s Peer Support Group does not offer clinical therapy but the means of providing an opportunity to build a social network, support one another, relate to other women, a chance to celebrate our daily successes, and to explore our challenges. Each person has the opportunity to be teacher or student within this group setting that is also facilitated by a woman living with HIV. Learning from one another and offering support to each other can also be a process of healing.
There will continue to be the well-established and incredible Peer Support Group called Plus Friends that meets once a month on the last Tuesday of each month, and the Women will name their group this month and solidify the meeting dates and times for a once per month meeting going forward. This is such an exciting step in our community. If interested in registering or accessing more information, please email peer@hivcl.org!
Jody Tomm
Team Lead, Support Services
Pronouns: she/her/hers
HIV Community Link