Seattle, WA (EGCM) In the past few years, there has been a growing effort to
educate the pubic about AIDS, HIV and the use of condoms. But for some men,
learning the facts about how HIV is transmitted or making the commitment to
practice safer sex has simply not been enough. They have heard it all a dozen
times and are still unsafe. Why? As with trying to stop smoking, to curb
excessive drinking, or to stick with a diet, the impulse for gratification can
be overpowering. As much as people need information, they also need a place to
put that information into practice. And as hard as people strive to stay safe,
they need a place that offers them the support to keep their commitments.
That is why ARIES was developed: a 14 week group counseling program where men
who have sex with men can talk on the phone with trained counselors and learn
how to get sexually safer.

"Though the participants already know the facts about HIV and AIDS," says Dr.
Roger Roffman, director of ARIES, "our counselors focus on the problems many
people face when trying to get safer and help clients learn how to overcome
difficult challenges." According to Roffman, "men are very positive about the
group support they receive, and in the past year, we have come to appreciate
how the men help each other deal with the uncertainties of safer sex, learn
how to set safer sex goals and become more and more skillful at meeting their
goals."

"ARIES fulfills a gap in the fight against AIDS, and since our toll-free
number (1-800-999-7511) can be used from anywhere in the US, men from
everywhere in America have called to become part of a telephone group" says
Roffman. Currently, ARIES is running 17 groups every week which means men from
communities all over America are working together to get sexually safer.

The men who call ARIES are of all ages, ethnic backgrounds and professions.
identify as bisexualand other men live in small and onARIES is now helping men
in 47 states and has taken calls from nearly 4000
people interested in what telephone counseling is all about. "Some of the men
are really worried that people they know or work with will find out about
their sexuality. So much so that they don't look for help," says Roffman, "but
since this program is done entirely over the phone, a man can be anonymous if
he chooses."

Components of the programm

 Each group has six clients ant two co-leaders (male and female pair).

 Clients choose to participate either completely anonymously or
confidentially (e.g. providing their names).

 Services are provided at no cost.

 Clients meet with their fellow group members on the telephone once per week
for 14 weeks (each session lasting 1+ hours).

 Clients who choose to participate anonymously are asked to rent a postal
mailbox so that they can receive mailed materials from the project.  The
project reimburses them (with a postal money order) for the cost of the rental
mailbox.

 The counseling sessions are designed to assist clients in identifying the
"triggers" of becoming unsafe (e.g. feeling bored), becoming skilled in
dealing with those triggers, learning how to cope with slips without
abandoning the effort to become safer, and boosting self-esteem.

Those who are interested in more information about ARIES can call toll-free:
1-800-999-7511.

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT: ROGER A. ROFFMAN, Ph.D.; University of Washington
School of Social Work; 4101 15th Avenue NE #JH-30; Seattle, WA 98195;
800-999-7511 voice.

The entire contents of The Electronic Gay Community Magazine are Copyright 1993
by The Land of Awes Computer Information System (telephone 316-269-0913 Voice,
316-269-4208 FAX/BBS) but may be reproduced by any means without permission
from the publishers provided that this copyright notice remains with each
article.

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