A “mindful rational living” approach for addressing HIV in the school setting

Abstract

This paper describes a “mindful rational living” approach, which incorporates mindfulness techniques with rational emotive behavioral therapy strategies for addressing HIV in the school setting. The utility of this approach for attending to the physical, mental, and psychosocial aspects of school-based HIV prevention and treatment will be provided within existing multitier models of intervention.

Keywords::

• HIV
• AIDS
• mindfulness
• meditation
• rational emotive behavior therapy
• youth

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Hunter Drake for his contributions to this manuscript. We also would like to thank Dr. Vincent Parr from the Institute for Advanced Study–Mindful Rational Living and Michael Gregory from Mindfulness Meditation Centers for sharing their expertise about mindful rational living.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Tiffany Chenneville

Tiffany Chenneville, PhD, is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of South Florida St. Petersburg. She has a joint appointment in the Department of Pediatrics at USF Health. Dr. Chenneville's primary program of research is in the area of pediatric HIV with a focus on topics related to decisional capacity, HIV disclosure and criminalization, treatment adherence, and school-related issues. Dr. Chenneville is interested in global health initiatives and is collaborating on HIV related projects in India and in Kenya. Mindfulness is an emerging area of interest for Dr. Chenneville, especially as it pertains to improving outcomes for youth along the HIV prevention to intervention continuum.

Audra St. John Walsh

Audra St. John Walsh, PhD, a licensed pediatric psychologist, is faculty with the Division of Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Department of Pediatrics, University of South Florida Morsani College of Medicine, serving as the Clinical Director of Behavioral Health for the USF Health Pediatric Infectious Diseases Program. Dr. Walsh collaborates with a multidisciplinary team to provide integrated behavioral health services and conduct clinical research aimed at improving outcomes for youth living with HIV.