Wednesday Wisdom

Meet Our Staff: Chris Doss

Today we'd like to introduce you to CCC's newest counselor, Chris Doss!

Name: CHRIS DOSS

What do you do at CCC? 

I am a Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Supervisor. I work as a Substance Abuse Counselor and I run Stress Impulse Anger Management (SIAM), which is a Mental Health group.

How long have you been at CCC?

I have been with CCC for about 4 weeks.

Where are you from originally?

I can proudly say I am a native Nevadan, my family settled in Las Vegas.

What is your favorite vacation spot?

I love PARIS!

What is your favorite food? 

 I love French food!

Who is someone you look up to or admire and why?

Ron Lawrence, as cliche as that sounds. I met Ron when I was 19, and a very scared, just-coming-out Mormon kid. Ron, as he does, held my hand through that journey and still does. If it were not for him, and our dear friend Jerry Chestnut, I do not feel I would be here today. There are times in my life where the universe steps in, and I believe this was and is one of these times. Ron and Jerry were the ones who taught me compassion, love, and to think in black and white terms.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

I enjoy being alone, watching movies, reading and gardening.

What is your favorite place in Las Vegas?

I love Las Vegas history, so the Las Vegas fort, the State Museum, and rural Nevada.

If you could have any animal as a pet, what would you choose and why?

I love my Westies; they love to cuddle. 

What would you choose as a career if you were not in this field?

Acting

What is your favorite thing about working at CCC?

I enjoy the feeling of family and all that means.

What words of wisdom do you have to share?

Do this work because you love it, from counseling to the front desk.

September is Recovery Month

In honor of Recovery Month and the countless individuals who, day in and day out, confront their demons and fight to achieve recovery or maintain sobriety, we would like to share this inspiring talk by Jennifer Storm, delivered as a part of the TEDx series presented at Muncy State Prison in 2014.

After overcoming a traumatic past and a number of serious substance abuse addictions, Jennifer is now a Victim Advocate for the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Learn more about her HERE.

Wednesday Wisdom

Meet Our Staff: Gemma Rivera

Today we'd like to introduce you to another one of our talented Community Health Counselors, Gemma Rivera!

Name: GEMMA RIVERA

What do you do at CCC? 

I am a Community  Health Counselor; I am responsible for providing individual, group, couples, child, and family counseling for many different populations (HIV/AIDS clients and their families, substance abuse clients, mental health clients, children, couples, and families).

How long have you been at CCC?

About 20 months.

Where are you from originally?

Born and raised in Chicago.

What is your favorite vacation spot?

Anywhere there is good food, shopping, great company, and where I can be myself (Disneyland ranks at the top of the list at the moment).

What is your favorite food? 

 Anyone who knows me knows that this is an impossible task... it's probably easier to tell you what I don't like, which is anything that has liver or squid ink in it. 

Who is someone you look up to or admire and why?

 I'm Filipino, so I look up to pretty much everyone... But, as far as who I admire, I would say my grandmothers. They are two of the strongest women I know, and I was blessed to have them as such positive influences in my life.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

Cooking, eating, and enjoying the company of my wonderful family and friends.  

What is your favorite place in Las Vegas?

Standing in front of the Bellagio watching the water fountains.

If you could have any animal as a pet, what would you choose and why?

A koala because they're so cute and cuddly.

What would you choose as a career if you were not in this field?

Food critic or Travel writer

What is your favorite thing about working at CCC?

I love coming to a place and being a part of something that affects positive change in the community with coworkers who share the same vision, passion, and lust for life.

What words of wisdom do you have to share?

"My mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style." - Maya Angelou

Las Vegas PRIDE: 2015

 

Community Counseling Center is thrilled to be a participant in this year's PRIDE celebration!! Look for us tonight in the PRIDE Parade in downtown Las Vegas and at tomorrow's PRIDE Festival at the Clark County Government Center from 12-10pm!

I have HIV. You have AIDS. What's the difference & does it matter?

As we move into the fourth generation of HIV, I often ask myself if the other half of that infamous acronym should still be part of the HIV/AIDS pair. AIDS, even 30 plus years later, conjures images of the archetypal AIDS ‘victim’ of the 80s dying alone and suffering in shame. We know that the more than 30 Million people whom have died from AIDS or HIV-related deaths since the early days were not victims nor did they need to carry any shame of the disease even though society insisted otherwise. Unfortunately, many did die alone and suffered unnecessarily. Such images are not today’s images of people surviving with HIV, and an AIDS diagnosis today does not elicit an automatic downward spiral to death. 

--HIV disease continues to be a serious health issue for parts of the world. Worldwide, there were about 2.1 million new cases of HIV in 2013. About 35 million people are living with HIV around the world, and in 2013, around 12.9 million people living with HIV were receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) 

--To date, an estimated 658,507 people diagnosed with AIDS in the United States have died 

--An estimated 1.5 million people died from AIDS-related illnesses in 2013, and an estimated 39 million people with AIDS have died worldwide since the epidemic began

 

By no means am I denying the fact that people continue to die from HIV related illnesses or AIDS; however, with today’s treatment and ART options people are dying due to inability to access HIV medications/treatment and the large percentage of people with HIV (including the 1:5 people who do not know they are HIV positive) who are not adherent to medication or undetectable (viral suppression), making them more susceptible to HIV related illnesses. This speaks to the need for universal HIV testing, the importance of knowing you and your partner’s status, and equal access to life saving medications and treatment. 

In the beginning of the HIV/AIDS pandemonium, AIDS diagnoses were common and held inherent dire consequences. The HIV disease progression moved rather quickly from Asymptomatic to AIDS. Over the years, the progression from HIV to AIDS without medication or treatment can still take up to 10 years (more or less for a percentage); however, with correct medication and treatment a person surviving with HIV may never progress to AIDS. Also, once an individual is diagnosed with AIDS, presently, and they become undetectable and their CD4s climb to a healthy range that AIDS diagnosis does not go away: from that point on the individual is labeled as having an AIDS diagnosis. 

So, what is the difference between HIV and AIDS?

Historically, the acronyms of HIV and AIDS have been used interchangeably and, unfortunately, too many people think HIV and AIDS are either the same illness or completely different illnesses. This has contributed to the overall social mis-education and stigma regarding the HIV disease progression to AIDS. So, how does HIV progress to AIDS and is this progression inevitable?

HIV Stage 1: AKA Primary HIV infection or Acute Retroviral Syndrome (ARS). ARS develops within 2 to 4 weeks after infection with HIV; one may feel sick with flu-like symptoms or display no symptoms of ARS. At this time, there is a high production of HIV in the body, which creates the need for more CD4s to fight off the virus creating an overall decrease in CD4s. It is important to know that an individual is most infectious at this time and capable of transmitting HIV to others due to the high replication of HIV in the body. Formation of antibodies takes place at this time (integral in HIV testing) and seroconversion (converting from HIV negative to HIV positive) takes place as well. 

HIV Stage 2: Clinical latency (inactivity or dormancy) is the period that is often called asymptomatic HIV infection or chronic HIV infection. The virus still exists and is developing in an individual at this time without producing any symptoms. It is important to remember that a symptom-free person is still highly capable of transmitting HIV to others. This reflects the need for early and routine HIV testing. If one is unaware of their HIV status, then they are just as unaware of unintentional transmission. If not on ART at this point, a person with HIV viral load will increase and CD4 count will decrease ushering in the AIDS diagnosis. Without treatment, a person lives in the clinical latency stage on average 10 years. With treatment, a person can live in the clinical latency stage for decades and may never progress to an AIDS diagnosis. 

HIV Stage 3: AIDS: This is the stage of infection that occurs when your immune system is badly damaged and you become vulnerable to infections and infection-related cancers called opportunistic illnesses. When the number of your CD4 cells falls below 200 cells per cubic millimeter of blood you are considered to have progressed to AIDS. (Normal CD4 counts are between 500 and 1,600 cells/mm3.) You can also be diagnosed with AIDS if you develop one or more opportunistic illnesses, regardless of your CD4 count. Without treatment, people who are diagnosed with AIDS typically survive about 3 years. Life expectancy once someone has a dangerous opportunistic illness falls to about 1 year. People with AIDS need medical treatment to prevent death. Without ART, a person with AIDS plus an opportunistic infection has an average one year life expectancy. 

Is it sill necessary to distinguish between HIV and AIDS diagnoses?

This is where the dilemma of the HIV related illnesses and deaths versus AIDS deaths come to a head. Today, once an individual is diagnosed with AIDS (either newly diagnosed or due to lack of ART) death is not the only possible outcome. The advent of having over 30 HIV medications in five different medical classes is how one can easily move from an AIDS diagnosis back to surviving with HIV and returning to a healthy status. Following this line of medical ‘logic’, then what is the significance of distinguishing between HIV and AIDS? At this point and in today’s HIV culture, AIDS-related deaths today may actually be HIV-related deaths.  I urge the medical community to move from AIDS diagnoses to diagnosing individuals among an HIV Illness Continuum. 

Not only does the AIDS diagnosis never go away neither does the AIDS-associated stigma. Just as AIDS conjures up the gloomy images of early AIDS sufferers, AIDS also implies death without exception. We have learned that this does not have to be the case at this point in the HIV realm. Thus, the medical community needs to realize the irrelevance of distinguishing HIV and AIDS. This only creates a culture of have and have nots where it is better to be HIV positive than to have AIDS or any other mutation of this form of skewed thinking. 

Perhaps, a shift in the HIV/AIDS paradigm may be the shift in social stigma associated with HIV and AIDS. Part of the HIV-related stigma is due to the AIDS era when one became HIV positive and transitioned to AIDS quickly ending in an untimely death. The fear of the disease and death are real and has far-reaching consequences. 

In closing, the landscape of HIV is forever changing and AIDS may no longer need to be such an influential diagnosis. Moving away from AIDS is by no means denying AIDS or forgetting the millions whom have suffered from and succumbed to AIDS since the ominous plague of the early 80s. It is imperative to remember and preserve the legion who have died and revere them by distinguishing their plight as AIDS and honoring them as warriors. This fourth generation of HIV may be the watershed where we move into a post-AIDS (possible AIDS-free) society. 

Bryan Heitz

Risk Reduction Specialist

Wednesday Wisdom

 - The Beatles

Meet Our Staff: Sohei Fujita

Today we'd like to introduce you to one of our awesome Community Health Counselors, Sohei Fujita!

Name: SOHEI FUJITA

What do you do at CCC? 

I work in the Community Health program as a counselor

How long have you been at CCC?

One year as a student intern, two months as a substance abuse counselor and two months as a CH counselor the first time around. And I just came back this June.

Where are you from originally?

I'm from... Texas! Just kidding, I'm from Matsuyama, Japan. Sushi, anyone?

What is your favorite vacation spot?

Deep under the sea! I'm a PADI certified rescue scuba diver.

What is your favorite food? 

 Of course, not sushi. Louisiana gumbo. 

Who is someone you look up to or admire and why?

 My grandmothers who are 85 and 93 years old. They are both strong, loving, and caring. 

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

Ideally I would love to go skiing, snowboarding, or something outdoor, but I haven't had much spare time recently because I am in school. Right now, I enjoy spending time with my partner and our dog. 

What is your favorite place in Las Vegas?

At home with my partner and our dog. Or Colorado River kayaking.

If you could have any animal as a pet, what would you choose and why?

Donkey from Shrek or Ewoks from Star Wars

What would you choose as a career if you were not in this field?

I would be a ski instructor. I almost applied to a ski university in Austria.

What is your favorite thing about working at CCC?

Location, location location! Have you ever been to Fat Choy for lunch? If so, you know why I like working just a hop, skip, and a jump from a Fat Choy Burger! Oh yeah, and the people are pretty wonderful also ;-)

What words of wisdom do you have to share?

昔々、あるところにおじいさんとおばあさんが住んでいました。 
Shorter version: Be respectful to each other.

Wednesday Wisdom

Happy Labor Day!

Wednesday Wisdom