Counseling for these clients must be individualized and nonjudgmental. The first step involves establishing rapport, providing support, and respecting the client's value system. Counseling should provide information on the signs and symptoms of AIDS, its transmission, and issues related to testing for the AIDS virus. Counseling also should cover the relationship between alcohol and drug abuse and AIDS. Information about the spread of AIDS through intravenous drug use should be given in a manner congruent with the client's strengths, motivations, and degree of abuse. Information about sexuality and safe sexual practices often must be detailed, frank, and in the client's language. Finally, because the response to AIDS often is similar to the grieving process, counseling has to deal with psychosocial issues related to denial, anxiety, and depression. Comfort with these concepts and attitudes is an essential component to effective counseling about AIDS and substance abuse.