It prioritizes issues the client identifies as important with the input, insight, support and participation of the counselor. It praises even the smallest accomplishment toward self-efficacy and validates the client's current attempts. Most importantly it prioritizes the remaining risks and points toward realistic steps to achieve the client's goals. While the scope of the discussion is fluid, HIV risk and the Antibody Test remain the context of the discussion. Regardless of the structure of the counseling session, defining HIV, factors in transmission, hierarchy of risks, and the window period remain standard elements of the discussion.
Harm reduction is more holistic than risk reduction.
HRTC encompasses the whole person while addressing each part of the individual and his or her environment, possibilities and concerns, not just with regard to sexual behavior. Risk reduction in HIV test counseling focusses on sexual behavior. Harm Reduction, when used in HIV test counseling, understands that reducing HIV risk is complex, deeply personal and involves all an individual's behavior in relationships, not just what they do when they have sex.