AIDS AND ITS EFFECT ON A BUSINESS PARTNERSHIP - CRISIS-INTERVENTION AND FOLLOW-UP

This case study, essentially a brief intervention, will discuss a vari ety of psychodynamic, social, economic and systemic factors that influ ence the success or failure of a small business. The clients are two p artners, male and female, in a commercial photography and design firm in New York City, coping with the diagnosis of AIDS in one business pa rtner. However, this case was not a straightforward one in which the c lients were saying, ''We are having problems with the AIDS situation.' ' Rather, it involved an attempt on my part to intervene around the de nial of the diagnosis, as well as the denial of other factors: busines s ''demands'' on the ''creative personality,'' special stresses of bus iness partner roles, and most recently, stresses caused by the economi c recession on a small business already affected in its internal dynam ics by depression because of the partner's illness. During the consult ation work, not only did these clients begin to accept the effects of the illness, but also prospered and grew by coming to terms with their working relationship. This study will discuss a multidisciplinary app roach to consultation.