I work mainly with HIV infected male population in urban Detroit area. Mostly they are presenting with not only infectious diseases but co-occurring disorders of mental illness and substance use disorder. In unraveling their histories with them; childhood sexual assualt, victimization and repeated domestic violence exposure puts them at high risk for PTSD and homelessness. Their trauma histories are what they have to work with so we capitalize on the strengths and coping skills that helped them survive that trauma. Their histories of sexual abuse and domestic violence however are a precursor/antecedents to mental illness, schizophrenia and substance use disorders. We work simultaneously on all these problems;HIV care, mental illness/PTSD, Substance use disorder. Some of them have amazed me in their abilities to not continue submitting to the violence;they have become thrivers instead of just survivors.