Balint Groups Online

Training leaders in relationship centered care.™

The American Balint Society is an international leader in providing virtual Balint Groups. During the pandemic, our tutorials on best practices in moving groups to an online format attracted leaders from many countries and around the nation.

The Balint method gives participants the chance to learn about what gets in the way of  more meaningful relationships with patients and to discern authentic responses that will lessen those obstacles.  The Balint group’s case-based focus on alternative formulations rather than problem-solving makes it applicable to myriad situations and care settings. The Balint format also provides practice in the skills of accessing intuition and empathizing with others, and allows meaningful connection among practitioners of different disciplines who experience the importance of treatment alliances.

Balint Groups are now available for ABFM Performance Improvement Standards with the following criteria:

• Participants will participate in monthly Balint Groups over the course of 8 months and are expected to attend all 8 groups (minimum of 6 allowing for extenuating circumstances).
• Participants will collect pre- participation surveys using the Person-Centered Primary Care Measure from a convenience sample of 20-30 patients and use this data to reflect on goals and potential areas for improvement.
• Participants will keep notes/a learning log of key insights gleaned from Balint discussions and how they are translating those insights into patient interactions in their practice.
• Diplomates collect post- participation surveys from 20-30 patients and use this data to reflect on progress towards their personal goals.
• Utilizing the survey data, participants will identify gaps in professionalism and patient satisfaction/engagement and list 2-3 specific changes they would like to implement in their practice/patient care interactions that will be facilitated through participation in Balint Groups.