Effectiveness of Balint Groups in Junior Doctors

Ten sessions of a monthly psychological intervention/support group - Balint Group, provided by experienced Balint facilitators, all of whom are psychiatric doctors. There will be 10 sessions of 90 minutes each, one each month, with the aim for groups of 10 participants. Attendance will be monitored through the facilitators keeping a roll. The description below is copied from http://www.balintaustralianewzealand.org/what-happens-in-a-balint-group/ : "A Balint group is an experiential, small group educational activity in which health care professionals discuss cases from their practices with a focus on the clinician-patient relationship or health professional – client relationship.Most Balint groups have a set membership of 8-12 participants who meet monthly for 1-2 hours. Group participants sit in a circle, with a trained leader or two co-leaders. Clinicians present cases from their own practices. Group members listen to the presenter’s story, then discuss the case, with a focus on the clinician-patient relationship. Each presentation and discussion usually takes about 45 minutes, and groups often meet for 90 minutes. The presenter tells the group about the case in an informal way, quite briefly, and without notes – because sometimes the way the story is told, including what is left out, can provide valuable clues to the nature of the presenter’s interaction with the patient. The presenter tries to convey the essence of how they experience the interaction with the patient and the atmosphere in the consulting room, to describe anything they are finding difficult and to include their own feelings and reactions. The presenter is free to choose any patient to present. Often the patient presented will have have elicited strong feelings in the presenter, such as distress, frustration, surprise, difficulty, puzzlement or uncertainty. In the group discussion, the group aims to explore the interaction between clinician and patient and to empathize with both of them. The group is encouraged to speculate, without any pressure to be “right”. The aim is to understand the situation in a deeper way, not to judge, advise, or offer solutions. It is important for the presenter to be protected from interrogation or criticism and to have time to listen and reflect on the group’s contributions. The atmosphere is mutually respectful and non-threatening. There is time to “sit” with uncertainty and complexity without the pressure to know the answer.