Leading a Balint Group

Balint group leaders need knowledge about:

• psychological processes in individuals and groups
• clinical practice
• the Balint method

Training involves some or all of the following:

• substantial experience as a Balint group participant
• working with an experienced leader as co-leader
• supervision of work as a Balint group leader or co-leader
• attending leadership workshops
• training in group processes, group facilitation, psychoanalysis, psychodynamic psychotherapy or group psychotherapy
• reading

There is a formal Balint Group Leader Accreditation Programme in Australia and New Zealand provided by the Society.

Information about leading Balint groups

The Balint group model is deceptively simple. Creating and leading a Balint group can be challenging, and is best done with supervision from an accredited Balint leader..

Accreditation as a Balint leader requires training and supervision, and takes two to three years. Trainee leaders  learn how to build and maintain a safe group space to enable members to explore their imaginative and emotional responses to case material.

Clinicians seeking involvement in the community of the Balint Society might first consider joining an ongoing Balint group, to gain from its particular experience of collegial sharing. Should you wish to embark on the Leadership Accreditation Pathway, our activities include leadership training, peer support and supervision. Naturally, we hope you will join our community!