11:00 AM - 12:00 PM Eastern
Featured
An online Balint Group is now forming which will meet monthly on the second Saturday at 11am Eastern/8am Pacific. The series will begin in January and run through August. Because group cohesiveness affects participants’ experience of the group, and a minimum number of participants are required to hold a session, registrants are asked to commit to attending all sessions. Please do not plan to arrive late, leave early or miss sessions, etc.
Leaders facilitating the group: Eddo de Lang, MD, and Darlene Lawrence, MD
Eddo de Lang, MD, has been a family physician since 1980. My first introduction to Balint was in the late 1970s while I was doing my Family Medicine Residency training in the Netherlands. after practicing for several years in Europe, I moved to the United States. Participating in Balint groups as a group member or co-leader has taught me the importance of divergent thinking and reflection. Darlene Lawrence and I are both credentialed Balint Group leaders and have co-led two previous ABS online groups and we have both co-led several in-person Balint Groups as well. I am currently involved in the ABS Scholarly Activity Committee, Balint Leadership Intensives Committee, and ABS council. It will be a pleasure meeting you online when our group will have its first Balint Group session. Hope to see you there.
Darlene Lawrence, MD, FAAFP, is a board-certified family physician who graduated from Georgetown University School of Medicine, and completed her residency at the Georgetown/Providence Family Medicine Residency Program in her hometown, Washington, D.C. Providing full-service family medicine, including obstetrics for 26 years, Dr. Lawrence has been teaching medical students and family medicine residents for more than 30 years. Currently, she is associate program director of The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education Family Medicine Residency Program at Unity Health Care at Parkside Health Center and directs advising, Balint, Practice Management, and Resident Wellness. She is an ABS credentialed leader and faculty member at Balint intensives. She is a proud wife, parent of four and dog mom of two.
Time: 11:00am - 12:00pm Eastern Time/8:00am - 9:am Pacific. The initial meeting will be 90 minutes to allow for introductions and an overview of the Balint method, meetings two - eight will be 60 minutes.
Number of meetings and Dates: Eight (8) monthly meetings on the second Saturday: January 10, February 14, March 14, April 11, May 9, June 13, July 11, and August 8, 2026.
Cancellation Policy:
If cancelled by the ABS or hosts due to insufficient registrants, those registered will receive their money back. Otherwise, no return of fee is possible, including in the event of registrant's partial attendance or inability to complete the sequence of sessions.
1. Registrants must be clinically active and willing to present cases.
2. Balint work can stir strong emotions. If the registrant is at an unusually stressful period in their life, we recommend they sign up at another time.
3. Because the success of the group depends in part on cohesion, steady attendance matters. Registrants must intend to attend all sessions of the group.
4. In welcoming international participants, please know that the meetings will be held in English.
Target Audience
This series is appropriate for clinicians new to the Balint Group method as well as experienced Balint Group leaders. Suitable for those in active practice including physicians (primary care, psychiatry, other specialists), nurse practitioners, psychologists, social workers, and others.
Accreditation
The AAFP has reviewed Balint Group - Decreasing Isolation with Peer Consultation, and deemed it acceptable for AAFP credit.
AMA/AAFP Equivalency: AAFP Prescribed credit is accepted by the American Medical Association as equivalent to AMA PRA Category 1 Credit toward the AMA Physician's Recognition Award. When applying for the AMA PRA, Prescribed credit earned must be reported as Prescribed, not as Category 1.
The American Balint Society is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. The American Balint Society maintains responsibility for this program and its content.
Grievance Policy:
Any concerns should be brought to the attention of Rebekah Schiefer, Committee Chair.
| 1/10/2026 |    |