Calendar of Events - The American Balint Society

• Help the group explore the patient-clinician relationship when issues of diversity and difference arise
• Find opportunities to help the group dig deeper
• Facilitate a group in which the clinician’s identity and personal values seem at odds

Leaders: Mary Hall, MD and Don Nease, MD
Time: The first meeting will be 90 minutes 7:00pm - 8:30pm Eastern Time/4:00pm - 5:30pm Pacific Time. Subsequent meetings will be 60 minutes 7:00pm - 8:00pm Eastern/4:00 - 5:00 Pacific. 
Number of meetings and Dates: Eight (8) monthly meetings on the following Tuesdays: March 24, April 28, May 26, June 23, July 28, August 25, September 22, and October 27, 2026.
Fee:
$200 for ABS Members
$320 for non-members

This group is open to all registrants regardless of discipline; however, preference will be given to those registering as an ABFM diplomat for their QI project. 

ABFM Performance Improvement Standards (MOC Part IV) 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.
• 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. 
• 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.

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.  

More Information 

Grievance Policy:
Any concerns should be brought to the attention of Rebekah Schiefer, Committee Chair.

ABS Grievance Policy

An online Balint Group is now forming which will meet the third Friday of each month at 3pm Pacific. The series will begin in April and run through November. Registration is limited to 10 participants. 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: 
Daniel Brass, MD, Daniel Brass is a psychiatrist in private psychotherapy practice in Melbourne, Australia. He is an accredited ('credentialed') Balint group leader and current president of the Balint Society of Australia and New Zealand (BalintANZ). Daniel is working towards a PhD on 'Balint groups across the medical careerspan' in the Department of Medical Education at the University of Melbourne. 



Kathy Knowlton, PhD, is an ABS Supervisor and past president. She is retired from a private practice in psychoanalytic psychotherapy in Seattle. She stays absurdly busy leading Balint groups for all kinds of medical and mental health practitioners. She also owns a bookstore and has two grandkids plus a dog and a cat.  



Meeting Time: 6:00pm - 7:00pm Eastern Time/3:00 - 4pm Pacific Time. The initial meeting will be 90 minutes to allow for introductions and an overview of the Balint method. Subsequent meetings will be 60 minutes. 
Number of meetings and Dates: Eight (8) monthly meetings on the following Fridays: April 17, May 15, June 19, July 17, August 21, September 18, October 16 and November 20, 2026. 

Fee:
$200 for ABS Members
$320 for non-members

Cancellation Policy:
If canceled 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.

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.  

More Information

Grievance Policy:
Any concerns should be brought to the attention of Rebekah Schiefer, Committee Chair.

ABS Grievance Policy

                                                            

The four-day Intensive course is designed to teach Balint group leadership technique primarily through experiential groups, supplemented by topic-focused small discussion groups and faculty panel discussions. Attendees will have ample time to present cases, practice leading a Balint group, and engage informally with other participants. 

The Spokane Leadership Intensive course is appropriate for clinicians new to the Balint Group method as well as experienced Balint Group leaders. The course is well-suited to those who are currently leading, expect to lead in the future, or are seeking a better understanding of Balint groups.  The curriculum is appropriate for physicians (primary care, psychiatry, other specialists), psychologists, social workers, other mental health care providers, veterinarians, and pastoral care providers.

Course Details

Because group cohesiveness affects participants’ experience of the course, registrants are required to commit to attending all sessions and to attending each session in its entirety. Please do not plan to arrive late, leave early or miss sessions.

The Balint Leadership Intensive is a training course and is not intended as therapy. Nevertheless, Balint Group work can sometimes stir up strong feelings. Prospective registrants who are experiencing a particularly vulnerable period in their lives may want to consider participating in this training at a later date.
Course Schedule

Join a special online Balint group where the focus will be not only hearing cases, but a debrief "intensive style" where Ali Manning and LIsa Buck will talk about leadership moves and help you solidify your skills. The group will meet four times for 90 minutes each session. We will work a case and then spend time discussing what happened and what the leaders considered during the case.

Leaders facilitating the group: Lisa Buck, MD, and Ali Manning, MD


Lisa Buck, MD, has been involved with Balint work since her intern year of residency in Family Medicine, circa 1991. Balint training as a credentialed leader and supervisor soon followed. This work has been a passion for the entirety of her career. Lisa has led groups of residents, homeless shelter staff members, and groups of seasoned clinicians. Joining Ali to lead an intensive style online group with a debrief is new territory for the ABS and she is looking forward to sharing this experience with you. 




Ali Manning, MD, B.Ed, FRCPC, is Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist and Director of Postgraduate Psychiatry Education at Dalhousie University. Her first introduction to Balint was on the Beach where she was "bitten by the Balint bug" and quickly went to successfully incorporate these into local residency programs. Ali's Balint facilitation is style is informed by both the Balint method and her teaching philosophy, which is in evident not only in how she teaches groups but also how she teaches others to teach groups. She's looking forward to joining forces with Lisa Buck to bring this exciting new Program offered by the American Balint Society.


Time: 5:30PM - 7:00PM Eastern Time/2:30PM - 4:00PM Pacific. 
Number of meetings and Dates: Four (4) weekly meetings on the following days: April 27, May 4, May 11 and May 18, 2026.
                                                Cost: $240/non-members; $150/members

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 have attended at least one Balint Leadership Training Intensive. 
2. Registrants must be clinically active and willing to present cases.
3. 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.
4. Because the success of the group depends in part on cohesion, steady attendance matters. Registrants must intend to attend all sessions of the group.
5. 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.  

More Information

Grievance Policy:
Any concerns should be brought to the attention of Rebekah Schiefer, Committee Chair.

ABS Grievance Policy

Health care professionals are invited to attend the Healing, Mindfulness and Compassion Retreat at the beautiful and tranquil Ratna Ling Conference Center in the Redwoods of Sonoma County, California. The weekend conference combines Eastern and Western approaches to healing: Tibetan Yoga and Meditation as well as Balint sessions that address the complex emotional landscape of the clinician-patient relationship. The Balint group format is an empathy-enhancing practice to strengthen treatment alliances, improve care delivery, increase practitioner resilience and decrease professional isolation. Further context on the neuroscience of compassion and its importance in the provision of effective service will increase understanding of the connection between practitioners’ self-care and the care they are able to offer others. The accommodations and architecture are exquisite and the weekend is educational, restful, and rejuvenating.

Cancellation Policy
Registrants wishing to cancel their registration must do so in writing by the cancellation deadline of March 12, 2026. For cancellations received by the cancellation date, $100 of the registration fee will be withheld for administrative fees and the refund will be issued within 30 days of acknowledgment of the cancellation. For cancellations received after the cancellation date, no refunds will be available. 
Complete Event Details

• Help the group explore the patient-clinician relationship when issues of diversity and difference arise
• Find opportunities to help the group dig deeper
• Facilitate a group in which the clinician’s identity and personal values seem at odds

• Help the group explore the patient-clinician relationship when issues of diversity and difference arise
• Find opportunities to help the group dig deeper
• Facilitate a group in which the clinician’s identity and personal values seem at odds

Leaders: Frank Dornfest, MD and Albert Lichtenstein, PhD
Time: The first meeting will be 90 minutes 7:00pm - 8:30pm Eastern Time/4:00pm - 5:30pm Pacific Time. Subsequent meetings will be 60 minutes 7:00pm - 8:00pm Eastern/4:00 - 5:00 Pacific. 
Number of meetings and Dates: Ten (10) monthly meetings on the following Thursdays: October 15, November 19, and December 17, 2026; January 21, February 18, March 18, April 15, May 20, June 17, and July 15, 2027. 

Fee:
$250 for ABS Members
$400 for non-members

Cancellation Policy:
If canceled 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.

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.  

More Information

Grievance Policy:
Any concerns should be brought to the attention of Rebekah Schiefer, Committee Chair.

ABS Grievance Policy

                                                         

The four-day Intensive course is designed to teach Balint group leadership technique primarily through experiential groups, supplemented by topic-focused small discussion groups and faculty panel discussions. Attendees will have ample time to present cases, practice leading a Balint group, and engage informally with other participants. 

The New England Leadership Intensive course is appropriate for clinicians new to the Balint Group method as well as experienced Balint Group leaders. The course is well-suited to those who are currently leading, expect to lead in the future, or are seeking a better understanding of Balint groups.  The curriculum is appropriate for physicians (primary care, psychiatry, other specialists), psychologists, social workers, other mental health care providers, veterinarians, and pastoral care providers.

Course Details

Because group cohesiveness affects participants’ experience of the course, registrants are required to commit to attending all sessions and to attending each session in its entirety. Please do not plan to arrive late, leave early or miss sessions.

The Balint Leadership Intensive is a training course and is not intended as therapy. Nevertheless, Balint Group work can sometimes stir up strong feelings. Prospective registrants who are experiencing a particularly vulnerable period in their lives may want to consider participating in this training at a later date.
Course Schedule

Cancellation Policy

Registrants wishing to cancel their registration must do so in writing by the cancellation deadline of September 15, 2026. For cancellations received by the cancellation date, $100 of the registration fee will be withheld for administrative fees and the refund will occur within 30 days of acknowledgment of cancellation. For cancellations received after the deadline, no refunds will be available. 

ABS Grievance Policy
Any concerns should be brought to the attention of Eran Metzger, metzger@hsl.harvard.edu.

ABS Grievance Policy

• Help the group explore the patient-clinician relationship when issues of diversity and difference arise
• Find opportunities to help the group dig deeper
• Facilitate a group in which the clinician’s identity and personal values seem at odds