9/18/2025
ABS Diversity Committee - Diversity Discussion Group When diversity issues arise in Balint groups, leaders and participants may experience a variety of emotions. We hope to create an opportunity for leaders to discuss challenges related to diversity and explore how to help the group process them.
You are invited to a stimulating discussion on a wide range of diversity issues impacting our work as Balint practitioners. Bring your questions or challenges or send them to us in advance. Lisa Whitten ( lisawhittenphd@gmail.com ) co-chair and Jose Niño, former co-chair of the Diversity Committee will facilitate the group.
Date: Thursday, September 18 Time: 8:00 - 9:00 EST
This free offering is limited to 12 participants. We look forward to seeing you there!
Online Registration has closed for this event
10/9/2025
Connect with fellow Balint leaders for a facilitated, interactive conversation focused on the real-world challenges of Balint group leadership. Together, we’ll explore questions around group structure, growth, and development—within a supportive and confidential space.
Who’s welcome? All non-credentialed leaders of Balint groups—whether new to the role or seasoned—are warmly invited.
Facilitators: Terri Wall & Phil Phelps
Time: Oct 9, 2025 04:00 PM Eastern Time (US and Canada)
Registration ends on 10/7/2025
1/10/2026
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.
4/22/2026 - 4/25/2026
The four-day Intensive cours
e 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.
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
The conference will be held at the Ruby River Hotel where hometown hospitality and peaceful river views greet every guest. Located on the Spokane River with easy access to the Centennial Trail and Riverfront Park, perfect for a leisurely walk or bike ride.
In reserving your room, you're getting the best possible rate and helping us fulfill our contractual obligation with the hotel. Rooms booked through other methods will not be protected by our cancellation policy with the hotel. Please use the link below as booking through a third party, such as Expedia or Booking.com, will not ensure you receive the conference rate, nor will your booking count towards the room block we have contracted with the hotel.
Cancellation Policy
Registrants wishing to cancel their registration must do so in writing by the cancellation deadline of March 6, 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 the Course Directors, Janet Walker, janetwalker3@icloud.com; or David Schneider, David.Schneider@sutterhealth.org.
Location: Ruby River Hotel
700 N Division St
Spokane, WA 99202
Registration ends on 3/6/2026
5/1/2026 - 5/3/2026
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
Location: Ratna Ling
Registration ends on 3/12/2026