History of the Balint Group
The name is that of Michael Balint a Hungarian psychoanalyst. His main work was as a psychoanalyst at the Tavistock Clinic, in London He started groups for GPs in the 1950s to study the doctor-patient relationship, he described them as “Training-cum-research” groups.
He worked closely, and ran groups with his third wife, Enid –a Social Worker and Marriage Guidance Counsellor. Her influence on medical training is probably as great as his.
Who was Michael Balint?
- He was born in Budapest in 1896, the son of a GP
- He became interested in psychoanalysis after first hearing Freud speak in 1918 and when he met his first wife, Alice, who was an analyst.
- He obtained his Doctorate in medicine in 1920 and initially worked as a biochemist.
- Later he undertook psychoanalytic training, his analyst was Sandor Ferenczi.
- Balint worked as a psychoanalyst in Budapest during the Fascist regime, but in 1939 came to Manchester (UK) as a refugee.
- In 1945 he was appointed as a Psychoanalyst at the Tavistock Clinic.
- In the early 1950s he began his work with GPs- the Balint Group was born.
- In 1957 “The Doctor, his Patient and the Illness”, his seminal work, was published.
- The founders of the Royal College of General Practitioners were profoundly influenced by Balint’s ideas; they formed the basis of modern postgraduate training for general practice. He used the term “patient-centred medicine” in his description of the group he ran at University College hospital for medical students in 1969
IBF Board
2022:
President: Tove Mathisesen, Denmark
Vice President: Guido Flatten, Germany, Andre Matalon, Israel
General Secretary: Albert Lichtenstein , USA
Treasurer: Jean Daniel Gradeler, France
2019:
President: Michele Paree, Belgium
Vice President: Guido Flatten, Germany, Jean Daniel Gradeler, France
General Secretary: Paul Sackin, Great Britain
Treasurer: Mark Budow, Israel
2017:
President: Don Nease, USA
Vice President: Michele Paree, Belgium & Jorge Brandao, Portugal
General Secretary: Paul Sackin, Great Britain
Treasurer: Mark Budow, Israel
2015:
President: Don Nease, USA
Vice President: Michele Paree, Belgium & Jorge Brandao, Portugal
General Secretary: Paul Sackin, Great Britain
Treasurer: Mark Budow, Israel
2013:
President: Don Nease, USA
Vice President: Kristiina Toivola, Finland
Marieke van Schie, Netherlands
General Secretary: Paul Sackin, Great Britain
Treasurer: Mark Budow, Israel
2011:
President: Henry Jablonski, Sweden
Vice President: Don Nease, USA,
Kristiina Toivola, Finland
General Secretary: Paul Sackin, Great Britain
Treasurer: Michel Delbrouck, Belgium
2009:
President: Henry Jablonski, Sweden
Vice President: Don Neace, USA, Benyamin Maoz, Israel
General Secretary: Heather Suckling, Great Britain
Treasurer: Michel Delbrouck, Belgium
2007:
President: Henry Jablonski, Sweden
Vice President: Don Neace, USA,
Benyamin Maoz, Israel
General Secretary: Heather Suckling, Great Britain
Treasurer: Michel Delbrouck, Belgium
2005:
President: Heide Otten, Germany
Vice President: Marie-Anne Puel, France, Benyamin Maoz, Israel
General Secretary: Heather Suckling, Great Britain
Treasurer: Michel Delbrouck, Belgium
2003:
President: Heide Otten (G)
Vice President: Marie-Anne Puel (F), Nelly Bobay (H)
General Secretary: Heather Suckling (GB)
Treasurer: Michel Delbrouck (B)
2001:
President: Heide Otten (G)
Vice President: Marie-Anne Puel (F), Nelly Bobay (H)
General Secretary: John Salinsky (GB)
Treasurer: Michel Delbrouck (B)
1998:
President: Michèle Lachowsky (F)
Vice President: Margarethe Stubbe (G), Nelly Bobay (H)
General Secretary: John Salinsky (GB)
Treasurer: Michel Delbrouck (B)
1993:
President: Frank Dornfest (USA)
Vice President: Margarethe Stubbe (G), Michèle Lachowsky(F)
General Secretary: John Salinsky (GB)
Treasurer: Roger van Laethem (B)
1989:
President: Jack Norell (GB)
Vice President: Margarethe Stubbe (G), Michèle Lachowsky (F)
General Secretary: Roger van Laethem (B)
Treasurer: John Salinsky (GB)
1984:
President: Jacques Dufey (CH)
Vice President: Hans-Dietrich Büttner (G)
General Secretary: Roger van Laethem (B)
Treasurer: John Salinsky (GB)
1979:
President: Pierre Bernachon (F)
Vice President: Hans-Dietrich Büttner (G)
General Secretary: Roger van Laethem (B)
Treasurer: Vic Dubois (NL)
Honorary President: Enid Balint (GB)
1975:
President: Enid Balint (GB)
Vice President: not elected
General Secretary: Pierre Bernachon (F)
Treasurer: Roger van Laethem (B)
