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

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)