ABSTRACT
The Balint group is probably one of the earliest methods of clinical supervision to be provided for family doctors. The group and the method are named after Michael Balint, a psychoanalyst originally from Hungary. The original Balint group members were doctors who had already been established in practice for several years. Because of increased time pressures, there are very few such groups and an interested GP principal may have to be content with an annual weekend Balint group. However, with a little modification, the Balint group can also be a very good way of supervising doctors in training. Michael Balint ran some groups for students in the 1960s and in Germany participation in a Balint group is part of the official medical student curriculum. The author gives an idea of what happens in one of his Balint group sessions and of his observations and interventions as group leader.
