title: Balint groups: an Australasian perspective for psychiatrists.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This paper aims to provide a brief overview of the history and scope of the Balint movement; to outline how Balint groups work; to describe what is entailed in leading a Balint group; and to give a brief overview of the current state of Balint work in Australia and New Zealand.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Balint groups provide a unique setting in which clinicians can learn how to deal well with challenging doctor-patient relationships and the feelings evoked in clinical practice. Balint work is relatively undeveloped in Australasia. There is scope for involvement by psychiatrists and trainees as both participants and facilitators.
authors.affiliation: Consultant Psychiatrist, Melbourne, Caufield North, VIC, AustraliaThe author was the founding President of the Balint Society of Australia in 2005. marion-lustig@bigpond.com.
authors.forename: Marion
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lustig
mesh_terms: D044362:Australasia; D002983:Clinical Competence / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D010817:Physician-Patient Relations; D011570:Psychiatry / Q000193:education*
keywords: Balint groups; Balint in Australasia; doctor–patient relationship; psychiatry training; reflective practice