scholarly journals Virtual balint group experience due to the COVID-19 pandemic

BJPsych Open ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (S1) ◽  
pp. S127-S128
Author(s):  
Rebecca Brown ◽  
Nicola Philips
Keyword(s):  
Group Dynamics ◽  
Case Discussion ◽  
Safe Environment ◽  
Time Commitment ◽  
Qualitative Feedback ◽  
Video Consultation ◽  
Balint Group ◽  
Group Engagement ◽  
Group Experience ◽  
Natural Way

AimsIn the changes brought about by remote working, the local psychotherapy case discussion group (Balint Group) has developed as a remote service via video consultation. It is important to consider the effect that this change in method of delivery has had on experience.MethodAn anonymous survey was distributed to determine the benefits and challenges from participants and facilitators with at least a month of virtual Balint Group experience. The open-ended survey questions captured extended answer responses from 16 students and trainees, and 5 (co-)facilitators, within Nottinghamshire Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust. The qualitative feedback was analysed by thematic analysis, identifying three main themes.ResultThe first theme of practicalities was centred around access to the group. The virtual format had benefits in terms of reducing travel and time commitment and so improving attendance. However, disadvantages were in technological issues and finding a private and safe environment, individuals often not leaving the work environment on which they were reflecting.The second theme of communication identified how virtual methods are a less natural way of interacting (for example sequential point making), losing both immediacy of reactions and non-verbal communication. There was a loss of essential communication cues, with disjointed conversation affecting contribution.The third theme of group dynamics had some advantages, feeling less intimidating virtually. Yet disadvantages included loss of group cohesion, with participants not building the same relationships (on arriving and leaving a group space), and trust. The more subtle emotions in the group might be missed and opinions given less openly. The facilitators needed to be more directive and experienced difficulties maintaining group engagement and managing the frame.ConclusionThe advantages of virtual format are more based on accessibility and the disadvantages more experiential. There are elements of being physically remote that lead to a disembodied experience, that might impact on capacity to reflect emotionally. This might make it more difficult to identify unconscious processes and the experience might be more cognitive. There is a risk that virtually participants will feel more alone with difficult feelings and unsupported by the group.When mental health is being affected by social isolation due to the pandemic, having groups virtually can mimic this isolation in working life. Overall the preference remained for an in-person group.However, it was clear that access to some form of a group was important, to contain anxiety during these unprecedented times.

scholarly journals Trainees' experiences of a Balint group

2003 ◽  
Vol 27 (7) ◽  
pp. 274-275 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arthita Das ◽  
Paul Egleston ◽  
Hany El-Sayeh ◽  
Michelle Middlemost ◽  
Narinder Pal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Psychotherapy Training ◽  
Discussion Group ◽  
Patient Relationship ◽  
Positive Experience ◽  
Case Discussion ◽  
Everyday Clinical Practice ◽  
The One ◽  
Balint Group ◽  
Balint Method

Psychotherapy training is mandatory before trainees can gain membership of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. One type of introduction to psychotherapy is via a case discussion group, such as the one pioneered by Michael Balint. Much has been published regarding psychotherapy training, but little describing the Balint method from a trainee's perspective. Our paper outlines trainees' experiences of participating in this type of group. The group encouraged trainees to think about the doctor–patient relationship in their everyday clinical practice. All of those who finished the group described a positive experience, giving a good grounding for further psychotherapy training.

Socially Shared Metacognition Among Undergraduate Students During an Online Geology Course

2018 ◽  
pp. 406-439 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dan Spencer ◽  
Margareta M. Thomson ◽  
Jason P. Jones
Keyword(s):  
Undergraduate Students ◽  
Group Dynamics ◽  
Self Regulation ◽  
Social Forms ◽  
The Usa ◽  
Group Engagement ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Successful Collaboration

The ability to collaborate successfully with others is a highly valued skill in the modern workplace and has been reflected in the increase of collaborative learning methods within education. Research has highlighted the crucial role of self-regulation in successful collaboration, and more recently begun to focus on understanding how groups jointly regulate their interactions. The current chapter outlines a mixed-methods study that compared the impact of individual- and group-centered prompts on the frequency of social metacognitive activities during online group review activities with college students (N=48) from the USA. Tentative study findings suggested that group-centered problematizing prompts were moderately successful in shifting groups towards more social forms of regulation such as co-regulation; however, they were not enough to move groups towards shared metacognitive regulation. Further results revealed how the quality of group engagement was influenced by participants' perceived value towards activities, function and focus of metacognitive episodes, and group dynamics.

The Pygmalion concept in group analysis: the conductor’s anti-group and the search for the group as a container

2018 ◽  
Vol 52 (1) ◽  
pp. 36-50
Author(s):  
Maria Papanastassiou
Keyword(s):  
Group Dynamics ◽  
Group Analysis ◽  
Group Contributions ◽  
The Unconscious ◽  
Group Matrix ◽  
Group Member ◽  
Group Experience

The conductor’s identity as a group member, allied with the potential for the unconscious co-creation of anti-group forces is the centre-stage for the debate I herewith present. This is inextricable from, and central to, the complex inter-subjective group matrix. The conductor’s counter-transference as an inter-subjective group experience, lends powerful insights into feelings of hate in the group, and its resultant anti-group dynamics. How hate may be understood as a shared, co-created experience is examined. The conductor’s potential for narcissistic over-identification with the group and possible lack of containment, is explored, including the potential for anti-group contributions. The myth of Pygmalion illustrates the frustration encountered when the container fails to meet one’s needs. Suggestions are offered regarding the importance for conductors to work through potential contributions of anti-group forces and their own hate of the group.1

The Expression and Experience of Ambivalence in a Melbourne Large Group

1993 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 199-202 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul D. Coombe
Keyword(s):  
Group Psychotherapy ◽  
Group Dynamics ◽  
Weekly Basis ◽  
Large Group ◽  
Australian Association ◽  
Formal Presentation ◽  
Group Sessions ◽  
Group Experience

In 1989, along with twenty-five other individuals interested in group dynamics, I participated in a large group experience in Melbourne, Australia. This was initiated by Dr Peter McCallum and myself following our experience in a Group-Analytic Society (London) Winter Workshop. Dr Stanley Gold and Dr Ann Morgan were the conductors. The group met for one-and-a-half hours at night on a weekly basis for five months. The following represents some of my reflections about four months after the large group experience ceased. I was invited to contribute comments at an Australian Association of Group Psychotherapy meeting. I had neither made notes during the large group sessions nor since it ended. In addition there was no communication between the conductors and myself on the topic prior to our joint formal presentation. To what degree repression plays a part in what I said I am uncertain.

scholarly journals Trainees' experiences of a Balint group

2003 ◽  
Vol 27 (07) ◽  
pp. 274-275 ◽  
Author(s):  
Arthita Das ◽  
Paul Egleston ◽  
Hany El-Sayeh ◽  
Michelle Middlemost ◽  
Narinder Pal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Psychotherapy Training ◽  
Discussion Group ◽  
Patient Relationship ◽  
Positive Experience ◽  
Case Discussion ◽  
Everyday Clinical Practice ◽  
The One ◽  
Balint Group ◽  
Balint Method

Psychotherapy training is mandatory before trainees can gain membership of the Royal College of Psychiatrists. One type of introduction to psychotherapy is via a case discussion group, such as the one pioneered by Michael Balint. Much has been published regarding psychotherapy training, but little describing the Balint method from a trainee's perspective. Our paper outlines trainees' experiences of participating in this type of group. The group encouraged trainees to think about the doctor–patient relationship in their everyday clinical practice. All of those who finished the group described a positive experience, giving a good grounding for further psychotherapy training.

The Balint group experience for medical students: a pilot project

2015 ◽  
Vol 30 (1) ◽  
pp. 96-108 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sheila O’Neill ◽  
Kirsty Foster ◽  
Alexa Gilbert-Obrart
Keyword(s):  
Medical Students ◽  
Pilot Project ◽  
Balint Group ◽  
Group Experience

The Effects of the Balint Group on its Members and Leader

1972 ◽  
Vol 3 (4) ◽  
pp. 379-383 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hans-Konrad Knoepfel
Keyword(s):  
Medical Treatment ◽  
Group Work ◽  
Emotional Experience ◽  
Family Doctor ◽  
Essential Elements ◽  
Considerable Saving ◽  
The Family ◽  
Heavy Burden ◽  
Balint Group ◽  
Group Experience

Balint's work promotes better psychological and medical treatment of many so-called “problem patients.” With understanding, these patients often lose the characteristic of being a heavy burden and even become interesting and gratifying. Time invested at the beginning phase of treatment often brings considerable saving of time over extended periods. The doctor's need for intensive involvement diminishes and psychological emergencies become less frequent. Balint helped to make these goals possible by teaching psychoanalytic principles in a simple way, talking in clear, comprehensible language and creating for physicians the possibility for emotional experience and growth through group work. Such experience is indispensable for the training of the family doctor. This paper summarizes essential elements of the group work, in which the leader profits as well as the family doctor. The leader has to learn to formulate clinical experience in clear, non-technical language which describes how patients are treated in the practice of hospital and office medicine. The group experience, furthermore, helps the physician to develop his capacity for empathy by better understanding himself.

scholarly journals Virtual cognitive stimulation therapy: perspectives of people living with dementia

2021 ◽  
Vol 15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Lepore ◽  
Stephani Shivers ◽  
Erica DeFrancesco
Keyword(s):  
Group Dynamics ◽  
Group Treatment ◽  
The United States ◽  
Cognitive Stimulation ◽  
Online Delivery ◽  
Cognitive Stimulation Therapy ◽  
Qualitative Feedback ◽  
People With Dementia ◽  
Moderate Dementia ◽  
Current Affairs

Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) is a group treatment in which people with mild to moderate dementia participate in 14 activity and discussion sessions. During the COVID-19 pandemic, CST was adapted for online delivery, as virtual-CST (V-CST). To determine the acceptability of online delivery, we piloted a V-CST group, monitored attendance, and assessed qualitative feedback from the participants. Five people with dementia participated. Except for one session with four attendees, all participants attended every session. Qualitative analysis identified four themes that were verified by participants: (1) positive emotional experiences despite dementia, (2) confidence building and related strategies and challenges, (3) enjoyable and stimulating inclusive activities and group dynamics, and (4) appreciation of discussion about current affairs. This pilot study contributes evidence about the acceptability of V-CST. Although access to CST in the United States is limited, expanded delivery of V-CST could fill service gaps.

scholarly journals Organising and evaluating a Balint group for trainees in psychiatry

2003 ◽  
Vol 27 (11) ◽  
pp. 434-436 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gearoid Fitzgerald ◽  
Michael D. Hunter
Keyword(s):  
Clinical Practice ◽  
Discussion Group ◽  
Case Vignette ◽  
Group Method ◽  
Clinical Implications ◽  
Case Discussion ◽  
Written Responses ◽  
Before And After ◽  
One Year ◽  
Balint Group

Aims and MethodWe describe the Balint case discussion group method and how it can be applied to training psychiatrists. In a group that we ran, the performance of members on a clinical task before and after a year in the group was investigated. Written responses to a case vignette were appraised blindly by psychotherapists who were also examiners for the Royal College of Psychiatrists.ResultsThere were eight members in the Balint group, which met weekly for one year. We found that members' performance on the clinical task improved significantly following the year spent in the Balint group.Clinical ImplicationsA Balint group, as part of an introduction to psychotherapy for psychiatrists, may represent a step towards achieving comprehensive training that is relevant to ordinary clinical practice.

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