Die Balintgruppe als professioneller Stabilisierungsfaktor für BeraterInnen und Führungskräfte

The Balint groups named after Michael and Enid Balint exist since over 50 years as a well-established method to help general practitioners in understanding and analysing - with the emphasis on the patients - their doctor-patient relationships. Over the years other occupational groups from the psycho-social fields have used and are till this day still using and profiting in a lasting and sustainable manner from this method. In recent times Balint groups have made themselves available to professionals from the widespread and diverse fields of the advisory professions and for management. In the framework of this contribution I would like to discuss the aims of Balint groups as well as the possible benefits of the Balint group method for advisory professions and management. The author - who is himself a medical doctor and a Balint group leader, of doctors as well as from persons working in advisory profession and management shows several parallels between these professional groups and illustrate the significances of the method for the one profession as well as for the other.