Peer Support Groups for Physicians & Other Clinicians

     "Peer support groups designed to integrate clinical supervision and personal psychodynamic insight can offer medical communities an effective approach to prevent disillusionment and dysfunction through stress reduction. Such a model is used to train & support pastoral counselors and the clergy. We believe it is appropriate to adopt this model for physicians because practicing medicine has distinct parallels to ministering, and the stress of both professions comes from similar sources - the connexional, existential, spiritual, & psychodynamic. ...
     Over the years, the focus of (our support) group has evolved from discussions of patient care to explorations of personal values & feelings, approaching the practice of medicine through its human components: dying, fear, anger, intimacy, competition, mistakes, competence, & separation-individuation. We see our stress as deriving from the difficulty of facing these issues, particularly in the context of doing healing work. In the process, we have experienced the validity of (one of our) member's comment: 'The concept that there is a professional ego suitable for training and a personal ego to be left alone ... (wears thin); there is really only one ego.'
     ... all persons in the profession have unresolved personal issues and conflicts that need to be addressed for them to function optimally as therapists." 
 
       Eubank DF, Zeckhausen W, Sobelson GA. Converting the stress of medical practice to personal and professional growth: 5 years of experience with a psychodynamic support and supervision group. J Am Board Fam Pract 1991; 4(3): 151-8.

Galatia N   www.dpreview.com

Balint groups - start one!

     One well-established (1950's), but still relatively unknown approach to managing the stresses of professional life among physicians, nurses and other health-care professionals - including students, is participating in a Balint group. There are "regular case discussions in small groups under the guidance of a qualified group leader. The work of the group involves both training and research." http://balint.co.uk/ 
     There are Balint federations in various, mainly European countries, as well as the US. http://balint.co.uk/links/

     "Balint Groups currently serve as a core training modality for professionalism, and are used in training programs in medical, psychological, and caring professions.

Balint groups help clinicians:

• Recognize they are not alone in having challenging interactions with patients
• Develop increased understanding and empathy for patients
• Explore how feelings and thoughts affect the clinician-patient relationship
• Expand their capacity and repertoire for handling difficult situations with patients"     http://americanbalintsociety.org/

     In Canada, there is a longstanding group that meets in Ottawa, and another in Halifax led by Dr Katherine Warren - for psychiatry residents at Dalhousie University.

     So why so few if so valuable?

     "Because it is fundamentally messy and it is threatening, ... people might not want to have to face their own foibles and weaknesses."

     "I think it is a vulnerability thing. In medicine, there's that old idea that you are the expert who's very strong and people struggle with the idea they are presenting difficulties. I think people are often concerned their conduct or skill will be criticized. But that is one of the benefits, to help people with things they are struggling with, to normalize it."

http://www.nationalreviewofmedicine.com/issue/2008/07/5_physician_life_07.html

http://psychiatry.medicine.dal.ca/education/PG_program.htm

     Critical Components of Meaningful Communities: http://www.johnlovas.com/2013/10/what-really-matters-in-community.html