News
Balint Weekend and Leaders' Workshop
6pm Friday April 25th - 12.30pm Sunday April 27nd 2008
Longhirst Hall, Morpeth, near Newcastle upon Tyne
Last year we held our first Balint weekend in the North East. It was very successful with thirty people attending. A mix of doctors with some counselors and therapists in the groups made for very interesting case discussion. This year we are running another Balint weekend alongside a Leaders' Workshop. The will be of interest to a wide variety of people who may have heard of, or have experience of Balint work. The Leaders' Workshop will be led by Dr Andrew Elder and will provide training for both experienced group leaders and those who have participated in Balint groups and want to learn more about leading.
Balint groups provide a model for reflecting on our work to explore and understand our relationships with patients in all their complexity and ambiguity. Michael Balint described the doctor as the most potent drug and the aim of Balint work is to increase therapeutic effectiveness and develop self-awareness. It is a useful method in teaching and training.
The format of the weekend will be much like last year - participants are encouraged to bring cases to be discussed in confidential small groups, led by experienced facilitators. We will also have a short presentation, a goldfish bowl demonstration group and some time out on Saturday afternoon to relax in the Northumberland countryside. The Balint groups will run in parallel with a training group for group leaders. Participants are encouraged to come and stay for the whole weekend at Longhirst Hall, a comfortable conference centre with good food and lovely grounds. A non-residential rate is also available. The programme will start on Friday evening at 6pm continuing from 9.30am - 9pm on Saturday and 9.30am - 12.30pm on Sunday. Cost includes all meals. Transport can be arranged from Newcastle and Morpeth stations and Newcastle airport. A detailed programme will be sent later.
The weekend is being organized by local Balint group leaders who have been developing this work in the Northern Region, in association with the Balint Society.
The local organizing group is
| Christina Blackwell | Chartered Clinical Psychologist | Christina.Blackwell@ntw.nhs.uk |
| Dr Peter Brumby | General Practitioner and Psychotherapist | DrPeterBrumby@aol.com |
| Dr Jane Dammers | General Practitioner | jane.dammers@ncl.ac.uk |
| Dr Dave Morgan | General Practitioner | dcmorgan@ukonline.co.uk |
| Dr Margaret Rangecroft | Consultant Psychotherapist | Margaret.Rangecroft@nmht.nhs.uk |
| Dr Esti Rimmer | Consultant Psychologist in psychotherapy | st_rimmer@yahoo.co.uk |
| Dr Manjit Suchdev | General Practitioner | manjit.suchdev@gp-a85611.nhs.uk |
Applications on this printable form by 31 March 2008 please to Rosemary Reay Assistant Administrator tel: 0191 215 6693, fax: 0191 215 6083 or email rosemary.reay@unn.ac.uk.
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