Reflective practice in psychiatric training: Balint groups during COVID-19

Abstract

Abstract Reflective practice is increasingly being recognized as an important component of doctors’ professional development. Balint group practice is centered on the doctor–patient relationship: what it means, how it may be used to benefit patients, and why it commonly fails owing to a lack of understanding between doctor and patient. The COVID-19 pandemic led to unprecedented disruption to postgraduate medical training programs, including the mandatory Balint groups for psychiatric trainees. This editorial reports on the experience of online Balint groups in the North West of Ireland during the COVID-19 pandemic, and furthermore provides guidance for online Balint group practice into the future.