SUPERVISION OF BALINT LEADER CANDIDATES, PROCEDURES

Requirement for Supervision:  Supervision toward Balint leader credentialing is required at least six times a year for two years, a total of twelve required sessions.

Selection/approval of Supervisor:  A candidate seeking supervision should contact the Coordinator of Supervision for help finding a supervisor, or contact a supervisor of his/her choice directly from a list of approved Balint group leader supervisors found on the Society website http://familymed.musc.edu/balint The Coordinator of Supervision for the ABS must then be notified of this choice by the requested supervisor.  Registration with the Coordinating Committee of the ABS for Credentialing must be completed by the supervisor before supervision begins.  Both supervisor and candidate will be asked to sign the Payment of Fees statement indicating their agreement with the terms of supervision.  Acceptance of a candidate for supervision is not a guarantee of credentialing. 

Supervision process, reporting:  Taped or transcribed reports of the Balint group sessions must be presented for at least some of the supervision sessions, the required number to be determined by the supervisor.  In the remaining cases the candidate should have made notes.  Following each session, the supervisor creates a written report for the Credentialing Committee of the American Balint Society, documenting the supervisor's evaluation of the leader candidate's work in each supervision session on a standard form.  This report is also shared with the candidate.
In addition, the Credentialing Committee of the ABS conducts a meta-supervision group.  Just as leader candidates get consultation/supervision on their groups, all of the supervisors participate in the meta-supervision group to help them improve their work as supervisors.  From time to time a candidate's supervisor may find it helpful to consult on their supervision with this group, the focus being on the supervisor, not the supervisee. 

Monitoring, mediating, terminating Supervision:  At any time, should the supervisor assess that a candidate cannot reasonably be expected to qualify for credentialing; the supervisor will consult with the Coordinating Committee for Credentialing to determine if the supervision process should be continued, modified or terminated.  Other problems such as: a candidate failing to present regularly for supervision, conflict between supervisor and candidate that cannot be worked out between themselves, a candidate who feels that supervision is inadequate, and the like, will be addressed by the Coordinator of Supervision.  Either the candidate or the supervisor may appeal to the American Balint Society Council, according to an appeals process outlined by the ABS, which is available on request. 

Time Limits on Supervision:  While the requirements for supervision are stated above as six sessions to be completed in one year or 12 sessions completed over two years, there are times when this cannot be accomplished.  The outside limits for supervision, however, are as follows:  Six sessions of supervision should be completed in a year or within not more than two years.  Twelve sessions of supervision should be completed in two years or within not more than three years.  Partial credit for supervision completed may be given if the candidate's Balint group or supervision is interrupted for valid reasons.  The balance of the candidate's fees less the $150 per year processing fee would be returned at the time of hiatus.  The Credentialing Coordinating Committee and the ABS Council may consider the re-application of a candidate to resume supervision as long as the application is within six years of the start of initial supervision.  Unusual cases or exceptions will be considered by the Credentialing Coordinating Committee who will make recommendations on a case by case basis to the Council. 

Fees:  There is a standard fee per session which is paid annually to the American Balint Society.   This fee will be re-assessed periodically by the ABS and is the total charge for reviewing tapes or transcripts, preparation of remarks, direct interaction with the candidate and written reporting to the ABS. Special fee arrangements may be made by the American Balint Society in the event of special needs.

Changes in Fees. Candidates who complete their supervision according to the time limits set above may assume that the fee in effect when they begin supervision will be the same throughout their supervision process, regardless of fee re-assessments.  

Coordinating Committee for Credentialing:  A Coordinating Committee consisting of five members, all of whom are credentialed by the ABS as Balint leaders, will be elected by the ABS Council,  The Coordinator of Intensives and the Coordinator of Supervision, also elected  by the ABS Council, will be standing members of the Committee.  The three remaining members will serve staggered terms.  This Committee will nominate candidates for credentialing to the Council of the ABS, based on their review of a candidate's credentials and guided by the Credentialing Procedures for Balint Seminar Leaders. The Committee will also help monitor/administer the supervision process. 

Development and Selection of Balint Leader Supervisors:  Qualified Balint Leader Supervisors;  A qualified supervisor is a Balint leader credentialed by the ABS who has experience as a faculty member in at least two ABS sponsored Balint Leader Intensive workshops or the equivalent.  They must be doing ongoing work as a Balint leader and participate regularly in a supervision group for supervisors.  Supervisors may be professionals trained in clinical or group supervision as part of their primary profession (e.g. psychologist, social worker, and psychiatrist) but must also be credentialed as Balint leaders. 
            Competencies of a Balint group leader supervisor, at a minimum, should include the ability to recognize and describe how to intervene as a Balint leader, and the ability to explain why that intervention should be made.  Supervisors should be able to give feedback that is useful and not destructive.  They should be able to recognize and label general themes/issues of group dynamics and group leadership.  They should comply with the policies and documentation requirements governing supervision established by the ABS.  More detailed description of the process to become a Balint Supervisor may be obtained from the Coordinator of Supervision.