Balint in Veterinary Medicine: Shana O'Marra

As a veterinarian, I have had many interactions with the humans involved in a pet’s care that have left me unsettled, and frankly overwhelmed.  Most veterinarians are acutely aware that for many people, their relationship with their pet is the only relationship where they feel loved without condition or judgment, and may be their only link to the community.  Our clients bring their accumulated grief, fears, and personal traumas that shape their relationship with their beloved companion.  Our sense of responsibility for our patient and their human owners can weigh heavily on us. 

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¿Habla español?  

With one foot in the Spanish-speaking world and the other in the Balint world, we here in the United States find ourselves in the unique position to leverage decades of Balint experience in order to benefit our colleagues in Latin America and elsewhere whose primary language is Spanish. I have been involved in multi-centered international Balint groups since 2014 when I  spearheaded a collaborative  group between the IBF and  World Organization of Family  Doctors (WONCA) that continues to meet actively. Since then, several of my Hispanic col leagues have approached me  about bringing Balint to the Spanish-speaking primary care world  in order to help fight burnout and  emotional stress in their settings. They have little-to-no Balint support locally or in their native language. That need was further amplified as COVID-19 cases  and deaths mounted.

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