Phil Phelps, LCSW
ABS President
2023-2025

Phil stumbled on to Balint somewhat accidentally when he accepted a job as the Director of Behavioral Science at the UPMC Shadyside Family Medicine Residency.  He learned residents were meeting with a community psychiatrist on Thursday’s at lunch time and asked what do they do there? He learned it was a Balint group and asked if he could join. Paul Scott, the Balint leader, told him he could attend but could not co-lead until after attending a Balint Intensive Leadership Conference.  He attended the Charleston Intensive in 2003 and has been leading with Paul ever since. 

His engagement with the ABS includes two terms on council, chaired the Events Committee, served as the at large member of the Credentialing Coordinating Committee (CCC), was Coordinator of Supervision for two years, and currently chairs the CCC and is a member of the Diversity Committee. 

He now leads four different Balint groups (two residency programs and two specialty medical teams). He finds the development of reflective practice skills and the sharpening of perspective taking that Balint provides is a vital part of maintaining the meaning and reward of therapeutic relationships.