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These questions are addressed: What does it mean to be a physician, and how can a physician continue his education? Where is his place in family crises? The psychosomatic point of view of diseases is not a specialty, but a concept, a basic attitude, a global principle encompassing all medical specialties. In particular, disorders of relations and basic needs are discussed in the context of a novel therapeutic access. The doctor as a 'drug' corresponds to a therapeutic alliance, also in group work. The problems of communication, even as a flash, influence the language of the patient and the physician. In the tension between anxiety and trust, psychosomatic thinking and medical intervention come to life also for the experience of disease and in the search for a meaning. The physician is not as much an achiever than a provider.

Michael Balint recognized early on the problems of future development of medicine. He was able to bridge the bow from psychoanalysis to practical medicine without the need for a new theory. He integrated arguments from basic sciences and patient-oriented schools. M. Balint created something termed a "revolutionary idea" by H. Strotzka, a historic step for the development of psychoanalysis and practical medicine alike. New was the idea to found groups of doctors to achieve informed consensus as a basis for cooperation - a didactic platform. The group deliberates in a case-oriented manner, exchanges experience and thus aids the participants to better understand the patient and his interaction with the physician, improving also conversational competence. Obstacles have been great 20 years ago when we began practising with students (junior group Milan 1969) alone because of the hierarchic structure to sensitize the students for group work and to integrate the "relational perspective" into the curriculum. For medical teaching we need the courage for new approaches. The Ascona-model (WHO) realizes the trend for relational behaviour of students, practitioners and university teachers.