Visible and Invisible Group

Yvonne M. Agazarian, Ed.D., FAGPA, FAPA, CGP, developed a theory of living human systems and its systems-centered practice. She has authored or co-authored six books and in 1997 she received the Group Psychologist of the Year award from the American Psychological Association, with the following citation: 'She exemplifies the finest in scholarship in the discipline of psychology...Her considerable body of work illustrates the highest blend of creativity and learning.'

Understanding the psychodynamics of groups has derived from the two separate strands of theory and practice, resulting in two separate disciplines: group psychotherapy and group dynamics. Present-day group psychotherapy derives mainly from psychoanalytic theory and Bion's early experiences with wartime groups, and has been developed from the work of clinicians who practice group psychotherapy as a form of treatment. Group dynamics theory and practice, on the other hand, have arisen largely from the work of social scientists like Kurt Lewin, have been researched in the field and in the laboratory, and have been applied to groups as arenas for leadership training and behavioral change.The Visible and Invisible Group synthesizes these psychoanalytic and group approaches to group life and offers practical guidelines to the group psychotherapist. The authors advocate the simultaneous use of two perspectives: the psychoanalytic perspective for observing the "visible" group of people and their interactions, and a General Systems "Field Theory" perspective for observing the "invisible" group-as-a-whole. They also suggest changes in leadership style appropriate to different types of theory groups, different populations and different group events.This volume is based on more than ten years of experience by the authors as co-therapists. The theoretical explanations and practical advice that they offer on problems specific to group therapy will be valuable to group therapists in psychiatry, psychology, social work and industry.

• Introduction -- Two sets of laws -- Group theory Yvonne Agazarian with Richard Peters -- The visible and invisible group -- The theory of the invisible group -- The constructs of group dynamics as they apply to the visible and invisible group -- The phases of group development -- Three levels of group process -- Group practice Richard Peters with Yvonne Agazarian -- Interviewing and preparing a patient for group psychotherapy -- Specific problems -- Transference and counter-transference -- The co-therapy issue -- Phases of group development -- The force field