Systems-Centered Therapy

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.' Susan P. Gantt, Ph.D., ABPP, CGP, is a psychologist and Assistant Professor in Psychiatry at Emory University School of Medicine where she coordinates group psychotherapy training. She is the Director of the Systems-Centered Training and Research Institute and co-author of the books 'Autobiography of a Theory' and 'SCT in Action' with Yvonne Agazarian. She was recently awarded the Alonso Award for Excellence in Psychodynamic Group Psychotherapy by the Group Psychotherapy Foundation for her work with Paul Cox on the special issue of the 'International Journal of Group Psychotherapy' on 'Neurobiology and Interpersonal Systems: Groups, Couples and Beyond.'

'This book, which introduces the clinical application of SCT, will certainly find a wide audience. Several books have been published on SCT over the years. In my view, this one is the best introduction, not only to the methods and techniques, but also to the theory. It is written in excellent pedagogical style and is full of examples.Those who have never experienced SCT will find it hard to resist signing up for a workshop or a group to try it out for themselves. For people with some experience of SCT, this book will provide the cognitive structure to enable them to deepen their understanding.'- Christer Sandahl, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden and President of the International Association of Group Psychotherapy

• Foreword -- Introduction -- A systems-centered approach to individual and group therapy -- Getting started: initial interviews in systems-centered therapy -- Systems-Centered Therapy (SCT) applied to short-term group and individual psychotherapy -- Functional subgrouping in systems-centered groups and the theory from which it emerged -- Changing horses in mind-stream: introducing SCT methods of functional subgroups and early phase defense modification to long-term psychodynamic psychotherapy groups -- Systems-centered therapy and spiritual life and practice -- Roles -- When the group really is a family: application of systems-centered therapy techniques to family therapy -- Unsystemic postscript: SCT and existentialism