Core Readings

A selection of books and articles by Yvonne M. Agazarian which describe the essentials of systems-centered work.

E.G. Try Book or 2021 for a year (or maybe just an author / topic / keyword).

Agazarian, Y.M. (1972). A system for analyzing verbal behavior (SAVI) applied to staff training in Milieu treatment. Devereux Schools Forum, 1(1), 1-32.

Agazarian, Y.M. (1972). Communication through the group process: An approach to humanization. The Devereux Papers, 1(1).

Agazarian, Y.M. (1983). Some advantages of applying multi-dimensional thinking to the teaching, practice and outcomes of group psychotherapy. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 33(2), 243-247. doi: 10.1080/00207284.1983.11490871

Agazarian, Y.M. (1983). Theory of the invisible group applied to individual and group-as-a-whole interpretations. GROUP: The Journal of the Eastern Group Psychotherapy Society, 7(2), 27-37. doi: jstor.org/stable/41718187

Also at SCT Center

Agazarian, Y.M. (1987). The difficult patient, the difficult group. GROUP: The Journal of the Eastern Group Psychotherapy Society, 11(4), 205-216. doi: www.jstor.org/stable/41718459

Agazarian, Y.M. (1987, April). Re viewing Yalom: An interpersonal tale retold from the perspective of the group-as-a-whole. Guest lecture, Group psychotherapy, Harvard Medical School Department of Continuing Education, Boston, MA. [Reprinted in Agazarian, Y.M. (2006). Systems-centered practice: Selected papers on group psychotherapy. (pp. 27-49). London, UK: Karnac Books.]

Agazarian, Y.M. (1987, October). Group-as-a-whole theory applied to scapegoating. Supplementary paper to the workshop "Deviance, scapegoating & group development." Eastern Group Psychotherapy Society Annual Conference, New York, NY. [Reprinted in Agazarian, Y.M. (2006). Systems-centered practice: Selected papers on group psychotherapy. (pp. 17-26). London, UK: Karnac Books.]

Agazarian, Y.M. (1988, September). Application of a modified force field analysis to the diagnosis of implicit group goals. Paper presented at the Third International Kurt Lewin Conference of the Society for the Advancement of Field Theory, Philadelphia, PA.

Also at SCT Center

Agazarian, Y.M. (1989). Group-as-a-whole systems theory and practice. GROUP: The Journal of the Eastern Group Psychotherapy Society, 13(3-4), 131-154. doi: jstor.org/stable/41718522

Agazarian, Y.M. (1992). Contemporary theories of group psychotherapy: A systems approach to the group-as-a-whole. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 42(2), 177-203. doi: 10.1080/00207284.1992.11490685

Agazarian, Y.M. (1992). Friends Series I. Functional Subgrouping.

Only at SCT Center

Agazarian, Y.M. (1994). The phases of group development and the systems-centred group. In M. Pines & V. Schermer (Eds.), Ring of fire: Primitive object relations and affect in group psychotherapy (pp. 36-85). London, UK: Routledge, Chapman & Hall.

Only at SCT Center

Agazarian, Y.M. (1997). Systems-centered therapy for groups. New York, NY: Guilford. Re-printed in paperback (2004). London, UK: Karnac Books.

Agazarian, Y.M. (1997). Systems-centered therapy. In H.G. Rosenthal (Ed.), Favorite counseling and therapy techniques (pp. 25-30).Washington, DC: Accelerated Development.

Agazarian, Y.M. (1999). Phases of development in the systems-centered group. Small Group Research, 30(1), 82-107. doi: 10.1177/104649649903000105

Agazarian, Y.M. (1999). Response to Wright's review of “Systems-Centered Therapy for Groups.” International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 49(2), 273-275. doi: 10.1080/00207284.1999.11491585

Agazarian, Y.M. (1999). Systems-centered supervision. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 49(2), 215-236. doi: 10.1080/00207284.1999.11491582

Also at SCT Center

Agazarian, Y.M. (2000). Introduction to a theory of living human systems and the practice of systems-centered psychotherapy (AGPA Annual Meeting, San Diego, February 1993). Good Enough Press.

Agazarian, Y.M. (2000). Systems-centered group psychotherapy: How to develop a working group (1992). Good Enough Press.

Only at SCT Center

Agazarian, Y.M. (2001). A systems-centered approach to inpatient group psychotherapy. London, UK & Philadelphia, PA: Jessica Kingsley.

Agazarian, Y.M. (2001). Systems-centered group psychotherapy: What to do about phases of group development (1992). Good Enough Press.

Agazarian, Y.M. (2002). A systems-centered approach to individual and group psychotherapy. In L. Vandecreek & T. Jackson (Eds.), Innovations in clinical practice: A source book, Vol. 20 (pp. 223-240). Sarasota, FL: Professional Resource Press.

Also at SCT Center

Agazarian, Y.M. (2010). The Systems-Centered Training and Research Institute orientation to training. GROUP: The Journal of the Eastern Group Psychotherapy Society, 34(4), 337-345. doi: jstor.org/stable/41719294

Also at SCT Center

Agazarian, Y.M. (2012). Systems-centered group psychotherapy: A theory of living human systems and its systems-centered practice. GROUP: The Journal of the Eastern Group Psychotherapy Society, 36(1), 19-36. doi: jstor.org/stable/41719343

Agazarian, Y.M. (2012). Systems-centered group psychotherapy: Putting theory into practice. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 62(2), 171-195. doi: 10.1521/ijgp.2012.62.2.171

Agazarian, Y.M. (2012). Words to the members of the AGPA 2012 institute. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 62(4), 627-637. doi: 10.1521/ijgp.2012.62.4.627

Agazarian, Y.M. (2014). Patrick de Maré. Group Analysis, 47(4), 473-480. doi: 10.1177/0533316414557224

Also at SCT Center

Agazarian, Y.M. (2016). Contrasting interpersonal and systems-centered approaches using two observation systems to analyze the communication patterns in two videotapes of the interpersonal approach to group psychotherapy. GROUP: The Journal of the Eastern Group Psychotherapy Society, 40(1), 71-88. doi: jstor.org/stable/10.13186/group.40.1.0071

Also at SCT Center

Agazarian, Y.M., & Byram, C. (2009). First build the system: The systems-centered approach to combined psychotherapy. GROUP: The Journal of the Eastern Group Psychotherapy Society, 33(2), 129-148. doi: jstor.org/stable/41719232

Also at SCT Center

Agazarian, Y.M., & Carter, F. (1993). The large group and systems-centered theory. GROUP: The Journal of the Eastern Group Psychotherapy Society, 17(4), 210-234. doi: jstor.org/stable/41718734

Also at SCT Center

Agazarian, Y.M., & Gantt, S.P. (2003). Phases of group development: Systems-centered hypotheses and their implications for research and practice. Group Dynamics: Theory, Research and Practice, 7(3), 238-252. doi: 10.1037/1089-2699.7.3.238

Agazarian, Y.M., & Gantt, S.P. (2005). The systems perspective. In S. Wheelan (Ed.), Handbook of group research and practice (pp. 187-200). Thousand Oaks, CA : Sage.

Agazarian, Y.M., & Gantt, S.P. (2005). The systems-centered approach to the group-as-a-whole. GROUP: The Journal of the Eastern Group Psychotherapy Society, 29(1), 163-185. doi: jstor.org/stable/41719363

Agazarian, Y.M., & James, C. (1977). Report of lecture given to the Group-Analytic Society (London) on 28th March 1977. The S.A.V.I. (system for analysing verbal interaction) theory and systemy. Group Analysis, 10(3), 235-239. doi: 10.1177/053331647701000310

Only at SCT Center

Agazarian, Y.M., & Janoff, S. (1993). Systems theory and small groups. In I. Kaplan & B. Sadock (Eds.), Comprehensive textbook of group psychotherapy (pp. 33-44, 3rd ed.). Baltimore, MD: Williams & Wilkins, Division of Waverly.

Only at SCT Center

Agazarian, Y.M., & Gantt, S.P. (2000). Autobiography of a theory: Developing a theory of living human systems and its systems-centered practice. London, UK: Jessica Kingsley.

Agazarian, Y.M., & Gantt, S.P. (2014). Systems-centered training with couples: Building marriages that work. Systemic Thinking & Psychotherapy, 5.

Only at SCT Center

Agazarian, Y.M., & Peters, R. (1981). The visible and invisible group. London, UK: Routledge & Kegan Paul. Reprinted in paperback (1995). London, UK: Karnac Books.

Only at SCT Center

Agazarian, Y.M., Gantt, S.P., & Carter, F.B. (2021). Systems-centered training: An illustrated guide for applying a theory of living human systems. New York, NY: Routledge.

Badenoch, B. (2017). The heart of trauma: Healing the embodied brain in the context of relationships (Norton series on interpersonal neurobiology). New York, NY: Norton.

Bennis, W.G., & Shepard, H.A. (1956). A theory of group development. Human Relations, 9(4), 415-437. doi: 10.1177/001872675600900403

Only at SCT Center

Davanloo, H. (1990). Unlocking the unconscious: Selected papers of Habib Davanloo. Oxford, UK: Wiley.

Only at SCT Center

de Maré, P.B. (2014). Perspectives in group psychotherapy: A theoretical background. New York, NY: Routledge.

Gantt, S.P. (2005). Functional role-taking in organizations and work groups. Group Psychologist (APA Division 49 newsletter), 15(5), 15.

Also at SCT Center

Gantt, S.P. (2009). The clinical pastoral circle: Using systems-centered methods to develop a clinical pastoral team. In C.F. Garlid, A.A. Zollfrank & G. Fitchett (Eds.), Expanding the circle: Essays in honor of Joan Hemenway (pp. 109-136). Decatur, GA: Journal of Pastoral Care Publications.

Also at SCT Center

Gantt, S.P. (2013). Applying systems-centered theory (SCT) and methods in organizational contexts: Putting SCT to work. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 63(2), 234-258. doi: 10.1521/ijgp.2013.63.2.234

Gantt, S.P. (2021). Systems-centered large groups. Group Circle, a publication of the American Group Psychotherapy Association, Winter 2021.

Gantt, S.P., & Adams, J.M. (2010). Systems-centered training for therapists: Beyond stereotyping to integrating diversities into the change process. Women & Therapy, 33(1), 101-120. doi: 10.1080/02703140903404812

Gantt, S.P., & Agazarian, Y.M. (2004). Systems-centered emotional intelligence: Beyond individual systems to organizational systems. Organizational Analysis, 12(2), 147-169.  doi: 10.1108/eb028990

Gantt, S.P., & Agazarian, Y.M. (2017). Systems-centered group therapy. International Journal of Group Psychotherapy, 67(sup1), S60-S70. doi: 10.1080/00207284.2016.1218768

Only at SCT Center

Gantt, S.P., & Agazarian, Y.M. (Eds.) (2005). SCT in action: Applying the systems-centered approach in organizations. Lincoln, NE: iUniverse. Reprint (2006). London, UK: Karnac Books.

Only at SCT Center

Gantt, S.P., & Agazarian, Y.M. (Eds.) (2006). Systems-centered therapy: In clinical practice with individuals, families and groups. Livermore, CA: WingSpan Press. Reprint (2011). London, UK: Karnac Books.

Only at SCT Center

Gantt, S.P., & Badenoch, B. (Eds.) (2013). The interpersonal neurobiology of group psychotherapy and group process. London, UK: Karnac Books.

Gantt, S.P., & Agazarian, Y.M. (2007). Phases of system development in organizational work groups: The systems-centered approach for intervening in context. Organisational & Social Dynamics, 7(2), 253-291.

Only at SCT Center

Heard, B., & Lake, D. (1997). The challenge of attachment for caregiving. London, UK: Routledge, Chapman & Hall.

Only at SCT Center

Hemenway, J.E. (1996). Inside the circle: A historical and practical inquiry concerning process groups in clinical pastoral education. Decatur, GA: Journal of Pastoral Care Publications.

Kaklauskas, F.J., & Greene, L.R. (Eds.). (2019) Core principles of group psychotherapy: An integrated theory, research, and practice training manual. New York, NY: Routledge.

Kane, Y.I., Masselink, S.M., & Weiss, A.C. (Eds.) (2021). Women, intersectionality and power in group psychotherapy leadership. New York, NY: Routledge.

Only at SCT Center

Kaplan, I., & Sadock, B. (Eds.) (1993). Comprehensive textbook of group psychotherapy. (3rd ed.) Baltimore, MD: Williams & Wilkins, Division of Waverly.

Kleinberg, J. (Ed.). (2011). The Wiley-Blackwell handbook of group psychotherapy. Oxford, UK: Wiley.

Neukrug, E.S. (Ed.). (2015). Encyclopedia of theory in counseling and psychotherapy. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Prengel, S. (2009, August). Interview with Yvonne Agazarian. Somatic Perspectives on Psychotherapy. www.SomaticPerspectives.com [audio also available at https://youtu.be/L-lnolV7Z9Q]

Only at SCT Center

Systems-Centered Training and Research Institute (Ed.) (2010). Systems-centered theory and practice: The contribution of Yvonne Agazarian. Livermore, CA: WingSpan Press. Reprint (2011). London, UK: Karnac Books.

Tweedy, R. (Ed.). (2020). The divided therapist: Hemispheric difference and contemporary psychotherapy. London, UK: Routledge.

Weinberg, H., Rolnick, A., & Leighton, A. (Eds.). (2024). The virtual group therapy circle: Advances in online group theory and practice. New York, NY: Routledge.

Wheelan, S. (Ed.). (2005). Handbook of group research and practice. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Yvonne Agazarian in conversation with Serge Prengel - Relational Implicit Interview August 2009 (Audio only). Somatic Perspectives on Psychotherapy. www.SomaticPerspectives.com

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