Systems-Centered Group Therapy

ABSTRACT

Systems-centered therapy (SCT) is a theory-based practice developed from a theory of living human systems (Agazarian, 1997, 2012). Viewing these group participants through an SCT lens enables us to de-pathologize, humanize, legitimize, and universalize the survivor roles that are depicted in the descriptions of the group members, both attachment and social roles. We also have rewritten an excerpt of the group transcript as it might unfold if the SCT norm of functional subgrouping (which develops the inter-person system) was established in the group. Each group member’s survivor roles are discussed in terms of how SCT methods are used to weaken the restraining forces in the participants’ roles relevant for the group’s phase of development. Finally, the group transcript is discussed from an SCT view: The group-system-as-a-whole is seen as predominantly in flight, with some emerging fight energy that is re-vectored by the group and the leader back to flight.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Susan P. Gantt

Susan P. Gantt is Emerita Faculty, Emory University School of Medicine, Department of Psychiatry, and Director of the Systems-Centered Training and Research Institute.

Yvonne M. Agazarian

Yvonne M. Agazarian is Founder of the Systems-Centered Training and Research Institute in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.