Systemic Constellation Work

Systemic Constellation Work, coined by Bert Hellinger, is a unique form of Family Counseling that addresses the Heart and Soul of the Family. This approach to family systems work is based in part, with the theories of Virginia Satir’s “Family Therapy work” Family Therapy: Concepts and Methods, and Jacob Moreno’s, "Psychodrama Group Psychotherapy". This combination is why Systemic Constellation Work creates such powerful family counseling outcomes.

Family constellation work reveals and illuminates the unconscious, and often destructive, loyalties within families. Rather than exploring the conflicts in one’s childhood, Hellinger’s constellation work examines the tragedies in one’s family. Traumatic events, such as the premature death of a parent, sibling or child, an abandonment, war, crime or suicide, can exert a powerful force affecting later generations. Entangled or burdened with unhappiness from the past, family members often continue patterns of anxiety, depression, anger, guilt, fear, chronic illness and unfulfilled relationships. Adult “Children” more often than not, will unconsciously mirror relationship difficulties of their parents.

According to Hellinger, the innocence of a child wants only to love its family and so the child often sacrifices its own best interests in the blind belief that this suffering will ensure its 'belonging' to the family. If unresolved, these burdens and entanglements will be passed on from generation to generation creating turmoil and disharmony. By exposing these hidden dynamics within families that are behind the traumas and misfortunes, creates shifts on a systemic level to occur so that the natural flow of love, strength and support within our lives can be experienced and passed on. Without this resolution there is no peace in the soul.

Children seldom or never dare to live a happier or more fulfilling life than their parents. Unconsciously they remain loyal to unspoken family traditions that work invisibly. Family Constellations are a way of discovering underlying family bonds and forces that have been carried unconsciously over several generations."
—Bertold Ulsamer

Family constellation work is a safe, experiential and effective therapeutic process that helps to break the destructive and invisible family patterns of unhappiness, illness, failure and addiction. The results are often immediate and life-changing. Unlike many family counseling approaches, family members do not have be present in order for dramatic shifts to occur. The client who does this work, not only experiences resolution, compassion, love, forgiveness and peace for themselves but also affects the whole family system.

Systemic Constellation Work is becoming one of the most rapidly expanding forms of family counseling in the world and is practiced in more than 30 countries.

This work can be done within a group setting, one-on-one or on the phone. Systemic Constellation work is one of many Healing Techniques that can be used in Family Counseling.