Online work is a combination of two approaches. We use Body-Oriented elements of Somatics together with the palette of tools of Systemic Family Constellations.
Good for anxiety, excessive stress, loss of energy. Helps to deal with long-term internal imbalances – chronic pain, physical symptoms. To transform lack of interest in business or family, inability to experience and express emotions.
Focus On the Body
Somatic approach creates safe environment, maintains calm, well regulated process. Family Constellation provides direct access to the context that stays behind a particular physical or emotional difficulty or a symptom.
The process is facilitated in a gentle, careful manner. We are looking for ways to not overburden the client’s nervous system with new information or memories, however opening access to what’s important. Somatic view keeps the present, open state of mind and body, helps sustain clarity and ease of perception. The progress of a session is adjusted in accordance with client’s bodily states.
Use of Representation
Sessions often resemble Constellation work unfolding in the space between the client and the practitioner. Representative perception that we know from Family Systemic Constellations means that a role or a position of a figure, a family member, an actor in the system, or even an emotion can be taken by a “representative”. The representative somehow starts feeling the content that is related to that chosen figure and this is where the works begins. There might be time for several Constellations of this kind within one online session. This approach allows to work both on personal and systemic (related to a family, ancestors, or collective) issues.
What Tasks Can Be Addressed
Loss of an inner sense of presence
“Physically I’m here, but internally I’m sometimes in a completely different place.”
As a consequence of trauma we often lose the capacity to be present or open with other people
Issues with self acceptance
A typical trauma response often manifests by never feeling sufficiently good.
“I am not qualified enough for that position”, “this person will never see me as equal”. Within the framework of online sessions we transform the pattern by finding the source of it – a situation or a context. Gradually we are reprocessing it on the level of the body
Difficulty processing emotions
“I’d rather not feel” – this can be heard when circumstances seem to be overwhelming. Shutting down or detaching seems to be the only solution.
Inability to sustain positive contact with other people
“It’s as if I cannot open my heart – feels like too much even before I begin”. Working on a problem of this sort often points at difficult situations in the past. Circumstances where a significant other person was not there for us
Energy loss
Sometimes it feels as if the body is never fully alive. Perception of the outside world as well as inner space – feelings, emotions turn blank or unimportant
Difficulty sustaining focus
“I always need to distract myself, I never stick to one task for more than a short while. I have difficulty remembering where I stopped to resume with the task”
Aches and pains
By means of Family Systemic Constellations we see or discern into what often lays behind the symptom. Sometimes an unresolved conflict or situation from the past, a loyalty to someone or a difficult event of interpersonal nature.
Repetitive patterns or recurrent events
E.g. “with all of my partners it ended the same way”, “I can never avoid this with my mother”. Sometimes in this work we find that repetitions are a way that our memory chooses to “remember” a particular past context, often traumatic. Reprocessing it, bringing it into consciousness often releases, ends the pattern.
Body as a Mirror of Our Family System
From the work of Bert Hellinger and other major masters we know that our body reflects the situation in our family system. Elements of Constellation work allow us to see the sources of symptoms and difficulties on a bodily level. At the same time, somatic work with a focus on the state of the body makes it easier to process and integrate the changes while maintaining a relatively balanced state of physical and mental presence.
Timing and Setting
Sessions are 70 minutes long. The client needs a place with possibly no distractions by external noise or other people’s presence. It’s best to participate in sitting position, lying down on a sofa or bed should be avoided during sessions.
Preferred option for a communication device to use during sessions would be something with a relatively large screen (tablet or computer), however joining from a smartphone is quite possible, too. You will receive a link to enter the session to the email address you provide at the time of booking. The system allows to check the quality of communication, sound and video at any time before the session.
Client – Therapist Relations
Session is a safe space to deal with all sorts of experiences including difficult or what is seen as clearly negative. The process requires trust between client and therapist and does not rely on any kind of pressure. Relations are necessarily open and transparent. Every step has to be accepted by both sides.
Disclaimer
This work is not intended to replace any kind of psychotherapy or conventional allopathic medicine treatment. You will need to consult your mental health practitioner or physician in case of any doubts regarding participating in online sessions.