Family – the original focus of the method

Initially Family Constellations were only applied to the family context, as the name of the method itself suggests. No ancestors or other figures (e.g. nations, countries, women of the lineage, men who survived an event etc.) were involved in the method as it was presented originally.

Same dynamics are present in other systems

It was discovered later that processes and dynamics that are seen in families are just as present in other systems. Such as: organizations, professional groups, or larger structures – communities, gender figures. Also, the ancestral field was introduced into the Family Constellation method.

The view expanded to include larger systems. Today, Constellations are done on subjects like decision making, or for example, inner personality parts. Beautiful works and deep insights are often achieved when the Constellations method is applied to social systems or businesses and organizations.

With this in mind, it’s more relevant to use the term “Systemic”. Talking about Constellations, we no longer speak only about the family context.

More about the development of the method

To know more about the evolution of the conceptual views of Bert Hellinger himself and the method of Family Constellations: an article by Wilfried Nelles on the website of ISCA, International Systemic Constellations Association: Classical Family Constellations, Movements of the Soul, Movements of the “SpiritMind”: Where is Constellation Work Heading to?

Read more: Systemic and Family Constellations

Individual (One-on-one) Constellations Online

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Healing comes from different sources in trauma treatment and spirituality. 

In spirituality, the practice focuses on connecting with something outside of us. Whether it is a divine presence or grace, the spirit of a prophet or the wisdom of ancestors. Trauma healing, in turn, focuses on the healing and integration that is happening within the client. 

Many modern approaches, such as for example Richard Schwartz’ Internal Family Systems or Identity Oriented Psychotrauma Therapy of Franz Ruppert, describe traumatic split through the emergence of certain parts of personality. IFS names them as Managers and Firefighters. IOPT calls them Survival Strategies. These personality parts can be extremely functional in the context of survival. However, they may not be as useful in maintaining a normal life in a safe environment. Traumatized individual often feels trapped between these survival parts. Whether it is the inner voice that constantly criticizes or demeans, or their sub-products such as self-hatred or low self-esteem. 

It is for this reason that discipline-based approaches, even with a strong spiritual foundation, may not be helpful when applied in the context of trauma. Imposition of certain rules or strict requirements reinforces survival-related personality structures. Precisely the structures from which these rules are supposed to help release. Providing choices can help healing more than the constant imposition of a particular practice structure.

More about the principles and structure of continuous work.

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