Nursel Arslan Healing Therapies 2.45

"Systemic and Family Constellations According to Bert Hellinger

I. What are systemic and family constellations?
The German therapist Bert Hellinger developed with the family constellations a new type of short, intensive therapy. This systematic approach is a further development of multi-generation family therapy which stands alone in its own right. Hellinger discovered a host of principles and orders which occur in the network of relationships and bonds through many generations. These orders and principles prove themselves through the practical work. One could describe a systemic and family constellation as a living genogram (family tree or systemic tree), set up by a particular issueholder, which includes elements of family sculptures and psychodramas or any other social systems (hence systemic constellations). Systemic and Family constellations are ingenious in their form and theoretical approach and have surprising procedures and effects.

II. The practical work
The client makes the most effective use of his constellation in a group. The client must have a certain clear request to be addressed in the constellation (e.g., he wants to know the reasons for his depression or feelings of guilt). First he names the essential facts about his family regarding the past two to three generations or a the members of the social system (work, friends or any other groups). Then he chooses group members to be representatives of his parents, siblings, himself, and for other pertinent members of his family or of the social system. Representatives can be chosen for deceased family members as well. The client spontaneously, but with concentration, situates the representatives on an open floor. He gives them a place and a direction to face, and in this way sets them up relative to each other. After that, the client becomes an observer.
The therapist asks the representatives about their feelings and perceptions. After that, he often proposes either statements for the representatives to repeat, or new places for them to take. The representatives have a fine sense of whether or not the statement is accurate, and of whether or not their feelings have changed when they take a new place. Often, representatives of other family or social system members are added to the group (as uncles, grandparents, etc.), and the effect is observed.
A constellation generally lasts between 30 minutes and one and a half hour, though they sometimes last shorter or longer. The therapist ends the constellation either when everyone feels good with the places in which they are, or when an emotionally explosive situation in the family or social system is uncovered.

III. The Effect of the therapy
Through the clear perceptions of the representatives, it becomes clear to the client -quickly and precisely - from whom in the family feelings or social system have been taken over. Surprisingly, they are often taken over from long deceased members of previous generations, who, until now, were hardly known. The client then recognizes where certain confusing feelings come from, or why relations in his family or social system have been disturbed.
Connections which previously had negative effects are brought into the light and often resolved or changed. By the end, the places in the constellation have been changed, and a new tension free view of the family or the social system exists. The client incorporates this view into his view of his family or social system, and lets its healing effect unfold."
Dr. Bertold Ulsamer (Author, Doctor of Law and psychologist)