Introduction to Family Constellation Therapy
Family Constellation Therapy (also known as Hellinger Therapy, Systemic Constellations, and Systemic Family Constellations) is a form of emotional therapy and a three-dimensional group process that has the power to shift generations of suffering and unhappiness. This alternative therapeutic method helps to reveal the hidden dynamics in a family or relationship in order to find and address any stressors that are negatively impacting them.
Bert Hellinger, the founder of Systematic Constellations, who practiced this method for more than 50 years, observed that many patients unconsciously adopt destructive familial patterns of anxiety, depression, anger, guilt, alcoholism, and even illness as a way of loyalty to their families. For instance, bonded by a deep love, a child will often sacrifice his or her own best interests in order to attempt to ease the suffering of a parent or other family member.
The goal of family constellations is to allow a patient to break these toxic patterns so that they may live healthier and happier by setting a new life course.
Benefits Family Constellation Therapy
Clinical experience has shown that family constellation therapy may be used for a number of conditions and issues and that the benefits include:
- Reveals hidden cross-generational patterns that are affecting our lives through unconscious loyalty to family
- Helps to find the “right place” within our family and discovering ourselves
- Empowers and strengthens our capacity to respond to challenges
- Connects us to the source by letting go of uncovered toxic relationships or memories
- Frees from remembering and analyzing the past
How Family Constellation Works
Just as one inherits eye color and blood type, they also inherit the residue from traumatic events that have taken place in a family. While physical traits are easily discernible, this emotional legacy is often hidden. Anxiety, fear, financial worries, depression, illness, and unhappy relationships can all be forms of unconscious inheritance.
Family Constellation Therapy is an effective therapy that is an alternative to traditional counseling and that is very established and popular in Europe and spreading around the world. It is quite powerful and effective at uncovering unfavorable or detrimental situations and providing solutions to relieve emotional stress. Most patients resolve their issue in a relatively short time using Family Constellations or a combination of therapy and constellation work. It is a relatively, quick, easy and cost-effective method. For many, this is a profound life-changing experience.
Family constellation therapy normally involves working in a group setting. A therapist or facilitator will work with family members to help reveal the hidden dynamics in a family or specific relationship in order to identify and correct any stressors and negative emotions impacting these relationships. Ultimately, the goal is to heal all issues within the family that are creating problems.
It has been found that changes within a patient may often result in unexpected changes around them. This may be due to changes in the connecting field of which one is involved and/or unconscious shifts due to starting an impulse in the personal and family soul that is set in motion by the Family Constellation process.
Family constellation is indicated for those with emotional disturbances and unresolved trauma that has afflicted a family through an event such as murder, suicide, death of a mother in childbirth, the early death of a parent or sibling, war, natural disaster, emigration, or abuse.
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Behind the Science
Science & Safety
“Family Constellations”: An Innovative Systemic Phenomenological Group Process From Germany The Family Journal, 2006
According to the European Family Therapy Community, Family Constellation Therapy has been widely accepted and integrated by thousands of licensed practitioners worldwide and can serve as an adjunct to conventional psychotherapy.
Even If It Costs Me My Life: Systemic Constellation and Serious Illness Stephen Hausner
In his book, Stephen Hausner describes that every family member has a right to belong to the family system, and if for some reason the member is excluded or forgotten, usually in a latter generation, someone will unconsciously identify with the excluded family member.
Does the Process of Family Constellations Improve Relationships and Wellbeing? Australian College of Applied Psychology, 2009
An abstract finds, in conclusion, the mixed survey methodology has provided valuable qualitative and quantitative findings indicating that the Family Constellation process does improve relationships and well being and also may provide a framework for other researchers or groups of practitioners of Family Constellations to do further research in many specific areas of the developing theory and practice of this modality.
Spectrum
Where does Family Constellation Therapy fall on the medical spectrum?
Family Constellation falls under the ‘Psychology’ section of the medical spectrum.
Alternative Medicine
Also known as holistic medicine, it is the study and application of nature, botany, energy, and technology to bring the body back to balance and address the root causes of disease without detrimental side effects, toxins and chemicals, or a lifetime of intervention.
Top Alternative Medicine Therapies
Biological Medicine
Also known as European Biological Medicine, this modality, popular in Germany and Switzerland, applies numerous therapies that aim to restore the body’s regulatory and self-healing capacity by promoting proper regeneration on a cellular and organ level.
Top Biological Therapies
Conventional Medicine
Conventional medicine is the most recognized and practiced section of the medical spectrum that includes pharmacological drugs, surgical procedures, lab testing, and more in an attempt to reduce symptoms and manage disease.
Conventional Therapies
The Innovative Medicine approach considers all conventional options and appropriately prescribes or refers patients to specialists in which this approach would be most suited.
Emotional Therapies
Mental health and the study of mind-body medicine is an integral part of the medical spectrum that can often go overlooked and unaddressed.
Psycho-Emotional Intervention
The study of psycho-neuro-immunology (PNI) has shown how our thoughts and psychological state impact our biochemistry and can lead to disease. Any comprehensive treatment plan must address psychological stress to be successful.
Top Psychological Therapies
Spiritual Practices & Therapies
We often confuse spiritual practices with religion, but the role of spirituality, consciousness, awareness, purpose, and information on a quantum level is incredibly important in healing.
Top Spiritual Practices & Therapies
Receiving Therapy
Recieving Family Constellation Therapy
At our clinic, the New York Center for Innovative Medicine (NYCIM), we are able to advise whether a patient would benefit from Family Constellation Therapy and recommend a trained practitioner. We also have many other psychological and therapeutic options available.
More Info
Resources & Experts
- Introduction to Family Constellation
YouTube Video
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Family Constellation Therapy?
Family Constellation Therapy (also known as Hellinger Therapy, Systemic Constellations, and Systemic Family Constellations) is a form of emotional therapy and a three-dimensional group process that has the power to shift generations of suffering and unhappiness. This alternative therapeutic method helps to reveal the hidden dynamics in a family or relationship in order to find and address any stressors that are negatively impacting them.
How does Family Constellation Therapy work?
Family constellation therapy normally involves working in a group setting. A therapist or facilitator will work with family members to help reveal the hidden dynamics in a family or specific relationship in order to identify and correct any stressors and negative emotions impacting these relationships. Ultimately, the goal is to heal all issues within the family that are creating problems.
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Family Constellation Therapy
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