The Art And Practice Of Family Constellations

This book has been written for those who are interested in deepening their understanding of the practice of family constellations. Many might ask whether this practice hasn't already been detailed in Hellinger's own books and videos. This book is a response to many practical questions of therapists and coaches. When I speak about the 'art' and 'craft' of the work, I am using these terms in the old sense. To become a painter, you have to master colours, techniques, perspective, etc. That is the master craft which the art requires. The more finely trained the craftsmanship, the more masterly will be the result of a new expression or theme. Art and depth of expression are not things which can be learned, but craftsmanship is. In addition to the few artists who truly break new ground, we have to also recognise the great number of learned practitioners of the arts. They have mastered their craft to such an extent that there is depth and expression in their work, even though they may not have developed a new, revolutionary style. In my training programme for constellation facilitators, a core of material has emerged which I pass on to those in training as a basic foundation for practising this craft. From the feedback in these groups, I am confident that this is a solid basis for the work with constellations.

The first-ever user-friendly guide on Family Constellations—a powerful group therapy method that uses family history as an avenue for understanding and resolving conflicts of the present Mapping out a “family constellation,” explains Dr. Joy Manné, encompasses exploring previous powerful life events from accidents to adoptions and accessing the deepest dynamics in that family system. This process helps us recognize and then resolve deeply seated family patterns. For example, in order to understand a person’s inability to trust, the family history of betrayal must be uncovered and released. These insights replace resentment with respect, pain with understanding. In this book, Dr. Manné uses the knowledge gained from her own practice as well as her educational experiences with Bert Hellinger—the founder of Family Constellations therapy—to clearly describe this unique therapeutic method. Most Family Constellation sessions are carried out in a group setting, with the facilitator first seeking clarity regarding the issue or problem the client has come to work out. Representatives are then chosen from among the group and the constellation is set up and worked in until it comes to resolution. This may be followed by a closing ritual and advice about how to integrate what the constellation has revealed. Through the use of real-life examples of Family Constellations, Dr. Manné makes this increasingly popular practice understandable and relatable.

Family constellations work has broadened and developed in many different fields as a method of counseling and therapy. In addition to constellations in organizations and schools, applying this approach to working with illness and disease has expanded the potential for healing effects in the field of medicine as well. A view of transgenerational entanglements and family dynamics casts a new light on health and disease, and the insights gained from constellations with illness and health problems have led to a more holistic view of those who are ill. In Even if it Costs me my Life, Stephan Hausner aims to provide a picture of the healing potential of systemic constellations, entering into the reciprocal effects of family dynamics and illness. Extensive use of case studies demonstrates this technique in action, revealing how existing illnesses and pathologies are rooted within the family dynamic, and setting up healing postures to facilitate growth, development, and direction.

Connecting to Our Ancestral Past is a pragmatic, spiritual journey that introduces a variety of specific rituals and conversations in connection with Constellations work, an experiential process that explores one's history and powerful events of the past in order to understand and resolve problems of the present. Constellations facilitator and author Francesca Mason Boring presents this therapeutic method in the context of cultures like the Shoshone, of which she is a member, that have seen the world through a prism of interrelationships for millennia. In Constellations work there is an organic quality that requires a discipline of non-judgment, one that is embraced in traditional native circles, where the whole truth of a person's life, roots, and trans-generational trauma or challenge is understood and included. Mason Boring provides a transformational walk through the universal indigenous field— that place of healing and knowledge used by Native healers and teachers for centuries—by describing stories and rituals designed to help people with their particular struggles. These rituals, such as "Facing the Good Men"—designed to help women who have suffered abuse in relationships with men—reject Western notions of over-the-counter medication. Instead, they stress a comfortable environment whereby the "client," with the help of a facilitator, interacts with people chosen to represent concepts, things, and other people. In Western culture the word "medicine" is thought of as a concrete object, but Mason Boring explains that indigenous cultures favor a process of healing as opposed to an itemized substance. She re-opens doors that have been closed due to the exclusion of indigenous technology in the development of many Western healing traditions and introduces new concepts to the lexicon of Western psychology. A range of voices from around the world—leaders in the fields of systems constellations, theoretical physics, and tribal traditions—contribute to this exploration of aboriginal perspectives that will benefit facilitators of Constellations work, therapists, and human beings who are trying to walk with open eyes and hearts.

Welcome to the world of Constellations. Family and other forms of Constellations constitute one of the most effective and thrilling modern therapeutic methods that will help you improve your relationships and life in general by allowing love to flow again. Not since Freud has the realm of psychology seen such groundbreaking insights as those provided by Hellinger, the founder of Constellations. Constellation work is a universal tool that will enable you to identify and resolve problems in any sphere of life including personal relationship, health and workplace issues. This easy-to-read book comprehensively explains the method and theory of constellations. To augment understanding, the text is illustrated with detailed authentic case studies from Indra's practice. The latest research and innovative applications of systemic constellations, such as organizational, structural and table constellations are also are discussed, as well as relevant scientific research. Whether you are a layman or spiritual seeker interested in improving your life or a therapist interested in adding another dimension to your therapeutic skills arsenal, this indispensable book is a treasure trove of information and insights that will go a long way in helping you find true understanding about Constellations and how relationships work.