MOD033 – Constellation Therapy

Definition

Constellation Therapy, also known as Family Constellations or Systemic Constellations, is a therapeutic approach that explores hidden dynamics within a family or social system to address issues affecting individual members.

Explanation

Developed by Bert Hellinger, Constellation Therapy is based on the foundational belief that unresolved traumas, conflicts, or loyalties within a family system can reverberate through current and future generations. The approach acknowledges that patterns of behaviour, emotional entanglements, and systemic dynamics often remain hidden or unrecognised but can profoundly influence individuals’ lives.

In a Constellation Therapy session, whether conducted in a group or individually, participants are often selected to represent family members or elements of a system. These representatives are intuitively positioned within a physical space, often referred to as the constellation, to symbolically mirror the relational dynamics and interconnections within the family or social system being explored. Through this process, the therapist facilitates an experiential journey that aims to reveal underlying conflicts, entanglements, and unresolved issues that may be affecting the individual seeking therapy.

The goal of Constellation Therapy is multifaceted. Firstly, it seeks to bring awareness to unconscious patterns and hidden loyalties that influence behaviours, emotions, and relationships within the system. By making these dynamics visible through the constellation process, participants gain new insights into the origins of their challenges and struggles.

Secondly, Constellation Therapy aims to facilitate healing within relationships and promote reconciliation among family members or within social systems. By acknowledging and honouring the experiences and fates of ancestors and family members, participants can begin to release burdens of guilt, shame, or resentment that may have been unknowingly carried forward through generations.

Furthermore, Constellation Therapy endeavours to restore balance and harmony within the family or social system. This may involve uncovering and resolving systemic injustices, unspoken rules, or traumas that have contributed to cycles of suffering or dysfunction.

Constellation Therapy integrates elements of psychotherapy, systemic thinking, and embodied experiencing to create profound shifts in perspective and promote personal growth. By engaging both cognitive understanding and emotional exploration, participants often experience transformative insights and a deepening of empathy and understanding for themselves and others within their familial or social context.

Evidence to Efficacy

Research on Constellation Therapy’s efficacy is limited, but evidence and case studies provide insights into its potential effectiveness in addressing relational conflicts, trauma, and emotional healing within family systems. There are indications from clinical practice and qualitative research that Constellation Therapy can lead to meaningful therapeutic outcomes.

A study published in the British Journal of Psychotherapy explored the application of Family Constellations in therapeutic settings. The study highlighted improvements in relational dynamics and emotional well-being among participants, suggesting positive impacts on family systems.

The Association for Family Constellations through Therapy and Systemic Constellations (AFCT) provides anecdotal evidence and case studies from practitioners. These accounts emphasise the resolution of longstanding family conflicts, the healing of intergenerational trauma, and the restoration of emotional balance within families.

Qualitative evidence from practitioners underscores the potential this has as a therapeutic approach for addressing complex familial dynamics and promoting emotional healing.

The Neuroscience

When you engage in Constellation Therapy, you activate a fascinating interplay of neurological and physiological processes that tap into both individual and collective consciousness:

As you begin a constellation session, your brain shifts into a more receptive state, similar to what occurs during meditation. Your neural activity moves towards theta waves (4-8 Hz), associated with deep relaxation and heightened intuition. This altered state allows you to access deeper levels of awareness and connect with the family or systemic field being explored.

The process of representing family members or systemic elements in the constellation activates your mirror neuron system. These specialized neurons fire both when you perform an action and when you observe someone else performing it. In constellation work, this system enables you to empathically resonate with the experiences and emotions of the individuals or elements you’re representing.

As you move through the constellation, your body becomes a conduit for information from the morphic field – a concept proposed by biologist Rupert Sheldrake. This field contains the collective memory and patterns of your family system. Your nervous system picks up on subtle cues and information, manifesting as physical sensations, emotions, or sudden insights.

The act of physically moving and repositioning within the constellation engages your proprioceptive system, enhancing your body awareness and grounding you in the present moment. This embodied experience creates new neural pathways, potentially rewiring your brain’s response to family-related triggers and patterns.

From a quantum physics perspective, constellation work aligns with the concept of non-local consciousness. Just as quantum particles can be entangled and influence each other instantaneously across vast distances, family members in a constellation appear to access and influence a shared field of information, transcending conventional notions of space and time.

The powerful shifts often experienced in constellation work relate to the phenomenon of quantum coherence. As the constellation unfolds, the various elements (represented by people or objects) begin to resonate at the same frequency, creating a coherent field. This coherence allows for the emergence of new patterns and solutions previously hidden in the system.

Neurochemically, constellation work stimulates the release of oxytocin, often called the “bonding hormone.” This promotes feelings of connection and empathy, facilitating healing within the family system. Additionally, the resolution of long-standing conflicts or acknowledgment of excluded family members can trigger a release of dopamine, creating a sense of satisfaction and completion.

Epigenetically, the insights and resolutions gained through constellation work have the potential to influence gene expression. While the DNA sequence remains unchanged, the way genes are read and expressed can be altered through powerful emotional experiences, potentially breaking cycles of inherited trauma or patterns.

As the constellation concludes, participants often report a sense of lightness and clarity. This corresponds to a shift in brain activity towards more coherent gamma waves (30-100 Hz), associated with heightened awareness and integration of information across different brain regions.

In essence, Constellation Therapy creates a unique neurophysiological state that allows for deep systemic healing and reorganization. It taps into the interconnected nature of consciousness, allowing for profound shifts in perception and relationships within family and other systems.

Governing Body

There is no specific governing body exclusively dedicated to Constellation Therapy in the UK. However, practitioners may seek accreditation from relevant psychotherapy or counseling bodies that encompass systemic approaches and therapies.

These bodies include the UK Council for Psychotherapy (UKCP), the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP). Practitioners aligning themselves with these bodies do so to adhere to professional standards, ethical guidelines, and ongoing professional development

What Good Looks Like

When you engage in a truly effective Constellation Therapy session, you’ll notice several key elements that define a transformative experience:

• As you begin, you’ll feel a palpable shift in the atmosphere. The space becomes charged with a sense of possibility and deep connection. You’ll find yourself naturally dropping into a more receptive state, open to insights and revelations.
• You’ll experience a profound sense of safety and trust, both with the facilitator and the other participants if it’s a group session. This allows you to be vulnerable and authentic, essential for the work to unfold.
• As the constellation takes shape, you’ll be struck by the accuracy with which representatives embody the energy and emotions of your family members or system elements. Even if you haven’t shared detailed information, you’ll see familiar patterns and dynamics emerge.
• You’ll witness unexpected movements and interactions between the representatives that provide startling insights into your family system. These moments often feel deeply meaningful and can trigger emotional releases or ‘aha’ moments for you.
• Throughout the session, you’ll notice a tangible energetic shift. What began as a stuck or painful situation gradually transforms, often in ways you couldn’t have predicted. You might feel a physical sensation of lightness or relief as hidden entanglements are revealed and resolved.
• You’ll find yourself moved by the power of simple, yet profound statements or movements that seem to reorganise the entire system. These ‘healing sentences’ or gestures often bring a sense of rightness and resolution that you can feel in your body.
• As the constellation progresses, you’ll experience a growing sense of clarity about your place in the family system and how ancestral patterns have influenced your life. This understanding feels both illuminating and liberating.
• You’ll be struck by the way time seems to operate differently within the constellation field. Complex issues that might take months or years to unravel in talk therapy can shift in a matter of minutes.
• Towards the end of the session, you’ll feel a sense of completion and integration. The new configuration of your system will feel more balanced and harmonious, with each element (including yourself) in its rightful place.
• You’ll leave the session with a profound sense that something significant has shifted, not just in your understanding, but in the very fabric of your relationship to your family system and yourself. This feeling of transformation lingers, often deepening in the days and weeks that follow.

Remember, a truly impactful Constellation Therapy session isn’t about achieving a particular outcome, but about allowing the wisdom of the systemic field to reveal what needs to be seen and acknowledged. It’s about experiencing a profound shift in perspective that opens up new possibilities for healing and growth.

What to Ask a Practitioner

Choosing the right Constellation Therapy facilitator involves assessing their expertise in creating a supportive environment, their ability to uncover systemic dynamics, and their track record in facilitating resolution and healing. Seek recommendations, review testimonials, and consider initial consultations to ensure that the facilitator’s approach aligns with your therapeutic goals and expectations. Consider these questions in your assessment:

How do you create a safe and supportive environment for constellation work?

Desired answer: Mentions of “holding space”, “energetic boundaries”, and “creating a sacred container”. They should discuss techniques for grounding participants and maintaining emotional safety.

Can you explain your approach to identifying and working with systemic entanglements?

Desired answer: Discussion of “family systems”, “transgenerational patterns”, and “hidden loyalties”. They should articulate how they recognise and address unconscious dynamics within a system.

How do you facilitate the resolution of conflicts or imbalances that emerge during a constellation?

Desired answer: References to “healing movements”, “systemic resolutions”, and “restoring order”. They should explain how they guide the constellation towards balance and harmony.

What is your understanding of the “knowing field” and how do you work with it?

Desired answer: Explanations of “morphic resonance”, “field perception”, and “systemic consciousness”. They should describe how they tap into and interpret information from the field.

How do you handle strong emotions or resistance that may arise during a session?

Desired answer: Mentions of “holding space for all emotions”, “somatic awareness”, and “resource states”. They should discuss techniques for supporting clients through intense experiences.

Can you describe how you incorporate representatives or objects in your constellations?

Desired answer: Discussion of “representative perception”, “systemic resonance”, and “spatial relationships”. They should explain how they select and guide representatives or use objects to represent system elements.

How do you ensure that insights gained during a constellation are integrated into a client’s daily life?

Desired answer: References to “embodied cognition”, “systemic rituals”, and “anchoring new perspectives”. They should outline post-session practices for consolidating shifts.

What is your approach to addressing ancestral trauma or unresolved family history?

Desired answer: Mentions of “intergenerational healing”, “ancestral reconciliation”, and “systemic completion”. They should explain how they work with historical events and their impact on current systems.

How do you balance respecting the client’s stated goal with allowing the constellation to unfold organically?

Desired answer: Discussion of “systemic intelligence”, “emergent process”, and “following the energy”. They should articulate how they navigate between client intentions and systemic revelations.

Can you explain your understanding of “orders of love” and how you apply them in constellations?

Desired answer: References to “belonging”, “balance of giving and taking”, and “hierarchy within systems”. They should demonstrate a nuanced understanding of systemic principles and their application.

An exceptional Constellation Therapy practitioner will use specific terminology like “systemic entanglements”, “morphic field”, “representative perception”, and “orders of love”. They should emphasise the importance of systemic awareness, field sensitivity, and the ability to facilitate profound shifts within complex family and organisational systems.

Self-Study Resources

There are several self-study resources available if you’re interested in learning more about Constellation Therapy:

Love’s Hidden Symmetry by Bert Hellinger – This is considered a foundational text on Family Constellations.

It Didn’t Start with You by Mark Wolynn – Explores inherited family trauma and its impact.

Family Constellations: A Practical Guide by Joy Manne – Offers practical exercises and case studies.

Remember, while these resources can provide valuable information, Constellation Therapy is a complex practice that ideally should be done under the watchful eye of a trained and experienced practitioner.

Related Therapies

Art Therapy (MOD016): Utilises creative processes and artwork to explore emotions, improve self-expression, and address psychological issues within a therapeutic context.

Somatic Experiencing (MOD152): Focuses on the body’s response to trauma and stress, aiming to release physical tension and promote healing through awareness of bodily sensations and movements.

Energy Healing (MOD054): A range of therapies that manipulate the energy fields around the body to promote physical and emotional healing.

These therapies share common principles with Constellation Therapy in addressing relational dynamics, exploring unconscious patterns, and promoting healing within interpersonal relationships and family systems.