Family Constellation Therapy

Excerpts from: The Bert Hellinger Institute of Western Pennsylvania

WHAT IS FAMILY CONSTELLATION WORK?

"Children seldom or never dare to live a happier or more fulfilling life than their parents. Unconsciously they remain loyal to unspoken family traditions that work invisibly. Family Constellations are a way of discovering underlying family bonds and forces that have been carried unconsciously over several generations."

-Bertold Ulsamer

A Family Constellation is a 60-minute group process that has the power to affect generations of suffering and unhappiness. Bert Hellinger, the founder of this work, who studied and treated families for more than 50 years, observed that many of us unconsciously "take on" destructive familial patterns of anxiety, depression, anger, guilt, aloneness, alcoholism and even illness as a way of "belonging" in our families. Bonded by a deep love, a child will often sacrifice his own best interests in a vain attempt to ease the suffering of a parent or other family member.

Constellation Work allows us to break these patterns and reestablish our vital strength, tranquility and dignity.

How it works: Members of the group are chosen to represent actual family members and are positioned within the room. Hidden loyalties are then brought to the surface. As new, healthy images of the family system emerge, genuine love and strength can begin to flow in a liberating way. The effects of this can be profound and life-altering.