Family Constellation is a psychotherapeutic method of healing based on holistic thinking and is inextricably linked to the name of Bert Hellinger (born 1925) who has developed and documented this work over the last 15 years.

Family Constellation work is phenomenological, which means that whatever becomes visible is seen simply for what it is without any judgment or predetermination. During Family Constellation sessions the therapist and family representatives follow an energetic power/force - a “knowing field” - that, through the participants, shows solutions to the given questions. These solutions can be accepted or declined.

How does Family Constellation work?

Bert Hellinger defined some basic ideas regarding this technique:

1.“Knowing Field” or Morphogenetic Field

Families appear to be involved in a family consciousness - the ‘knowing field’ - a subconscious link between family members, both dead and alive.

Ex: We may be connected with the fate of another family member in a way that we want to complete what they weren’t able to resolve and complete in their own lives. We are willing to sacrifice our own destiny; it is usually done unconsciously and it always fails.

2. Right of Belonging

Every member of the family, ‘good’ or ‘bad’, has the same right of belonging, even those who died young or were still-born. A family member who has been forgotten or excluded is often later represented by somebody else in family.

3. Balance

If a family gained something at the expense of a family member, there will be some inevitable loss in that family later on.

Ex: During the fascism in Germany a father acquired his business by forcing Jewish owners to sell to him for a cheap price. Later on, his son would take over the business and drive it into bankruptcy within a couple of years.

4. Priority and Order

Firstborn family members have priority over later born relatives. If younger family members ignore this order, they will fail in whatever they are trying to accomplish.

Ex: A grandson may try to atone for his grandfather who killed somebody by either behaving like the victim or through self-punishment; this must fail. Only if the grandfather’s soul can take responsibility for his guilt, will there be peace in the family system.

5. Directed Movement

The deceased within a family system may influence living members and vice versa.

Ex: If someone subconsciously identifies with a dead member of the family they may bring that person’s fate into their own lives and this can be detrimental. It can trigger negative feelings such as alienation from family, apathy, depression, sadness for no apparent reason, perhaps a constant searching for something – such dynamics may even lead to illness or death.

The benefit of Family Constellations is: Once the dynamic has been brought to consciousness, it usually stops and the symptoms go away.

It is important to recognize that the “Knowing Field” has its own identity, and we cannot– even with the best of intentions – manipulate it. If we tried, the solution would lack power as it is not in harmony with the whole.