Description:

In this module we will become familiar with all the basic concepts of Bert Hellinger’s work.

We’ll look at the life and work of Bert Hellinger and the history of Systemic Family Constellations.

To be able to find the correct place and position of Systemic Constellation work in the big and complex family of psychotherapies and coaching techniques, we’ll learn about some other major schools of psychotherapy.

We will also learn to understand what is meant by the phenomenological approach.

We will explore in detail the most important concepts and principles of Hellinger’s ‘systemic laws’: place, belonging, order, balance of give-and-take, family conscience vs. personal conscience, systemic entanglements, the concept of heavy fate, the phenomenon of the knowing field, representative perception, etc.

As one of the its most important foundations, we’ll examine the ethics of constellation work.

Finally, we will take an introductory glance into some modern approaches – just to see what can be considered today as classic vs. modern.

And we’ll take a glance into the scientific foundations of this work, too.

Course Breakdown:

• Bert Hellinger & the History of Systemic Family Constellations
• Systemic Constellations in Relation to Other Schools of Psychotherapy
• The Phenomenological Approach
• Modern Approaches
• Scientific Research
• Fundamental Concept & Principles – Hellinger’s “Systemic Laws”
  
  • Law of Place – Belonging – The community of Fate
  • Law of Order – Hierarchy
  • Law of Balance – Give-and-Take
  • Family Conscience vs. Personal Conscience
  • The Knowing Field
  • Heavy Fate
  • Systemic Entanglements
  • “Better me than you”
  • Representative Perception
• Ethics of a Constellation
• Modern Approaches
• Scientific Research

Description:

Course Breakdown:

• The Interview
• Defining the “System” and its “Elements”
• Representative Perception
• Meaning of Positions
• ‘Diagnostic’ Phase
• ‘Resolution’ Phase
• Verbal Statements and Rituals
• Conclusion – Sharing – Discussion
• Trouble Shooting
• Leading a Workshop – Basic Principles

Description:

Course Breakdown:

• General Systems Theory
• Basic Rules and Principles of Systemic Functioning
• Influential Schools of Psychotherapy and Family Therapy
• Basic Principles of Family Dynamics
• The Phenomenon of Transgenerational Transmission
• Transgenerational Trauma – Mainstream Psychology
• Transgenerational Trauma – Hellinger’s Concepts
• Research – Epigenetics – Neuroscience
• Leading a Workshop – Basic Principles

Description:

Course Breakdown:

• Basic Concepts and Principles of Organizational Systems
• ‘Diagnostic’ Phase
• ‘Resolution’ Phase
• Overlap Areas of Personal and Organizational Systems
• Business Coaching and Constellations
• Corporate Coaching and Constellations
• Political & Multicultural Constellations

Description:

Course Breakdown:

• Money Constellation
• Problem Constellation
• Field Constellation
• Tetralemma Constellation
• One-Image Constellation

Description:

Course Breakdown:

• Table Constellation
• Hidden Theme Constellation
• Miracle Constellation
• Goal Attainment Constellation
• Life Strategy Constellation
• Archetypal Constellations

Description:

We experience our intimate relationships as one the most important sources of our life satisfaction and happiness. Consequently, if they fail to fulfill this promise they can cause immense grief and suffering. 

In Part 1 of this Thematic Module, we will explore the life cycle of a relationship, the mirroring and complementing functions of a relationship, some important aspects of adult attachment, faithfulness and infidelity, as well as Hellinger’s systemic laws as they pertain to relationships. 

We’ll also look at various phenomena related to sexual intimacy and pregnancy (miscarriage, abortion, artificial insemination, donor-conceived pregnancies, childlessness, adoption, etc.) as well as gender issues and non-traditional family formations. 

Course Breakdown:

• Life Cycle of a Relationship
• Hellinger’s “Systemic Laws”
  
  • Belonging/Place – Previous Partners, ‘Place Makers’
  • Hierarchy/Order/Arrival
  • Balance of Give-and-Take
  • Infidelity
  • Guilt-Debt
• The Mirror Function of a Partner
  
  • complementing / reinforcing
  • substituting / projecting, disowning
  • projective identification
    
  • shared blind spots
    
• Pregnancy
  
  • Miscarriage
  • Abortion 
  • Grieving a Child
  • Childlessness
  • Twins
  • Adoption
  • Gender
  • Artificial Insemination
  • Donor-Conceived Pregnancies – Anonyme Donors
•  Mosaic Family
  
  • Children of Stepparents
  • Adoption

Description: 

Building on Part 1 of this Thematic Module, in Part 2 we will focus on how our early attachment patterns influence our adult attachments, and how we carry our earlier relationships into our later relationships as internalized parts of our personality.

We will explore how these early relationships influence us if we live in an intercultural relationship and how we can handle our conflicting loyalties to different countries, religions, ethnic and historical backgrounds, etc. within our intimate relationships.

Finally, we will look at what happens to us psychologically when our relationships are threatened by loss, infidelity, breakup, or divorce, and how to keep our lives on an even keel in these difficult times. 

Course Breakdown:

• Attachment Styles – Attachment Trauma 
• Infidelity – Bonding Trauma
• Break-Up & Divorce
• Intercultural Relationships
• ‘Internal Teams’ of Relationships

Description:

In this workshop, we will explore Hellinger’s systemic laws as they pertain to the relationship between victims and perpetrators and the balance of give-and-take, as well as the concepts of sin, guilt, debt, penitence, atonement, apology, responsibility, respect, reconciliation, etc.

We will also look at the abuse cycle, domestic violence, and transgenerational family secrets.

Course Breakdown:

• Family Secrets
• Balance of Give-and-Take
• Sin, Guilt, Debt
• Penitence – Apology – Respect – Reconciliation
• Owning One’s Responsibility
• “I did it for you”
• The Abuse Cycle

Description:

Course Breakdown:

• Jungian Concept of Archetypes
• Jungian Concepts of Ego and Self
• Archetypal Work and Constellations
• Autopoietic/Transpersonal Constellations
• “Movements of the Soul”  – “Free” Systemic Constellations

Description:

Course Breakdown:

• Subpersonalities / Inner Selves / Ego States
• Developmental Phases as Subpersonalities
• Defense Mechanisms as Subpersonalities
• Internal Representations of the External World
• Internal Representations of the Body
• Internalization – Introjection – Identification
• Projection – Splitting

Description:

Course Breakdown:

• Personal Unconscious
• Collective Unconscious – Archetypes
• Working with the “Shadow”

Description:

If there is one specific theme that Family Constellation Therapy is uniquely good at, it is definitely trauma. More precisely: how traumatic experiences are unconsciously being passed on and taken over within a family system – often from generation to generation. 

In this module, we will explore what “trauma” actually means, how it is processed and stored in our nervous system and in the biochemistry of our body, and what consequences it might have. We will look at different types of trauma and at how to approach them in therapy. 

We will also get familiar with the notion of transgenerational trauma: when we carry ‘memories’ or ‘imprints’ of trauma in our psyche that didn’t happen in our own life but originate from the lives of our parents, grandparents and other ancestors.

We’ll investigate what it might mean for us to have been raised by traumatized parents, and how it might affect our attachment patterns. We will also talk about collective traumatization.

Finally, for a scientific foundation of our investigations, we will look into what modern research (psychology, neuroscience, epigenetics, etc.) has discovered so far about the transgenerational transmission of traumatic experiences.

Course Breakdown:

• The Nature of Trauma
• Different Types of Trauma
• Living with Traumatized Parents
• Attachment Styles – Attachment Trauma
• Trauma and the Body
• Epigenetics – Neuroscience
• Research 

Description:

In this module, we will start by reviewing the most important psychodynamic principles behind the formation of psychosomatic symptoms and illnesses. Then, we’ll go on to look at the unconscious systemic dynamics that the technique of Systemic Constellations seems so apt at shedding light on.

 We will not only examine how to explore and reveal the roots and causes of certain symptoms, but also learn techniques to work with body parts and body organs, with various different treatment options, with the members of a client’s treatment team, etc.

We will also explore possible combinations of the technique of Systemic Constellations and other body-oriented psychotherapies (Somatic Experiencing, Somatodrama, etc.). 

Course Breakdown:

• Psychodynamic Principles of Psychosomatics
• The Meaning and Function of Symptoms
• Symptom Constellation
• Work with Body Parts
• Work with Treatment Teams
• Work with Treatment Options