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Family Constellation

Family Constellation Therapy: A Complete Guide to Systemic Healing

Last updated: October 2025

Family constellations, also known as systemic constellations or family systems therapy, is a therapeutic approach developed by German psychotherapist Bert Hellinger in the 1980s. It is based on the idea that our families have a profound impact on our lives and that unresolved issues within our family system can create difficulties and conflicts in our present lives.

The principles and methodology behind family constellations are based on a systemic view, which views individuals as part of larger interconnected systems, such as families or social groups. This perspective emphasises the influence of the family system on individual well-being and recognises that issues experienced by one family member can affect an entirely bigger system, such as relationships outside the home environment, and the society. It also involves unconscious dynamics and hidden loyalties within a family system.

It is believed that unresolved traumas, conflicts, or unresolved issues from previous generations can continue to impact later generations.

These unconscious influences can manifest as repetitive patterns, emotional entanglements, or unresolved grief. Due to its central idea of observing patterns or systems and its interrelation and different functions, it inspired another term, ‘systemic constellations,’ which is also used in the field.

Family constellations are also guided by the principle of "Orders of Love," as proposed by Bert Hellinger. These orders suggest that certain fundamental principles govern healthy family systems, including the principles of belonging, hierarchy, and balance. When these principles are disrupted or violated, it can lead to emotional and relational difficulties.

The Origins and Evolution of Family Constellation Therapy

Bert Hellinger developed Family Constellation therapy through his diverse experiences as a former priest, group therapist, and his observations of indigenous African healing rituals during his missionary work. In the late 1970s and early 1980s, he began formulating what would become known as the "Orders of Love" - fundamental principles that govern healthy family systems.

Hellinger discovered that families operate according to specific systemic laws involving belonging, hierarchy, and balance. When these natural orders are disrupted through trauma, exclusion, or unacknowledged events, the effects can ripple through generations, creating what he termed "entanglements" in family members' lives.

The method gained momentum through collaborations with colleagues like Gunthard Weber, who helped refine the use of representatives in constellation work, and Albrecht Mahr, who expanded applications beyond family systems to include health, work, and organisational dynamics. German psychologist Franz Ruppert later integrated trauma theory, developing Identity-oriented Psychotrauma Theory and Therapy (IoPT) that focuses on early trauma's impact on identity formation.

Today, systemic constellation work has evolved into various forms and is practised worldwide, incorporating insights from neuroscience, trauma therapy, and other therapeutic modalities whilst maintaining its core systemic principles.

How Family Constellation Therapy Works

Family Constellation therapy operates on both practical and energetic levels. From a systemic perspective, the approach recognises that families function as interconnected systems where each member's experiences affect the whole. When someone is excluded, traumatised, or when significant events go unacknowledged, the family system develops compensating patterns that can persist for generations.

The therapeutic process uses what's called the "knowing field": a concept suggesting that when representatives stand in for family members, they can access information about the family system's dynamics without prior knowledge. This phenomenon, whilst not fully explained by conventional science, is consistently reported by practitioners and participants worldwide.

During a constellation, representatives often experience physical sensations, emotions, or impulses that mirror the experiences of the family members they represent. This provides valuable insights into hidden dynamics, unspoken loyalties, and unresolved traumas within the family system.

The healing occurs through acknowledgment, proper positioning within the family hierarchy, and allowing what Hellinger called "systemic movements": natural shifts that restore balance and flow within the family system. These movements often involve recognising excluded members, honouring those who came before, and clarifying relationships and loyalties.

What to Expect in a Family Constellation Session

A typical Family Constellation session creates a safe, confidential space where deep family patterns can be explored and potentially healed. Here's what usually happens:

Initial Consultation: The facilitator conducts an intake session to understand your family history, current challenges, and specific concerns you'd like to address. This conversation helps establish clear intentions for the constellation work.

Setting Up the Constellation: You'll choose representatives for family members or elements of your situation. These might be other workshop participants, cushions, or objects. You'll position these representatives in the room according to your inner sense of the family relationships and dynamics.

Observation and Exploration: Once positioned, you'll observe the constellation from outside, noticing what emerges. The facilitator may ask about your observations or guide you in exploring different aspects of what's unfolding.

Systemic Movements: The facilitator introduces subtle movements based on systemic principles. Representatives might be repositioned, or new elements added to reveal hidden dynamics or create healing shifts in the system.

Integration: Throughout the session, insights emerge about family patterns, unresolved issues, or necessary acknowledgments. The facilitator helps you understand these discoveries and their potential impact on your current life.

Closing: Sessions end with acknowledgment of all participants and time for reflection. The facilitator may suggest integration practices or follow-up work to support the healing process.

Sessions can last from two to six hours and may be conducted individually or in group settings. The intensity and duration depend on the complexity of the issues being addressed and the facilitator's approach.

Benefits and Applications of Family Constellation Work

Family Constellation therapy addresses a remarkably wide range of concerns by working at the systemic level where many personal challenges originate. People often find this approach helpful when traditional therapy hasn't fully resolved persistent patterns or when they sense their difficulties might have deeper family roots.

Relationship Healing: The work frequently illuminates why certain relationship patterns repeat, helping people understand their unconscious loyalties and entanglements. Many discover how family dynamics influence their choice of partners, communication styles, or relationship conflicts.
Generational Trauma Resolution: Family constellations provide a powerful way to address inherited trauma effects. Whether it's war trauma, migration experiences, or family tragedies, the work helps acknowledge and heal wounds that have affected multiple generations.
Personal Identity and Life Direction: By clarifying your proper place within the family system, constellation work often brings greater self-understanding and life direction. People frequently report feeling more grounded in their identity and clearer about their life path.
Health and Wellbeing: Many practitioners report improvements in physical and emotional health following constellation work. While not a medical treatment, the approach can address the systemic and emotional components of health challenges.
Parenting and Family Dynamics: Parents often use Family Constellation therapy to understand their children's behaviour or resolve current family conflicts. The work can reveal how past family patterns influence present parenting challenges.
Professional and Life Transitions: Organisational constellations apply similar principles to work situations, helping with career decisions, business relationships, or understanding workplace dynamics.

Are there various types of constellations?

Different types of constellations have specific focuses, and there can also be overlap and interconnectedness between them. The appropriate type of constellation depends on the specific concerns, goals, and context of the individuals or systems involved. Trained facilitators can guide individuals in selecting the appropriate type of constellation for their needs.

Family Constellations: Family constellations focus on exploring and understanding the dynamics within a family system. This type of constellation is suitable when individuals are seeking insights into family relationships, unresolved issues, repetitive patterns, or conflicts within their family. It can be helpful for addressing issues such as communication problems, intergenerational trauma, family secrets, or difficulties in forming healthy relationships.
Organisational Constellations: Organisational constellations extend the principles of family constellations to the context of organisations, businesses, or professional systems. These constellations explore the underlying dynamics, power structures, and relationships within the organisation. They can be used to address issues such as leadership challenges, team conflicts, organisational restructuring, decision-making processes, or systemic obstacles that hinder the organisation's success.
Trauma Constellations: Trauma constellations, also known as systemic trauma constellations, focus specifically on exploring and resolving the impact of trauma within an individual or family system. These constellations are suitable when individuals have experienced significant traumas, such as abuse, loss, or accidents, and are seeking healing and resolution. They can help uncover the hidden dynamics and entanglements that trauma creates within the family system and support the integration of fragmented parts of the self.
Health Constellations: Health constellations explore the connection between physical and emotional health within an individual or family system. These constellations can be used when individuals are dealing with chronic illness, psychosomatic symptoms, or other health challenges. They aim to uncover the systemic influences on health and well-being, such as unresolved family traumas or entanglements, and facilitate healing and resolution.
Social and Collective Constellations: Social or collective constellations address broader social issues, such as cultural conflicts, societal divisions, or historical events. These constellations explore the systemic influences and dynamics at play in larger social systems. They can be used to gain insights into collective traumas, intergroup conflicts, or systemic inequalities, and to work towards healing, reconciliation, and social change.

What are the common issues addressed by Family Constellation?

Family constellations can be used to address a wide range of issues and challenges. Here are some common concerns that people seek to address through family constellations:

Relationship Problems: Family constellations can help individuals gain insights into relationship difficulties within their families, romantic partnerships, or other significant relationships. It can shed light on underlying dynamics, entanglements, unresolved conflicts, and communication problems that contribute to relationship challenges.
Family Dynamics and Patterns: Family constellations provide a way to explore and understand the dynamics and patterns within a family system. It can help individuals uncover repetitive patterns, roles, and behaviours that have been passed down through generations. This understanding allows for a deeper exploration of family dynamics and the potential for breaking free from harmful or limiting patterns.
Health Issues: Family constellations can be used to explore the connections between physical and emotional health. It can help individuals understand how unresolved family dynamics, traumas, or entanglements may manifest as physical or psychosomatic symptoms. By addressing and resolving these underlying issues, individuals may experience improvements in their overall well-being.
Unresolved Traumas: Family constellations offer a space to address unresolved traumas within the family system. It can help individuals acknowledge and heal the impact of past traumas, such as abuse, neglect, loss, or other traumatic experiences. Through the constellation process, individuals may gain insights, find resolution, and experience healing from these traumas.
Grief and Loss: Family constellations can support individuals in processing and finding resolution in cases of unresolved grief and loss. It provides an opportunity to acknowledge and honour the fate of deceased family members, express unspoken emotions, and seek closure. This can facilitate the healing process and support individuals in finding peace and acceptance.
Personal Growth and Self-Exploration: Family constellations can be used as a tool for personal growth and self-exploration. It offers individuals a deeper understanding of themselves, their core beliefs, and their behavioural patterns. By gaining insights into their family system, individuals can develop a clearer sense of self, make conscious choices aligned with their authentic selves, and foster personal development.

How to prepare for a Family Constellation session?

Clients can expect a family constellation session to be an experiential and potentially emotionally intense process. In order to maximise the experience of constellation work, the client must prepare to be presented with a confidential environment with boundaries and guidelines, in order to ensure a respectful and comfortable space for the session. The constellation work may involve the following process:

Exploration of Personal Issues: During the session, clients will have the opportunity to explore and gain insights into their personal issues or challenges. This may involve discussing family dynamics, unresolved traumas, relationship patterns, or other concerns that they wish to address.
Active Participation: Clients will be actively involved in the constellation process. They may be asked to choose representatives for family members or elements of their system and place them in the room. They will observe and engage with the unfolding constellation, expressing feelings, thoughts, or perceptions as guided by the facilitator.
Emotional Intensity: Family constellations can evoke strong emotions as participants connect with their family system and explore unresolved issues. Clients should be prepared for the possibility of experiencing intense feelings such as sadness, anger, grief, or joy. It is important to approach these emotions with self-compassion and a willingness to explore and process them.

The session can get emotionally heavy, so it will be helpful for clients to prepare the following procedures below to manage the rush of emotions that they may encounter during constellation work:

Intention setting: Clarify your intentions and what you hope to gain from the session. Reflect on the specific issues or challenges you want to address. This can help focus your energy and provide a sense of direction during the constellation.
Self-Care: Engage in self-care practices before and after the session. This may involve activities that help you relax, ground yourself, or process emotions, such as meditation, journaling, exercise, or spending time in nature. Prioritise self-care to support your emotional well-being throughout the process.
Openness and Willingness: Approach the session with an open mind and a willingness to explore and discover new insights. Be receptive to the guidance of the facilitator and trust the process. Allow yourself to be vulnerable and express your feelings authentically.

What happens after the constellation?

It is normal to experience a range of emotions after a family constellation session. These emotions may include relief, sadness, joy, anger, or a sense of release. Participants may also feel emotionally drained or physically tired. Engaging in self-care practices after a family constellation session is vital to support your emotional well-being. Consider the following self-care strategies:

Rest and Relaxation: Prioritise rest and relaxation to replenish your energy. This may involve getting enough sleep, taking breaks, and engaging in activities that help you unwind and recharge.
Emotional Expression: Allow yourself to express and process your emotions. This can be done through journaling, talking with a trusted friend or therapist, or engaging in creative outlets such as art or music.
Grounding Techniques: Engage in grounding practices to reconnect with the present moment and your body. This can include mindfulness meditation, deep breathing exercises, or activities in nature.
Self-Compassion: Be gentle and compassionate with yourself as you integrate the insights and experiences from the constellation session. Practice self-compassion by acknowledging your efforts, accepting your emotions, and offering yourself kindness and understanding.

Take time to reflect on the insights gained during the constellation session. Consider how the information and experiences relate to your life and the concerns you brought to the session. Allow yourself space for introspection and integration, and be open to new perspectives and possibilities. If needed, consider seeking additional support or follow-up sessions with a therapist or facilitator experienced in family constellations. They can help you further process the insights, navigate any challenges that arise, and provide guidance for continued healing and growth. Also remember to be patient with yourself as you navigate the post-session experience. Give yourself permission to heal at your own pace and trust that the insights gained will continue to unfold and support your personal growth.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does Family Constellation therapy cost in Australia? Family Constellation sessions typically cost between $150-300 for individual sessions, whilst group workshops range from $200-500 depending on duration and facilitator experience. Prices vary significantly based on location, with urban areas generally costing more than regional areas.

How do I find a qualified Family Constellation practitioner? Look for practitioners with certified training from recognised Family Constellation institutes. Bodhi Holistic Hub connects you with verified practitioners who meet professional training standards and maintain appropriate insurance and ongoing education. When choosing a practitioner, consider their training background, experience level, and whether their approach feels right for you.

Is Family Constellation therapy scientifically proven? Family Constellation therapy is considered a complementary therapeutic approach. While extensive clinical research is limited, qualitative studies and participant reports consistently show positive outcomes. The work operates more in the realm of systemic and phenomenological inquiry rather than evidence-based medicine, though many people report significant benefits.

Can Family Constellation work help with depression and anxiety? Many people report improvements in depression and anxiety following Family Constellation work, particularly when these conditions relate to family dynamics, unresolved grief, or generational patterns. However, it's important to view constellation work as complementary to, not replacement for, appropriate mental health treatment.

Do I need to know detailed family history to benefit from constellation work? No, extensive family history isn't required. Constellation work often reveals information about family dynamics that wasn't previously known. However, basic knowledge of family structure and significant events can be helpful.

Is Family Constellation therapy suitable for everyone? Most adults can benefit from constellation work, though it may be particularly intensive for people with severe mental health conditions or recent trauma. Pregnant women and people in acute mental health crises should consult healthcare providers before participating.

How many sessions do people typically need? Many people find significant insight from a single constellation session. Others benefit from follow-up work or exploring different aspects of their family system over time. The approach tends to work in layers, with each session potentially revealing new dimensions of understanding.

What's the difference between individual and group constellation work? Individual sessions offer privacy and focused attention on your specific family system, whilst group work provides the energy and insights that come from community participation. Many people find group work particularly powerful, though individual sessions can feel safer for highly sensitive material.

References and Further Reading

Professional Organisations

International Systemic Constellations Association (ISCA) - Global standards for constellation training and practice
Australian Association for Systemic Constellations - National professional body maintaining practice standards
Hellinger Institute Australia - Provides certified training and practitioner resources

Research and Scientific Foundation

Australian Psychological Society - Information on complementary therapeutic approaches
The Knowing Field International Constellations Journal - Academic research on systemic constellation work
Centre for Systemic Constellations Research - Evidence-based studies on constellation outcomes

Educational Resources

"Love's Hidden Symmetry" by Bert Hellinger - Foundational text on Family Constellation principles
"Systemic Solutions" by Albrecht Mahr - Expanded applications of constellation work
"The Healing Power of Illness" by Thorwald Dethlefsen - Systemic approaches to health and healing
Australian Centre for Systemic Constellations - Local training and educational programs

Related and Complimentary Modalities

Trauma-Informed Therapy - Complementary approach for processing trauma effects
Somatic Experiencing - Body-based healing that pairs well with constellation insights
Narrative Therapy - Story-based healing approach with systemic elements
Breathwork - Embodied practices that support constellation integration

This guide was written by the Bodhi Holistic Hub team according to their editorial policy.

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“In family life, love is the oil that eases friction, the cement that binds closer together, and the music that brings harmony.”

– Friedrich Nietzsche

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