How Does Family Constellations Therapy Work?

Unpacking the Benefits of a Transformative Approach

If you’ve ever felt stuck in old patterns, unable to move forward despite your best efforts, you’re not alone. Many of us grapple with emotional stress, relationship issues, and other unresolved conflicts that seem to originate from our family histories. That’s where Family Constellations, a powerful practice pioneered by Bert Hellinger and now facilitated by skilfully trained practitioners like Lucy Ascham, can come into play. While some may argue that it isn’t therapy and is not a substitute for traditional therapeutic practices, the experiences and insights gained from Family Constellations can be deeply transformative and therapeutic in their own right.

What is Family Constellations?

Family Constellations is a holistic approach designed to help you visualize and understand the dynamics of your family system. Through a guided process, individuals can explore the underlying patterns that have shaped their lives and relationships. You don’t need to have any previous experience to participate; the method is accessible and works at a deeply intuitive level.

Lucy has been facilitating workshops since 2019 and leads these sessions with sensitivity and expertise. The process typically involves a group setting, where participants represent family members—often referred to as “representatives” in this context. Through these representatives, you can gain profound insights into your family dynamics and how they affect your current life situations. (Private sessions are also possible, on-line and in-person in Sheffield and Manchester UK.)

How Does It Work?

  1. Setting the Intention: The process begins with you setting a clear intention about what you would like to explore or understand. This could be an emotional difficulty, a recurring pattern, or a family issue that feels unresolved, blocked or stuck.
  2. Choosing Representatives: You then choose other group members to represent family members or significant aspects of your life. These representatives stand in for individuals to provide clarity about their roles and relationships within your family dynamics. This is not acting or drama, but trusting your authentic bodily sensations to report what you feel on behalf of the seeker or issue holder.
  3. Creating the Constellation: As the representatives take their positions, they often begin to express feelings that resonate with the actual family members they represent. This can uncover buried emotions and enable you to see patterns and connections that aren’t usually visible in everyday life.
  4. Gaining Insights: Through dialogue and movement, you and the representatives may uncover the emotional burdens carried by family members and the influence these burdens have on you. This aspect can be empowering, as it offers a chance to shift perspectives and integrate new understandings.
  5. Resolution and Healing: The process aims not just to reveal patterns but to facilitate a form of resolution. Participants often leave feeling lighter, with newfound insights that can alter their perception of family relationships. While it isn’t Therapy per se, the emotional healing of accepting the truth of what happened, of agreeing with reality can help bring peace to your heart.

Why Choose Family Constellations?

You might wonder why you should consider Family Constellations over traditional therapy. While therapy focuses on personal development through conversation and psychological frameworks, Family Constellations allows you to map out complex family dynamics in a 3D moving model and better understand how they contribute and shape your present life. This unique perspective can generate profound insights and breakthroughs that traditional therapy methods might not reveal for years.

Lucy Ascham’s approach emphasizes creating a supportive environment where participants feel safe to explore their family histories without judgment. This type of work isn’t about diagnosing or pathologizing; instead, it’s about discovering pathways to healing and resolution through an embodied exploration.

Conclusion

Family Constellations is not a replacement for traditional therapy, nor is it claimed to be one. However, the process can be exceptionally therapeutic, offering insights and clarity that help you navigate your emotional landscape. By participating in this unique practice guided by skilled facilitators like Lucy Ascham, you can unlock the potential to transform your life and relationships, paving the way for a brighter, more fulfilling future. If you’re ready to explore the depths of your family dynamics and discover transformative insights, consider participating in a Family Constellations session today!

Written by Lucy Ascham, Body & Soul Energy Expert

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What My Clients Say

“No pain in the night, no pain when I got up, no pain when I went for a run and no pain now! It’s much more than I expected, thank you! "

Steve

"It is as though I have been gifted an entirely new lens through which to view human behaviour, and it is a lens of compassion and empathy like no other. Due to this, I have been able to come to terms with the way my family operates, which has proven to be a great relief. I would definitely recommend working with Lucy. She held such a safe space for me and my vulnerability with great compassion and authenticity."

Elena

"Using these techniques has helped me reduce the day-to-day tension I’ve developed over a lifetime of anxious habits and hypersensitivity. It’s been amazing to re-learn how my body works, and how to swap out the survival mechanisms that got me so far, for habits more in keeping with how my body is happier to work."

Alex Booer

“I’ve been doing the Alexander Technique with Lucy over the past few months and my posture has improved enormously. I have a greater awareness of how my body functions and can recognise the signs of when I’m falling into bad habits."

Paul Tolton, Actor

"I feel present. Nice to feel here, not racing ahead. I have a more measured, calm approach. I’m less reactive and am learning to look after myself and choose my responses.”

Rosie

"I had a traumatic accident a few years ago. After you ‘wriggled’ my head it felt weird – and really good. I could walk evenly for the first time in years!! I’m making friends with my body.”

Zoe, Singer

"I have been happily surprised and have learned a lot about how my muscles and spine behave when I let them. I rapidly realised that AT is not in the least pseudoscience, rather it teaches one to be aware of how the body is holding itself."

Julian Davis, Retired Professor of Medicine & Pianist

"I've just had two enjoyable and useful sessions with Lucy on Zoom. I had been doubtful about how it would work but I was pleased with how it went. Of course, nothing is as good as face-to-face but we are where we are and this was great and has helped me to progress as I had hoped. Thank you. Looking forward to the next ones!"

Bev

"Lucy's sessions are amazing. Her unique blend of skills helped me have good posture without effort. Before this, I had seen many physiotherapists and osteopaths, but the pain kept coming back within a few weeks. Even after my first session with Lucy, the difference was so clear that my friends commented on it. After several months, the effects are being maintained with her support."

Julia
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