A Guide to Group Workshops and Private Sessions
Family Constellation work, developed by Bert Hellinger, is a powerful therapeutic approach that aims to uncover and resolve hidden dynamics within families that may affect individual and collective well-being. As you look more deeply into this transformative experience, whether in a group workshop or a private session, understanding what to expect can help ease any apprehensions you may have and make the most of the experience.
Setting the Stage
In both group workshops and private sessions, the trained facilitator creates an environment of trust and safety. This is paramount, as participants will delve into sensitive family histories. The space is usually calm, inviting, and free from distractions, with the facilitator guiding the process with compassion and professionalism. Any touch will be through consent only, and the work usually moves quite slowly and methodically. When attending a group workshop, expect a number of participants, each bringing their unique backgrounds, while private sessions focus solely on your own individual family dynamics.
The Initial Exploration
At the start of a Family Constellation session, participants or individuals are encouraged to share their motivations and intentions. In a group, this may involve briefly outlining the issues they wish to address, which helps the facilitator and fellow participants understand the context. In a workshop there are often predetermined Seekers or Issue Holders who pay a premium to explore their personal unresolved material. For private sessions, the conversation is typically more in-depth, allowing for specific concerns to be articulated clearly. We always go at the pace of the seeker, and in a group other people usually represent the seeker to help share the emotional work.
The Role of Representatives
One of the most distinctive features of Family Constellation therapy is the use of representatives—people who physically embody the family members or significant figures in a participant’s life. In a group workshop, the participant selects others to represent family members or even abstract concepts like love or conflict. People who start off as strangers, soon become beloved family: aunts, grandparents, siblings or children.
This is not acting or drama, but noticing your everyday body sensations: warmth, direction you a looking and whether something feels better or worse, and reporting these to the Facilitator when requested. During a private session, the facilitator may ask the participant to engage with specific figures using props, PlayMobile figures or floor markers to represent people and elements.
Expect to witness or engage in profound shifts as these representatives navigate the space, often showcasing unspoken family dynamics. Movements, emotions, and interactions can reveal deep-seated patterns, allowing participants to gain insight into their familial connections and how these may unconsciously influence their current lives.
The Unfolding of Insights
As the representatives assume their designated roles, emotions often emerge, creating a dynamic tableau that reflects familial relationships. Participants may observe their representatives embodying family members with surprising authenticity, leading to revelations about loyalties, hidden traumas, and systemic issues. In a group setting, witnessing these interactions can be profoundly cathartic, as attendees resonate with certain themes that unfold.
One to one sessions allow for a more private exploration of feelings, and the facilitator will often encourage the participant to engage in simple dialogue with their representatives, fostering a more intimate understanding of their family dynamics. This interaction can provide space for healing, expression, and reconciliation.
Emotional Release and Healing
A Family Constellation session can be emotionally intense, regardless of whether it’s a group or individual setting. As hidden dynamics emerge, participants may experience feelings of relief, sorrow, grief or even anger—emotions that are often buried beneath the surface. This emotional release is a vital part of the healing process as it allows participants to confront and process feelings they may have kept hidden.
Facilitators are trained to manage these emotional landscapes, providing support and guidance to help participants navigate their experiences. In a group context, the shared empathetic presence of others can make the process feel less isolating, while private sessions allow for focused attention on personal healing for those of you who feel shy and perhaps more introverted.
Integration and Reflection
After the constellation work is completed, participants are encouraged to sit-with their experiences. In group workshops, this may involve silence or sharing insights and discussing personal takeaways, establishing a sense of community. Private sessions include a debrief where clients can explore what they learned, how they felt during the session, and how they can integrate the insights into their daily lives.
This processing time is crucial for turning insights into actionable steps toward healing and transformation. Participants may leave feeling a renewed sense of clarity regarding their familial relationships, freeing them to live more authentically and harmoniously.
It is recommended not to talk or analyse what happens with other participants or people who weren’t there as this may disrupt the new movement which has started and is unfolding and emerging.
Conclusion
Whether attending a group workshop or engaging in a private session, Family Constellation work promises a journey of self-discovery and healing. Embrace the process with an open heart, for it holds the potential to unveil layers of understanding that can foster personal growth and family harmony for years to come.
