Family constellations: what they are and what science says

Family constellations are a therapeutic method created by Bert Hellinger and used for years with the aim of understanding the behavior that occurs within families. Through them, it is observed and analyzed how a person is molded through relationships with those closest to them.

It is a fact that the personalitythe way you see life and the way you face everyday life depend on what you learned in childhood. Many times, you don’t understand why you have certain problems or you can’t change some ideas.. According to their defenders, family constellations help understand where all this comes from and provide the tools to modify what is necessary.

What are family constellations

They are a therapeutic method or technique that aims to resolve family dynamics and conflicts. unresolved across generations. in his book family constellations (2012), Peter Bourquin provides a description of how this method is applied. Below we summarize some characteristics of the process:

Context: Interventions generally take place in weekend workshops and are carried out in groups, although they can also be done individually.Consultant’s need: The person must present a specific problem that they want to solve and that can be treated through a family constellation. Among the difficulties can be found: systemic family entanglement, lack of development of internal resources, personal trauma, among others.Selection of representatives: Once the consultant presents his problem, he chooses several participants from the group to represent the members of his family related to the problem.Location of representatives: The person places each representative in relation to the others, at the distance and in the direction that they feel most appropriate.Freak: The representatives begin to feel and express emotions and sensations that coincide with those of the real people they are representing, even if they did not know them before. It is worth mentioning that this phenomenon has no scientific explanation..Constellator intervention: Based on the physical and emotional manifestations of the representatives, the therapist acts to reconfigure family dynamics. He adds “healing words” or meaningful gestures to the scene. Thus, a renewed perspective is created that seeks solution options and full acceptance of destiny.

In summary, Family constellations focus on observing and resolving unresolved family dynamics.. The method is based on the idea that representatives, by attuning to the people represented, can offer powerful tools for change and healing.

central postulate

In an article for the International Journal of Psychology and Psychological Therapy, Yolanda Alfonso, in addition to describing the psychotherapeutic technique of family constellations, briefly explains the central idea of ​​this method.

He maintains that this technique is based on the premise that Certain traumatic events leave a lasting mark on all members of a family where they happen. The unresolved tensions that follow these events are perpetuated in future generations. This transmission is an unconscious inheritance of commitments acquired by ancestors, which is consolidated in the family cultural heritage over time.

When a later member assumes this commitment without being aware, there is talk of an “entanglement”. Thus, the individual suffers the repercussions of disagreements that arose from situations that he himself did not experience. Another type of “entanglement” occurs when someone unknowingly identifies with a deceased relative, usually an ancestor who experienced particular circumstances, such as being abandoned, dying young, or committing a crime.

Through this identification, says Yolanda Alonso, The present family member, in a certain way, reincorporates the predecessor who was absent or marginalized into the system. For this reason, the session facilitator focuses on previous traumatic events and highlights the importance of recognizing their main actors.

Important concepts

According to the method of Bert Hellinger, creator of the field, there are five central concepts to understand family constellations.

1. Drive to belong

The inherent desire to belong plays a crucial role in shaping family dynamics and bonds.. People are willing to make various efforts in order to experience that feeling of belonging.

2. Morphogenic field

It refers to a kind of energy field that operates in the family context. According to followers of this method, this energy flows between the members, thus reducing the need for direct verbal communication..

Furthermore, it manifests itself as a kind of transference of thoughts and emotions that the therapist will seek to address during group therapy sessions.

3. Excluded family members

They are those who do not share a physical presence in the family. According to the premises of family constellations, These excluded members continue to impact family relationships.which has an impact on the dynamics present within the family group.

These excluded people may correspond to ex-partners, deceased loved ones, miscarriages or any other member who no longer maintains contact with the rest of the family.

4. Hidden loyalties

The postulates of this method indicate that each individual in the world maintains certain particular loyalties towards others. Family members also harbor covert loyalties, which may be directed towards a member present or even towards someone who was excluded.

Family constellation theory maintains that these loyalties influence intrafamily dynamics and relationships, giving rise to tensions and difficulties.

5. Orders of Love

These orders exist in each individual and guide their behavior and relationships.. Once the Orders of Love are in harmony, relationships within the family are healthy and happy. There are three main orders of love as listed by Bert Hellinger:

Each member of the family has the legitimate right to be part of said nucleus and that no individual should be excluded by decision of another family member. Individuals who hold the main position in the family enjoy priority in relation to those who occupy a position secondary.This third Order of Love is addressed to each of the members of the family, assigning them the individual responsibility of preserving balance both in their own person and in the family as a whole.

At the Hellinger School they point out that “Whoever wants to find their place and purpose in life must know the basic principles of life or “Orders of Love.” The Orders of Love are universal laws of life, independent of skin color, culture and religion.. “They are the foundation for success in life at all levels.”

Contributions of family constellations

Family constellation therapy has gained a lot of strength within emotional therapy. Some of its benefits, according to the Hellinger Institute, are the following:

It allows you to understand problems from their roots. many therapies They focus on finding the solution. With family constellations you start from the base of life and its problems: the family. This It allows you to understand how negative patterns affect current relationships. It is a therapy that requires less investment of time. Most psychological therapies require several months or years to treat problematic situations. These times are greatly reduced with family constellations, since understanding the underlying problem is easier.Can solve emotional problems. ¿Depression?, toaggressiveness? Constant toxic relationships? cWith family constellations there is a scheme to begin to solve problems. This is because all emotional difficulties arise from systematic suffering.Improves family relationships. Family constellations allow us to see what is wrong with the family and improve it. Sometimes you cannot change the acquired patterns, but you can change the way you act. This therapy helps to heal wounds, forgive and deal with toxic people. There is a profound change in all those who participate in the family constellation.. Although there are other alternatives, family constellations allow us to unearth secrets and emotions that are not possible in other interventions.

Through this method people can recognize their harmful behaviors. Additionally, they gain a greater understanding about how their families influence their choices. This will allow them to improve their understanding of family interactions between the various members of the household.

Likewise, they can make a greater introspection of your education, their ancestors and their own history. Through this, they can increase the knowledge they have about themselves and their genealogy.

What science says about family constellations

This method, developed by Bert Hellinger, is considered a derivation of systemic family therapy. Today, There is a lack of scientific evidence to support the effectiveness of family constellations.

Of the 12 studies selected from a larger sample, nine demonstrated improvements after family constellation. A subsequent meta-analysis, conducted on five investigations regarding general psychopathology, found a moderate effect of the intervention.

The researchers also observed possible iatrogenic (harmful) effects and minor and moderate negative effects in a small proportion of studies. In general terms, Barna Konkolÿ Thege, Carla Petroll and other collaborators point out that:

On the other hand, it must be taken into account that The family constellation is often used in pseudotherapeutic contexts and is accompanied by terms such as neurolinguistic programming (NLP), morphic resonance or quantum mysticism. Therefore, you should be careful and go to professionals who use it only as a support method for a main therapy.

Criticisms of family constellations

Although there are many defenders of family constellations, there are also detractors who criticize their effectiveness, relevance and methodology. Let’s look at some of the accusations made against him.

1. Lack of scientific support

There is not enough scientific evidence to support the effectiveness. The…