Courses & Training:

Family (Systemic) Constellations: Training for Professionals

Family /Systemic Constellation is a phenomenological process that allows us to reconnect with our ancestors. Through difficult circumstances such as war or cultural atrocities, the connection to our lineage is often interrupted. To regain familial strength and support, Family Constellations provide a strong restorative process, healing the interrupted reaching out movements within family systems and nations. The process works with symptoms such as illness, addictions and strong emotions.

Practitioners are drawn to this work as it provides a strengthening healing capacity on a deep soul level that works from deep respect and humility to acknowledge what is trying to be seen and resolved in families and other systems. It is currently used as a reconciliation process throughout the world with individuals, schools, communities, and organizations.

WHO IS THE TRAINING FOR?
This course is designed for people who are already working within the therapeutic field, eg. psychotherapists, counsellors, teachers, social workers…

The course provides the participant with both, hands on experience as well as a theoretical background of systemic constellation work. It will give participants fundamental skills of systemic constellation which will enable them to include these into their field work.

Pre-requisite skills and knowledge

Phenomenological approach and insights
Bracketing- working on a meta level with self and client
Primary and secondary emotions/ feelings

Knowledge of the Family Constellation Process

Bonding balance and order in systems
Orders of love
Balance of giving and receiving
Need to belong

Entanglement

Parent identification
Triangulation
Hidden loyalties
Identifications (first love, perpetrator etc.)

Field Theory

Philosophic background

Existential Theory

Here and now
Phenomenological approach

How Systems are impacted

Illness
Suicide
Loss
Abortion
Accidents
Trauma
Migration
Adoption
Cultural differences
Impact of war

Principles of Gestalt approach

Here and now
Awareness
Contact
Dialogue

Personal Skills Development

Emotional intelligence
Awareness of own emotional, mental, physical process
Awareness of own shut down fences
Awareness of own family system
Mindfulness- process of awareness
Commitment to openness and vulnerability
Therapeutic posture- ethics; physical, mental, spiritual and emotional stance as a therapist- your gift and essence as a therapist

Developing Practical Skills

Group Process
- Sitting with the group- introducing the family constellation process
- Authenticity, support, respect
- Phenomenology of the beginning- who starts?
- Structure?
Contact with the Client
- Pre- interview?
- Genogram
- Discussion with the client- what is in the foreground, what is figural?
- Therapeutic awareness, connecting with the knowing field
Preparation of the Constellation
- Introduction of representatives
- De-roling representatives
- Exchanging representatives
Moving with the process
- Trusting in the knowing field
- Setting up the constellation
- Movement of the family soul
- Awareness and openness to receive information about the impact which this particular system presents
- Introducing new representatives (feeling, countries etc.)
- Sentences, rituals healing, creativity, imagination
- Recognising and supporting the healing movements - so love can enter the field
- Magnifying the tension; sharpening of the situation, identification of the suffering
- Distinguishing between behaviour and soul
- Working with figurines, paper, props and creative visualization in individual sessions
Finding a point of conclusion
- Having the courage to end when there is not a 100% solution
- Generational lines of support
- Ending rituals and sentences

TESTIMONIES
“This course has deeply enriched my understanding of the profound impact ancestral ties has had, and continues to have, on my life and the lives of my clients. This understanding, combined with the training in facilitating constellations, has given greater depth and meaning to my work with groups and clients. Margarete is a warm, wise and highly skilled teacher who I feel privileged to know. I continue to be inspired by her ability to combine her humanity and professionalism with such grace. Thank you.” Tracy Santos

"Margarete teaches family constellations with wisdom and heart. With Margarete's guidance and support, the group became a safe and deeply nurturing experience. I walked away with knowledge for myself and to share with others" Joanne Byrnes

Working for over 30 years as a psychologist, and for a number of years being in therapy myself, I became very much aware that one on one sessions were inadequate to release the clients (and myself) from the painful family entanglements. I was looking for a new way to deal with the family legacy. Family Constellation opened up a possibility to pursue a fresh path towards personal freedom. I was very fortunate to have an opportunity to attend the seminar based on Bert Hellinger’s work with the most wonderful, experienced and skilful facilitator Margarete Koenning who with her inner beauty, sensitivity, sincerity and compassion as well as firmness enabled me to escape the shackles of an ancestral load I have carried for seventy years. This was not only the legacy of my parents and the parents of my parents and those down the line but of my country of origin-Russia with all its suffering and pain. I hope that the two simple words of ‘thank you’ to my teacher can adequately express my gratitude for my freedom at long last and for making big changes in my life. Natalie Matyuk, Psychologist, BSc. M.A. NSW

I participated in Family Constellation work for the first time some seven years ago where I witnessed and personally experienced this simple yet profound healing modality.

Approximately 3 years ago I began working with Margarete as her client where I became aware of and then participated in her Family Constellation work with some very positive results in my own healing and personal growth.

Being an active member of, as well as working within the local Indigenous Community for many years I had a professional interest in checking out more thoroughly the possibility of sharing this work within our Indigenous Community so when the opportunity to participate in the Family Constellation Training with Margarete presented itself I was very keen.
Aunty Jenny Thompson [a local Aboriginal Elder] also participated in this training with a desire to explore the appropriateness of this work for our community.
The training gave us enthusiasm and excitement at the new possibilities of healing and growth that this work could offer our community!!!! I am confident to do some of this work with other fledgling facilitators and would also like further supervision with Margarete as I develop my skills in this field.

Margarete Koenning is in my perception a highly skilled facilitator of this work and it was an absolute privilege to be her student as she graciously shared her wisdom and experience with sensitivity and depth.
Terri-Anne Goodreid

MODULE OVERVIEW
Each module consists of 3 days training this is broken into:

Day 1 - Preparing the field

Introduction to the knowledge, philosophy and background information necessary to the process. Preparation for constellation day. Experience theory, discussion, experiential learning, and group process.

Day 2 - Experiencing the constellation process

Working with the constellation process under supervision and support. Work with a colleague using an open communication process to facilitate a family constellation with guest clients. Experience group process, live supervision, collaborative facilitation and guest clients.

Day 3 - Reflecting on the process

Debrief the facilitation experience through constructive feedback, discussion and questioning. Experience group process, reflection, working with ‘what is’ and what came up in the workshop.

PROGRAM

The training program has been run by Margarete Koenning since 2008 and is now a joint venture with The Awakening Group

MALENY Sunshine Coast, Queensland

12 days Module
#1 - 26th-28th March Module
#2 - 25th-27th June Module
#3 3 – 20th - 22nd August
#4 1st-3rd October

Cost: $1980 GST incl ($1760 GST incl. for Certificate and Diploma in Holistic Counselling Graduate students)

TRAINERS:
Margarete Koenning (QLD)

GUEST TRAINERS:
Maria Dolenc (NSW)

Brenda Sutherland (QLD/ VIC)

INDIVIDUAL SESSIONS

Brenda Sutherland (QLD) Judith Richardson (VIC) Catherine Ingram (VIC) Margarete Koenning (QLD)

ACCREDITATION
Accredited as Professional Development with the Australian Counselling Association (ACA) credits available

Accredited as modality with the Australian Holistic Healers and Counsellors Association (AHHCA) www.ahha.org.au

RECOMMENDED TEXTS

The Art and Practice of Family Constellation: Leading Family Constellations as Developed By Bert Hellinger By Bertold Ulsamer

The Healing of Individuals Families & Nations By John Payne.

Loves Own Truths: Bonding and Balancing in Close Relationships By Bert Hellinger.

Texts are approximately $100 and can be purchased on the first day of training.

MORE INFO ABOUT SYSTEMIC CONSTELLATIONS

ENQUIRIES