We interviewed Mary Rentschler, MEd and MNRI® specialist about family constellations. You can listen to the replay below. Please note that you will be asked to enter your email address at the 30-minute mark to finish viewing the video.
What Are Family Constellations?
German psychotherapist Bert Hellinger’s family constellations begin with the idea that instead of originating in an individual‘s biographical history from birth to the present, dysfunction and suffering often relate to painful events in the family‘s past. One may become “entangled” in the difficult fate of an ancestor and unconsciously draw unhappiness, failure, addiction or illness into one‘s own life.
The purpose of family constellations is to reveal the hidden dynamic of such a situation and point the way toward resolution. Family constellations address the fourth (intuitive) level of Dietrich Klinghardt’s five-level model of health.
In This Webinar
In this webinar, Mary Rentschler discusses family constellations therapy, which uses representatives to explore and address unresolved family dynamics and traumas. The therapy helps participants release emotions like fear, grief, and anger, offering new perspectives on familial relationships and systemic issues. This process is particularly beneficial for individuals with complex emotional histories, including those affected by immigration, traumatic childhoods, and generational trauma.
Key Discussions
The Process of Family Constellations
This therapy involves a facilitator and participants representing family members to explore and resolve systemic family issues. The facilitator asks specific questions to uncover significant events that may have led to extreme loss or unresolved trauma, aiming to promote greater understanding and stress release within the family system.
Impact of Unresolved Trauma
Unresolved trauma within a family, such as experiences of war, immigration, or personal losses, can significantly affect familial relationships and individuals’ emotional well-being. Engaging in family constellation work helps address these traumas, leading to emotional release and healing.
Ancestral Reverence and Cultural Acceptance
Cultures that have a deep reverence for ancestors, such as Asian, Native American, South American, and African cultures, may be more receptive to family constellations work. Understanding and honoring one’s lineage can provide deeper insights into current family dynamics and behavior patterns.
Emotional Expression and Healing
The representation in family constellations allows individuals to express and release unexpressed emotions such as grief, shame, anger, and fear. This process helps participants gain compassion and understanding for themselves and others, leading to emotional healing and improved relationships.
Applications in Special Needs and Sensitive Individuals
Family constellations offer a unique therapeutic avenue for families with sensitive individuals and special needs children, particularly when other interventions have failed. By addressing parental anxieties and systemic issues, constellations work at all levels of a family’s energy—physical, emotional, and spiritual—to support child and family healing.
Timestamped Overview
00:00 Life-changing workshop leaves participant awestruck and transformed.
09:31 Scientific view versus interconnected perspective of humanity.
13:31 Group explores personal issues using family constellations.
20:10 Group work focused on healing through sharing.
25:54 Promoting MNRI® therapy to open-minded parents.
31:17 Family constellation requires open facilitator without agenda.
33:12 Choose representatives for family in therapy exercise.
38:25 Man finds resolution in confronting father issues.
44:15 Positive actions have generational ripple effects.
52:52 Paternity questioned, delicate situation requiring investigation.
58:15 Immigrant issues and unresolved grief in immigration.
01:03:22 Surprising family discoveries through historical research.
01:06:15 Representational perception, an amazing phenomenon in constellations.
01:11:07 Understanding family constellations; three key resources.
Disclaimer
This webinar is not a substitute for medical advice, treatment, diagnosis, or consultation with a medical professional. It is intended for general informational purposes only and should not be relied on to make determinations related to treatment of a medical condition. Documenting Hope has not verified and does not guaranty the accuracy of the information provided in this webinar.
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About Mary Rentschler MEd
Mary completed training with the Hellinger Institute USA in 2002 and founded The Constellations Group with Carol Heil, Betsy Hostetler and Diane Hetherington in 2005. She has studied with Dietrich Klinghardt MD PhD and Heinz Stark (advanced training).
