Family constellation as a treatment for overcoming the consequences of violence on victims
Authors: Hrncic Jasna 
Published: January 2018

The subject of this paper is the implementation of family constellations by
Bert Hellinger in work with clients with special emphasis on victims of
physical and sexual violence. Although extremely popular in Europe and the
world it has not been presented in Serbian scientific literature. As the
approach has been developed in Germany as an answer to the situation where a
significant part of population was a victim or perpetrator of violence during
the Second World War causing suffering not only to them, but also to their
offsprings, it offers a special contribution to the work with victims of
violence. The aims of the paper are the presentation and analysis of the
implementation of family constellations by Bert Hellinger and their effects
generally in work with clients as well as with victims of physical and sexual
violence. The technique of family constellations based on systemic and
phenomenological approach is presented and discussed. Work is in the group,
where participants form the circle and person who seeks problem resolution
invites representatives - persons who are crucial for problem solution
previously agreed with constellation facilitator - constellator. The
constellator communicate with the representatives, encouraging them to
express feelings, sensations and movement that will facilitate progress
towards finding the optimal solution. The basic theoretical concepts are also
analysed, including two types of conscience (individual and family), three
basic principles of orders of love (principle of equal right to belong,
principle of balance between giving and taking and principle of order) and
three levels of the soul (individual, family and great soul). The approach to
overcoming consequences of violence on victims of physical violence and
incest through symbolic interconnecting with the perpetrator is analysed.
When it is applied to violence the victim has an opportunity to get a more
comprehensive understanding and to experience an alternative solution that
could generate impulse for overcoming the violence. A frequent solution is
that the perpetrator takes responsibility and expresses guilt for the deed
and suffers together with the victim. That enables the victim to accept and
overcome the effects of the violence. This solution is also useful in
overcoming consequences of incest because it enables the victim to accept the
perpetrator as a member of family. The victim could also have an insight into
the role of other family members and significant others, accept it and find a
better place in the family for himself/herself. This approach causes
different reaction with public with its focus on reparation instead on
retribution even in such a difficult issue as incest. Qualitative and
quantitative evaluations have documented the positive effects of family
constellations on problem solving and social relations of both active and
observing participants. Further systematic researches of constellations?
effects on victims of violence and comparative studies with other therapeutic
approaches are needed.