I wouldn't necessarily use the word dangerous, but I would say there is a
big difference between working on ancestral trauma and personal trauma, and
you can certainly re-traumatize people with a constellation. Bertold
Ulsamer spent the better part of his Trauma and Constellation training
teaching us when NOT to do a constellation, and that for me addresses all
the feedback I've had when I say I facilitate FC and people respond "oh,
I've been completely re-traumatized by that work, I wouldn't do it again".
As facilitators, we need to be aware and on the lookout for people going
into "freeze"… Any kind of training in practices dealing with trauma is
really good to have when doing constellation IMO.
As for "dangerous" representatives, it's more about what I personally feel
able to contain. Representatives serve the Field even when they are being
difficult to work with, I just can't always be neutral enough and wide
enough to contain the system of the client. There is of course the basics
of checking with people for mental illness/physical ailments/trauma states
prior to the workshop and making sure everyone is feeling up to the work
before each constellation. As Francesca Mason Boring says, a group can only
go as far and as fast as its most fragile member.
Thank you for this question, looking forward to reading everyone's input!
Xoxo
Laure
On Mar 15, 2018 21:33, "Leslie Nipps lnipps@xxxxxxxxx [ConstellationTalk]" <
ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Constellations work is inherently de-stabilizing. This is not a bad thing.
It just means that the way we’ve structured ourselves to keep ourselves
safe in the past is altered. All of us can report what it’s like to feel
shook up (even in a good way) after a constellation experience. Therefore,
anyone who is really have a hard time maintaining a sense of stability in
their sense of “I” probably isn’t a good candidate for general
constellations (or others kinds of de-stabilizing alternative healing
work). I imagine ritual constellations and that sort of thing would
probably be okay.
Of course, it’s all case to case, but for me, if someone gives me a sense
that they are already fairly de-stabilized (especially anything that feels
like rampant anxiety) I advise they hold off until they’ve gotten a bit
more stable. I am kind, direct and clear with them, and they usually
appreciate the caution.
There could be other situations not to do constellations, but that one is a
big red flag for me, especially as many people who are trained don’t
necessarily have a clinical background, have a sense of wanting to help
everyone, and may not know to be on the lookout for this sort of thing…
Peace!
The Rev. Leslie Nipps
Convivium Constellations - Founder, Practitioner & Trainer
www.conviviumconstellations.com
Ask me about the West Coast Constellations Intensive, May 30-June 3, 2018,
www.westcoastconstellations.com
"Hasten to that which supports." - The I Ching
On Mar 15, 2018, at 12:53 PM, Linda Conyard linda.conyard@xxxxxxxxxxx
[ConstellationTalk] <ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Hi Margie
I can share what I did when a women in a group identified with
schizophrenia. I asked her what does it look like when she has an episode?
I asked what she usually does for herself when she has an episode? And I
asked what she wanted me to do if she had an episode.
She was very clear with all her answers and she did a beautiful piece of
work which changed her whole appearance.
I also noticed that after each piece of work she would go outside, so she
was self regulating all day. She would come back in and check in with me
after each piece of work. She had an awesome day.
I personally don't have forms that people fill out so I never know exactly
what is in the group.
I would ask this lady what makes her ask these questions and get some more
information from her.
Hope this is helpful.
Linda
Trauma & Transgenerational Therapist and
Inner Work Business Mentor for Women
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On 16 Mar 2018, at 5:29 am, Margie McCallum margie_mccallum@xxxxxxxxxxx
[ConstellationTalk] <ConstellationTalk@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
Dear fellow facilitators et al.
First, thank you! I am new to the group and very glad to be part of it.
I have a group of keen people learning over the next nine months to
facilitate the family constellations work. I have been asked two questions
that I cannot answer: 1. For whom might this work be a dangerous trigger?
2. What kind of person
might be dangerous to have as a representative?
The woman who asked was particularly wondering about someone with
schizophrenia, but her question is also wider that this.
Many thanks,
Margie
