I can now call myself a certified organisation constellations facilitator. From September 2012 to April 2013, I followed the “Organisation Constellations” course at the Bert Hellinger Institute in Groningen. “Systemic work” provides  fascinating methodology to investigate how one can contribute towards the healthy functioning of an organisation. The methodology of family constellations, from which it


I can now call myself a certified organisation constellations facilitator.

From September 2012 to April 2013, I followed the "Organisation Constellations" course at the Bert Hellinger Institute in Groningen. "Systemic work" provides  fascinating methodology to investigate how one can contribute towards the healthy functioning of an organisation.


The methodology of family constellations, from which it has evolved, is better known. This was developed in Germany by Bert Hellinger, and documented by Gunthard Weber. Organisation constellations came afterwards. Jan Jacob Stam introduced systemic work to the Netherlands around 1998 and named his institute after its founding father, with whom he is still contact.


The systemic approach sits very well with the concept of living networks with which I work. We can feel so much more of what happens between people than  what we have words and thoughts for. And this is not illogical. In evolutionary terms, we humans have lived in social groups for far longer than the period during which we have developed abstract language and rational thought. The attuning mechanisms needed to keep communities healthy are surely older than language too.


We can only articulate with words that which we have words for.


The core of my work is attempting to bridge this gap between intuitive knowledge and what can be framed rationally. Through my workshops and training courses, I try to offer people experience of how interaction patterns work and what different positions mean (or need?) by getting them to physically stand them in the relevant models (such as the Circle of Coherence or Triangle of Co-Creation) which will be mapped out on the floor.


The methodology of organisation constellations is based on very similar principles, but offers a much wider repertoire of possibilities and tools to investigate specific cases. A constellation starts when someone brings in an issue or dilemma. The facilitator investigates with them whether this issue lends itself to a constellation and if so, which people or elements are most relevant to it. Individuals are positioned in the space, representing these people or elements.


Then something fascinating happens: those standing in these positions experience what is at stake there. This offers an entry point into the examination of where the system has become blocked, and what is necessary to make it run again, to get the energy flowing. The insights gained will arrive with more depth than if the issue had just been tackled with words.


I have seen so often how accurately this method works, for others too, that I have no doubt about its effectiveness. Yet it is remarkable that the leading practitioners in systemic work themselves say: "We see it works and we know how to work with it, but we do not understand how it works."


What happens in the space around the one who presents the issue that the representatives around them feel so acutely how that which they stand for relates to the issue and to the others? So much more is happening between us than we can understand.