THE UNIVERSITY OF PITTSBURGH
GRADUATE SCHOOL OF SOCIAL WORK

THE PHENOMENOLOGICAL FAMILY SYSTEMS THERAPY OF BERT HELLINGER

Considered one of the most innovative psychotherapists in the world today, Bert Hellinger has revolutionized the heart and soul of family systems therapy. His phenomenological approach to healing uses "family constellations" to expose the hidden and often destructive dynamics in family systems. With deep respect for what he terms, "the Orders of Love," possible solutions and healing resources can be implemented. Hellinger's approach to family therapy is practiced in more than 30 countries around the world. For further information about Hellinger and his publications, visit his Web site: www.hellinger.com/international/english/index.shtml.
Family constellation is a 60-minute group process that has the power to affect generations of suffering and unhappiness. This process allows people to untangle themselves from unconscious loyalties and offers a profound, concrete, and lasting solution. Through this significantly experiential workshop, you will be: 

• introduced to Hellinger's phenomenological approach to family systems group therapy, its principles, and theoretical understandings;
  
• able to identify the theoretical differences between Hellinger's work and other models of group and family systems therapy;
  
• able to personally experience family constellation work, either as clients, participants, or observers; and
  
• able to identify ways that Hellinger's family systems therapy can be implemented in clinical practices with groups, couples, or individuals.
  
  DATE: Next class - May 7, 2010
  TIME: 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
  PLACE: 2017C Cathedral Fee: $95 CE: 6 hours
            (LSW, Psych, NBCC, CAC)
  CONTACT: (412) 624-6902 or (412) 624-3711

Family traumas live in our bodies, in our anxieties, in our fears— even in the words we speak. The idea of an inherited “family” nervous system appears to be an observable phenomenon. A woman may, for example, carry a trauma of sexual abuse— but it may not be her trauma. A man may live his entire life depressed, estranged from those around him, and never understand why. As therapists, we often encounter clients who carry symptoms of a particular trauma, yet know of no such information in their lives or in their family systems. In this training, therapists will learn how to uncover trauma in the system by exploring their client’s words, fears, symptoms and body language. Therapists will also learn how to extract a Core Sentence from their client’s “list of complaints,” and develop it into a core image. In this way, the trauma in the system can surface within minutes and be transformed into a healing resource.

Contact (412) 422-1955 for more information

Therapists are frequently called upon to evaluate and treat clients who have experienced trauma. A client may present with a specific history of trauma, or with vague symptoms, which can often be traced to an underlying traumatic event in the family system. Symptoms such as mood swings, lack of concentration, anxiety, panic attacks, phobias, eating disorders, insomnia, migraines, chronic pain and substance abuse can all be manifestations of trauma.

This training is designed to provide a nonpharmacologic, family systems approach to treating trauma in adults. Therapists will learn how to implement safe, practical and effective treatment plans to help clients restore physical, psychological and emotional equilibrium.
Reframing the trauma and reconciling the experience between victim and perpetrator will be addressed. Whether working one-on-one or in a group setting, therapists will learn the importance of using dialogue, imagery, body-centered awareness techniques, homework and ritual to support healing and resolution.

Contact (412) 422-1955 for more information

They cut themselves, pull out their hair, pick at their skin, etc. They’re caught between an unacknowledged victim and perpetrator. They enact both fates in one body, harming themselves and then suffering from self-inflicted distress. In this training, therapists will learn to recognize the dynamics behind self-injury, as well as learn to perceive the self-injurer’s words, symptoms and physical actions as signs leading to traumatic events in the family system. Methods for integration will be demonstrated. Whether working one-on-one or in a Family Constellation, therapists will learn the importance of using body-centered awareness techniques, homework and ritual to support healing and resolution.

Contact (412) 422-1955 for more information

We belong to a nation, like a big protective family, that exists to protect its people who cannot do it on their own. This bond must be acknowledged. Failure to do so can invite suffering in the successive generations. For example, a man who leaves his country to avoid fighting in a war often cannot take his being saved when others in his community perished or paid a difficult price. Later on, someone in his family may be drawn to war, or suffer like those left behind who suffered. In this training, we will learn how to work with the effects of war trauma in the family system. We’ll explore the dynamics affecting subsequent generations, and demonstrate ways to bring about healing and reconciliation. We'll take a close look at PTSD and learn how to work with soldiers who have witnessed the death of a fellow soldier, civilian or child, have been attacked, have lived under the constant threat of death, have taken another's life, etc.

Contact (412) 422-1955 for more information