So much activity with Systemic Constellations in the U.S., and the conference brings it all together!

By Karen Carnabucci, LCSW, TEP
 
When we move to a new community, we’re in the habit of asking our neighbors, co-workers and colleagues, “Where can I find a good doctor, dentist, or chiropractor?”
 
We’re also likely to ask about where to find that cool yoga studio, the best pizza eatery and the closest drive-through bank.
 
Family and Systemic Constellations are not yet fully integrated into the lexicon of our communities – yet.
 
But it may also be possible that the newcomer’s question of “Where can I find a Family Constellation session?” isn’t that far into the future.
 
The reality is that Family and Systemic Constellations as a recognized method is growing by leaps and bounds in the United States.
 

• The bi-ennial conference, started by visionary trainer and facilitator Jane Peterson in 2005 in the United States, has become international. The gathering has matured into the North American Systemic Constellations Conference, this year Oct. 5-8 in Virginia Beach, Va. The conference is now overseen by North American Systemic Constellations, which is newly incorporated as a non-profit organization, and has the mission to support the growth and development of Systemic Constellations. It has established a volunteer board of directors, chaired by Barry Krost, and has a growing presence on social media, especially Facebook.
  

Intensive in  New England

The North American Systemic Constellations Intensive, started by Edward Lynch and modeled after the long-running intensive at Kloster Bernried  in southern Germany, is marking its 10th year this year July 19-23 in West Hartford, Conn., with five leading U.S. facilitators, including Francesca Mason Boring, Dan Booth Cohen, Emily Blefeld, Bill Mannle and Suzi Tucker, all of whom are featured presenters at the North American Systemic Constellations Conference as well.

West Coast intensive

Others are taking note of the success of the intensive, and Leslie Nipps, Gary Stuart and Francesca Mason Boring will be the featured presenters at what may be the first West Coast Systemic Constellations Intensive, which is scheduled May 10-14 in Los Gatos, Calif. (The three are also featured presenters at the North American conference in October.)  

Training centers and programs

Training centers, institutes and programs have been established across the United States, from East to West, and North to South. Just a few on our list: Boston (Samvedam Randles and Peter and Jamy Faust), Rhode Island (Dan Booth Cohen and Emily Blefeld), western Massachusetts and Connecticut (Ed Lynch and Bill Mannle), New York City (Suzi Tucker), Metro D.C. (Susan Ulfelder), Minneapolis (Katherine Curran), Miami (Michelle Blechner), Santa Barbara (JoAnn Chartrand and ), Marin County (Michelle Masters), San Francisco Bay area (Peter deVries and Cara deVries), and northern California (Mark Wolynn), with promising new training programs emerging this year. Some offer regularly scheduled on-site programs with an established curricula; others are based on one area but travel frequently; and others bring in well-known guest trainers for one-day or weekend trainings.

Retreat workshops

Several nationally recognized personal growth retreats and organizations are adding Family and Systemic Constellations in their workshop offerings. They include Omega Institute for Holistic Studies, Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, the New York Open Center, Esalen Institute, and the Rowe Conference Center.

Facilitator innovations

What may be hundreds more facilitators and facilitator trainees are scattered throughout the United States, using Family and Systemic Constellations in both classic and innovative ways. They are being integrated with Traditional Chinese Medicine, Neuro-Linguistic Programming, Somatic Experiencing, psychodrama, yoga, horses, flower essences, Holotropic Breathing, shamanism, Internal Family Systems and more.

Addiction treatment centers

Family and Systemic Constellations are starting to show up in drug and alcohol treatment centers as a component of treatment that makes a difference with early recovery, relapse and other common issues. Find an article in The Fix that details some of this work.

Growing library of books

A growing library of books is building by U.S. authors, following the lead of Suzi Tucker, of the Zeig, Tucker and Theisen publishing company, which introduced Bert Hellinger’s first book Love’s Hidden Symmetry to the United States. Since that time, numerous authors and editors have contributed books, including Francesca Mason Boring, Dan Booth Cohen, Karen Carnabucci, Connie Donaldson, Peter and Jamy Faust, Lisa Iversen, Jerome Kerner, Edward Lynch, Michael Reddy, Anngwyn St. Just, Harrison Snow, Gary Stuart, Mark Wolynn, with more to come by Sarah Peyton and Bill Mannle and Edward Lynch.. Other trainers and constellation practitioners have offered chapters in compilations and blog articles online.

Bringing it all together

The 2017 North American Systemic Constellations Conference in Virginia Beach, Va., brings all of these developments together, along with trainers and facilitators from Canada and Mexico and other countries for a true international flavor. For those who are seeking in-depth experiences, there is the full-day conference; those who prefer a broad buffet-style sampling have much to select from.

There is the opportunity to meet, hear and learn from dozens of top trainers, authors and innovators as well as newcomers who are developing valuable new ways of practicing, network with a wide variety of professionals in various disciplines and continue to inspire and connect with each other.

Other developments?

Of course, this blog article is an overview and does not pretend to list all of the major developments. I suspect that there are more that are not yet fully reported on this blog or elsewhere. If we’ve missed any significant events or developments in the United States, please make sure that our Family and Systemic Constellations community knows about them, by commenting in the comment section under this blog article.

We also warmly welcome blog articles from constellation facilitators in Canada, Mexico and Central America about the status and growth of Family and Systemic Constellations in their countries. See information about submitting blog article here.

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About the author
 
Karen Carnabucci, LCSW, TEP, is a board-certified psychodrama trainer and certified constellations facilitator and trainer in private practice in Lancaster, Pa. She has presented at many state and national conferences, including the 2011 and 2015 constellations conferences and is the chairperson of the marketing committee for the 2017 North American Systemic Constellations Conference.. She is the author of Integrating Psychodrama and Systemic Constellation Work: New Directions for Action Methods, Mind-Body Therapies and Energy Healing and other books about alternative psychotherapies and methods. Learn more about Karen and her books, programs and trainings here.

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Join us for the 2017 North American Systemic Constellations Conference Oct. 5-8 in Virginia Beach, Va., for health professionals, educators, business and life coaches, consultants, clergy, community activists, change makers and others interested in alternative health and innovative practices. A pre-conference is also available. More info here. We'd love to have you subscribe to our e-letter here.

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