Why should we work with constellations in supervision?
John Whittington (a leadership coach, constellations facilitator and trainer of other coaches based in London, UK) lists the following conclusions that a group of his students had come to after a day of exploring supervision using constellations:
-
This approach limits the chances of the supervisor and the supervisee getting entangled in the story, having opinions about what the supervisee “should” have done, etc.
-
Constellations seem to be able to open up a much larger field of possibilities and solutions than a discussion or “ordinary” supervision; it’s literally beyond the imagination …
-
This creates a safe space in which you can co-create fresh solutions ..
-
This work itself and the picture of the path to resolution are embodied so go in, and stay in, at a different level. Not just in the head, but felt and retained somewhere deeper. That’s so useful when you are about to face a challenging client …
In working with constellations we take an external perspective on individual, professional and institutional questions. Thus interactions, patterns and processes become visible – especially the ones that happen on an unconscious level.
Means that what we encounter, or how we feel is not our thoughts or opinion, it is a true representation of the state the person or aspect is in which we represent.
What is the uniqueness of the constellation method?
The uniqueness of the constellation method is in its phenomenological approach which allows for the emergence of the so called “Knowing Field” – a field of information which we share with other people, our families, other groups we belong to, and with the humanity at large. It is through this field and through what is called the phenomenon of representative perception, that we have direct access to a knowledge that supports us in finding solutions and answers to the questions we put and the issues we have to solve. We could say that your body serves as the perceptive organ that renders “audible” or “visible” what’s going on underneath.
A constellation creates a three-dimensional physical map of the inner, unconscious relationship pattern. This map therefore enables “super-vision” of the relationship system and offers a perspective that quickly reveals dynamics and truths not accessible through discussion or experience alone. A constellation offers a place for projections, parallel process, transference and counter transference, and stories that keep us stuck as counsellors.
What traditional models of supervision do I work with?
When I did my supervision training we learned about different models of supervision. 2 of them I felt most connected with.
One was Inskipp&Proctor’s (2001) 3 tasks of supervision. They see supervision as support (restorative) learning and growth (formative), and monitoring (normative).
The other one was Hawkins & Shohet’s 7-eyed model which I immediately felt connected to the constellation approach. (7 eyes)
Some more important aspects of constellations:
-
Previously inaccessible information can surface through the words, sensations, postures and sharing of the representatives.
-
It is a somatic approach in which the supervisee can find the place in the system from where they can be most useful. Bert Hellinger said something about the difference of being helpful and being useful in service of the whole system. He says: “Have no intention! Especially to help!”
-
Constellations show if we get too close and too entangled with our clients to be useful. If we try to be helpful or force action, or take responsibility away from where it belongs in the system. They often bring relief to the supervisee at taking the emphasis off being helpful and instead standing back and seeing the whole picture.
-
It allows an opportunity to open up other possibilities and paths to resolution by simply mapping “what is”.
-
We can even fine-tune this aspect which is uniquely powerful and often a source of deep insight
-
The supervisee is able to consider and observe the persons or aspects involved in their question from an external perspective and understand unconscious and hidden issues.
-
The supervisee is able to move freely and try out additional options.
-
It changes something in the supervisee – like a re-aligned inner stance, a sense of “right place”
-
Most of the time all supervisees are needed by the constellation, so everyone comes away with a direct experience of what it feels like to stand in a field of information, in the flow of a system.
-
Also if not all supervisees are required in the constellation, there is still a powerful learning experience to be had from watching. Sometimes this can lead to embodying a part of the system that has not been consciously represented in the constellation.
-
In the constellation we can also try out possible changes of perspectives and solutions.
-
The supervisee is able to experience the various representative positions her/himself and try out the “places”. This will allow new experiences to be gathered, scenarios to be tested, hypotheses tested and limits explored. Eventually, she can find the “best” place for herself to work most effectively with the client related to the question. And only changing our inner attitude can have deep effects in our practice.