Long reserved for personal development circles, family constellations today appeal to an ever-wider audience, seeking answers to their inner wounds. But behind these group sessions, Miviludes (Interministerial Mission for Vigilance and the Fight against Sectarian Abuses) warns: certain practices could slide towards psychological influence. So, is it a simple therapeutic tool or a method to be used with caution?
Understanding family constellations
Invented in the 1990s by Bert Hellinger, a former priest turned psychotherapist, the family constellation method is based on a simple idea: our current difficulties can find their origin in traumas transmitted through generations. During a session, participants “act out” their family members, often in the form of collective role plays. The goal? Bringing out invisible links, unconscious loyalties or repetitive patterns to better free yourself from them.
On paper, the approach seems attractive: it promises a reconnection to one’s family history, a better understanding of oneself and, sometimes, a form of emotional relief. But as Miviludes points out, this symbolic quest is not scientifically recognized and can involve risks.
A method under surveillance
In its latest report, Miviludes cites family constellations among the practices at risk of sectarian abuse. At issue: the absence of a legal framework or recognition by the Public Health Code, as well as emotionally intense scenes that can weaken certain people.
In short, “everyone can do it in their living room”summarizes Maud Pannequin, president of Généapsy, in The Parisian.
The government mission also points to frequent confusion between “psychic care, spiritual beliefs and promises of healing”sometimes encouraged by practitioners not trained in psychology.
Some testimonies report a gradual influence, with family breakdowns, guilty speeches or expensive courses sold as transformation courses.
“Therapy is not a show”
For psychologist Amélie Boukhobza, the enthusiasm around these practices is easily explained:“It’s true that it’s super trendy. And for good reason: this approach promises to “liberate” the traumas inherited from one’s family, by symbolically replaying scenes between generations. In principle, it’s fascinating.”
But the expert quickly qualifies:
“In practice, everything depends on the setting. Some approaches are based on real therapeutic reflection, others drift towards spectacular performances, sometimes emotionally violent. That’s where the abuses begin.”
Amélie Boukhobza reminds us that real therapy is based on words, connections and time, not on “symbolic miracles”:
“Replaying a scene or repeating magic phrases is not enough to heal. The danger is to confuse emotional theater with psychic work.”
How to navigate and avoid excesses?
For those wishing to explore this method, caution is therefore advised. The French Federation of Practitioners in Systemic Constellations (FFPCS) brings together French-speaking professionals and provides a reference framework. But before taking any action, a few simple principles can help you protect yourself:
- Check the qualifications and experience of the practitioner;
- Refuse any promise of rapid healing or “transgenerational revelations”;
- Never interrupt medical treatment without advice from a healthcare professional;
- Favor therapists supervised or trained in psychology, and requiring respect for free will and non-judgment.
In itself, exploring family roots is not far-fetched: understanding where you come from can help you move forward better. But, as Amélie Boukhobza reminds us, “as soon as the quest for meaning becomes spectacle, commerce or belief, we leave psychology.“