European MD, MA Counseling Psychology, DC
Testimonials
I am grateful to all individuals who have summoned to share some insights about their constellation experience. In some instances, names are fully disclosed, at times only initials are provided to meet privacy concerns. Constellation work addresses deep seated issues in the life of an individual. Respectfully, I honor the courage of sharing some insights, for the benefit of others who want to consider the potential value of constellations for their own healing process.
May 2014
I grew up feeling unloved. I do not remember a conversation with my dad. I spent most of my time trying to win my mother's approval as I felt she preferred my siblings to me. She has always told me I was an unhappy child. I was an overachiever at home and in school, but I never felt good about my accomplishments. My life has been plagued with a sense of inadequacy. I have been married for ten years and have two children. I thought my own family could help me feel better, but it only heightened my deep rooted disconnectedness. I think I have been hiding or even living with a low grade depression. When I read about Constellation Work my eyes popped wide open. I ran to the workshop with tremendous willingness. My intention was simple: "I want to feel like I belong and that I matter." Almost immediately I felt a shift. I stand a little taller and my eyes seek others in greeting. My head is clear. I no longer take everything personally. I laugh from my belly. I have removed the word "should" from my internal dialogue. I can spend time with my family of origin without discomfort, jealousy, or a sense embarrassment. I feel as though I have grown up, really, and I am almost fifty. I have been completely transformed. And most important, I have expressed authentic compassion for the first time in my life. I was never able to do that before because I needed so desperately from others, their approval and attention. Now I can give it to myself so I am free to understand another person's pain without feeling it suck me dry. Today I am happy, truly, and it feels amazing!
M. L.
Corte Madera, CA
March 2012
My first constellation therapy was in Summer 2010 after I had learned about it in a lunch seminar. I thought I'll give it first a try before I address more relevant topics. So I decided to address my sleeping problem and the relationship with my son. Soon after the workshop and enhanced by searching thoughout Summer, I moved into a new "perfect" place which was one of my plans to build a healthy relationship with my son. Previously I had already gone to different therapies about this, but I never saw a clear picture. The constellation workshop helped me to see my issues more clearly—although, during the workshop, I was skeptical and doubtful about what I heard and saw. One thing I did notice: After the workshop, I feel more confident about myself, my life, my son, etc. I can say with hindsight that this workshop definitely affected me a lot.
My second constellation therapy was in early Fall of 2011. I did not plan on it, but since there were some changes in my son, I went to the workshop with the hope that it will help me. Since this workshop, I learned more about myself, and I am now able to see my relationship with my son from a different perspective. Now I am free from being overly attached to my son. At both workshops, whenever I thought to help my son, it turned out that it was me who needed to be worked on. And while the workshops focused on my own situation, also my son has changed so much. Similar positive changes then occurred in my relationship with other family members as well.
When I represented others, for example being a girlfriend, I noticed how my occasional immature decisions had affected others. I was able to see myself from a different point of view. In both workshops, I was amazed how skillfully Dr. Essl guided the process. Even at times when I couldn't believe what I heard and saw from the presenters, I trusted the process which opened my mind to embrace the "outcomes."
S.M.S., MFT Trainee
Fremont, CA
January 2011
Following the workshop, there have been some changes for me that directly related to the concerns I had addressed in the workshop. I was working on two levels. One was based on grief related to a tragic death affecting my family when I was ten. My father's reaction to the death resulted in life changing circumstances for me. Through the constellation I had the opportunity to experience this death being openly acknowledged and its resulting grief adequately dealt with. This experience somehow lifted my energy and I felt it very healing. The other level related to a situation in my family where I felt that I was not receiving my fair share of family inheritance. Following the constellation I was able to be more persistent in claiming that inheritance and to do it in a non-blaming fashion. Since then the situation has been righted and I am grateful that my interactions with my family did not include vindictiveness.
I have enough background to know that family issues cannot just be ignored without problems persisting in following generations. But in the constellation workshop I could see this pattern lived out in the lives of complete strangers as well as in my own. It was quite striking. Also striking is how bringing such hidden information to conscious awareness actually heals.
Throughout the process I was aware and appreciative of how attentive Brigitte Essl was to what was going on with the person about whom the constellation was being done. I was especially conscious of how Brigitte had really studied and absorbed what I had communicated to her about my family of origin dynamics, as well as to what my desires were for doing the constellation.
P. D., Psychotherapist
Palo Alto, CA
October 2010
Brigitte's family constellation workshop helped my family and myself tremendously. In a constellation on the mother’s side of my lineage we discovered that apparently my great grandmother’s actions still influenced my mother in a negative way. My great grandmother acquired wealth during the war, but my mother struggled financially for her entire life, as if the deeds of my great grandmother’s actions directly affected my mother. Brigitte addressed this theme in my constellation.
A few months later and quite unexpectedly, my mother received money from a family member who owed her since a long time, but had refused to pay back up to this point. One year later, my mother lost 20 pounds, is financially stable, and I have never seen her so happy and self-confident. This was exactly my intention for the workshop, and I am very confident that Brigitte's powerful work made it possible. I cannot thank her enough and recommend Brigitte to all of my clients and friends.
Katharina Johnson
San Francisco, CA
February 2010
For the 60+ years of my life I was always sick, severely depressed, fatigued and in poor physical health, with all the pains and symptoms of malnourishment, caused by food allergies. A very restrictive diet kept me going but not without symptoms. My entire adult life I was searching for healing, until 2 years ago when I met Brigitte Essl and learned about family constellations. Finally, I could let go of the paradigm to be sick and pitiable, depressed, on low energy, and not responsible for my life. And finally, I could go for real healing – with success.
Now I am healthy, strong, and more positive, still learning what to do with all my energy. And everything started with family constellation. My family connections, my broken up relationship with my mother, siblings and my aunt started healing, even my brother turned carefully to our mother after 40 years of silence between them. The somewhat tense and very cautious communication with my three children has improved toward a more relaxed, open, and joyful friendship and love. My children have changed, being more balanced and grounded in themselves. Now I can talk to my son without restraint about our problems and concerns, and also my daughters are more free and open to me.
Important to know, that I live in California while all my family lives in Europe: the healing power of family constellation has worked over thousands of miles. Constellation work has rearranged and healed my family bindings across the ocean and through generations, brought out the positive in our connections and the love and care between my family members, which in turn helped me to be connected with my essence and be more definite in what is good and right for myself and more independent of what (I think that) other people expect me to be and do and say and think. Of course, things are not perfect, still moving, but always moving to the better. There is still work to be done, but family constellation has opened for me the doors to a richer life.
Magrit Bautista
Grass Valley, CA
April 2009
I had heard about the power of Brigitte's workshops, but couldn't fathom how people doing role-plays about my ancestors would have much impact on my life. Well, color me humbled! When I review the intentions for healing that I had written three years ago, prior to attending my first constellation, I am in awe: Long-sought "relief from self-criticism" and "an ability to live more authentically in the world" have indeed come to be. To show why I am convinced that this is from the constellation work rather than my own personal determination would take pages to describe my reasoning. So instead, I'll share a few insights that I hope capture some of the complexity and unique impact of this work.
There is a palpable field of community support, trust, and emotional safety that Brigitte creates with the participants, providing a depth of work that is hard, near impossible, to achieve in just 2 days (trust me, I teach facilitation skills to others!). I believe it is Brigitte's rare blend of gentleness and rigor as a facilitator that supports this depth. As she navigates the complex territory of human despair and celebration, we all are transformed—whether as representative or as participant.
In fact, being a representative is worth a paragraph of its own. Even though I originally attended for healing-work with my own family system, the experience of being a representative has offered a subtle yet priceless gift: I have more internal trust in myself—my sensations, impressions, intuition—after "standing in" for various individuals in other constellations. Being able to distinguish what is mine and what is in response to another is a powerful distinction for healthy relationships in general, not just for therapeutic settings. I had a life-shifting experience after having represented someone who was extremely violent. To have "stood in the shoes of" such anger and hatred ironically has given me more compassion and tenderness for the wide range of human experience, with an unexpected new freedom in meeting others with less assumption and judgment.
Oh and PS: The breakthroughs I've experienced with family members still living are worth the price of admission alone. I just wanted to acknowledge the less obvious, yet intensely gratifying additional benefits of this transformational work.
Susan S., Leadership Consultant
Oakland, CA
April 2009
My husband and I have experienced two constellation workshops on behalf of two of our children. The first was to address general anxiety in our eldest daughter, the second to address some attachment issues with our middle son. In both cases we uncovered family emotional dynamics that were a surprise to us and quite powerfully transformative to our sense of what is our family dynamic. To any parent considering doing this work on behalf of a child, I say "DO IT!!" This work is powerfully beneficial to the whole family system. We have seen the relaxing of some unexplainable angst, frustration, and behavior patterns in just a few months post-workshop.
Beyond its effect on our children, on whose behalf we did this work, it was powerful to witness our family constellation work in action. It seemed to make so clear the dynamics that we have known about but not seen in this way. It is powerful work and has a profound effect on the psyche. We feel that it is the greatest gift we can give our children—to address the long-forgotten issues of our relatives, the pains and sometimes surprises in our past that we have simply pushed away. It was wonderful to connect in this work with our family "soul." We both found it enriching.
Lastly, the work of "representing" to me felt like being "the eyes of the creator." It was such an honor to stand among fellow humans feeling the flow of other families' stories. I worried initially that I would not be "good" at it—I had no idea what to expect. But the work is truly moving and powerful, positively. It is a natural feeling to stand with others representing people whose stories you do not know but you actually feel. It made me feel so much more connected to all life and it solidified my vague sense that we are more than the flesh and bones we walk around in. My own sense of spirituality was unexpectedly ratcheted up about 4000% as a result. This was a side benefit I had not expected.
I would recommend this work to anyone who has tried traditional "talk therapy" and felt it wanting. The sacred space that is created, the powerful and naked emotional truth of those who are represented is precious, potent, and positive.
Megan Penhoet
Oakland, CA
March 2009
When I decided to do a Family Constellation with Brigitte, I had already participated in one of her constellation workshops as an observer, and I had previously done a personal constellation with a different facilitator. Still, I had something very specific that I wanted help with in my life, something that I had not been able to resolve after years of trying.
I am grateful to Brigitte for her sensitivity and expertise and for her love of the Family Constellation process. The constellation was complex and contained different threads of many stories. Brigitte made the process seem effortless, and yet so much transpired. Knots came undone, hard places softened, and confused places became clear. What has unfolded since that time has been surprisingly deep. The place where I had been stuck for many years has seemed to evaporate. And now that the stuck place is gone, I am moving forward in my work with more ease and clarity.
I would recommend doing a Family Constellation workshop with Brigitte to anyone—no matter if you are working on a difficult life issue or are simply curious about the work.
Pamela J.
Sausalito, CA
August 2007
I. Effects of my Personal Family Constellation: My family constellation workshop last July 2006 brought about changes that I experienced slowly but profoundly. I wanted clarity and healing around our strong pattern of abandonment that affected numerous members of my family, including myself. This pattern has manifested as missing father figures in my system and a weak anima within Self.
Consequently, three issues unfolded during my workshop—a reconnection to my primal ancestors, healing unrequited love, and acknowledgement of shadow families. Because of the mystery that surrounded the break within our family, Brigitte went above and beyond logic to explore my system, using both her intuition and sensitivity to delve deeper. As the story unfolded, we witnessed and honored the guidance of a tribal matriarchal figure; we processed an intense energetic interaction between my great-grandmother and a lover; and we raised our shadow family into light. With Brigitte’s effective and grounded facilitation, she was able to integrate healing into the system through acknowledgement, forgiveness, and acceptance.
As the blocked channels continue to clear slowly, I am anticipating love, healing, and blessings to flow better through the generations. Within the past year, we have experienced many obstacles cross our paths; however, I have observed a stronger sense of identity developing and an emergence of inner strength, especially among the female members of my family. I see a redefinition of the identity to honor the Self, rather than losing it for others’ sake.
In fact, just recently, my mother experienced one of the biggest abandonment of her life. But rather than falling into her previous habit of depression and self-blame, she became proactive in asking for help and support, taking better care of herself, and remaining positive and open to connections and opportunities. I myself have always been active in my personal and spiritual growth, but much more so now after the constellation. I am driven to heal the male aspect of my self and work through my self-esteem and commitment issues. I still continue to struggle with my shadow, but I try to keep an open heart and trust the healing process. I now carry great lessons through this experience--how deeply interwoven we all are; how our actions, big or small, greatly affects all; and how we exist to love and be loved.
II. Memorable Experiences from the Constellation Process: I truly believe in the importance of this work because it deals with the root of the problem—physical, emotional, mental, spiritual. The constellation allows us to truly see our issues and lessons because we are outside of the situation, rather than being caught in the thick of things. As a third-party person looking in, I believe this is where the integration is most effective.
I have attended three constellation workshops within the last year and the process never ceases to amaze me. First and foremost, Brigitte really honors her clients’ privacy and ensures she creates sacred space for this work. Since the workshops deal with intense and deep-rooted issues, she makes sure that the participants are grounded throughout. As a representative, I was able to walk in other people’s shoes. Through experiencing different personalities, gender, events, and even locations, I now carry a better understanding and appreciation for humanity and existence. I was also able to express characteristics unique to the person I was representing without prior knowledge of who they are, therefore validating that we were truly accessing a fluid, interconnected, energetic system. It strengthens the healing process for the constellator, the observer, because what unfolds becomes real and tangible in the sacred space.
The most memorable representation for me was that of a twin, whose other half, which we find out towards the end, passed away before even being born. When this being was brought into my space initially, I felt whole, knowing innately that this person completed me and loved me unconditionally. Yet, when this person was taken away from the space, there was longing and intense pain within me. As events unfolded, I kept on asking myself if she was my twin. I doubted my logical mind, but my gut acknowledged the deep, intimate connection I had with this person due to having grown together in the womb—and it was the strongest bond I’ve ever felt.
Brigitte facilitated the acknowledgement, honoring and integration of this person back into this family system, which resulted in peace within each person and the system as a whole. For the person I represented, further healing needed to happen but this process has opened the door to acceptance. This experienced opened my eyes and taught me that even if time, death, or geography separates us, we are truly connected to one another. It’s a truly unique and powerful process.
Barbara Bolls, Artist / Designer
San Bruno, CA
August 2007
I was referred to the family constellation work from my homeopath who had taken it herself and refers many clients, all of whom had significant experiences. For as long as I can remember, I’ve lived with a certain level of fear and anxiety that, I believe, is part of my family inheritance as a descendent of orthodox Russian immigrants who fled Russia during the pogroms. I’ve worked on my own consciousness and belief systems for most of my life, and while most of the issues I’ve tackled have shifted considerably or disappeared, this one has stubbornly remained. When the homeopath suggested that these issues “weren’t mine” but inherited, I immediately knew this was true and signed up for the next workshop. Amazingly, one week before the actual workshop a cousin reached out to me from whom I hadn’t heard in over twenty years. He’d essentially been disowned when he and his family stole our family inheritance when our shared grandfather died. Along with his email was an extensive family history of our Russian side of the family!
The constellation itself was quite profound. Our grandfather was represented along with both the victims (our ancestors) and perpetrators of the Holocaust and what came out was how much guilt and shame he’d carried (and passed on) his whole life for being the one who survived. The constellation resolved when the victims were able to relate to the perpetrators, tell my grandfather how proud they were of him, and that the greatest gift any of us survivors can give is to succeed and prosper in our own lives. In the few months after the constellation, the rift with my cousin has been healed and my fear and anxiety has been dissolving by the week. I am so much lighter in my self and in my life – it’s a complete joy!”
Noah Hoffman, Computer Programmer
San Francisco, CA
July 2007
The weekend was emotionally uplifting and intense. It was a safe place to come face to face with one's demons and, ultimately, make friends with them.
You, Brigitte, facilitated the experience with quiet compassion and quick intellect.
My daughter is thriving today. I don't know if the constellation work was directly responsible, but I feel that it was a healing piece of a complex problem.
I was amazed that the other participants' constellations had an additional healing component for me.
Thank you for the experience.
Sandra Ballantine, Esthetician
Larkspur, CA
July 2007
As we all know, family dynamics represent a cornerstone to the healing process.
After 21 years of working in the medical/healing arts, I have found constellation work one of the most powerful techniques I have ever experienced. It created awareness for my own family system that has been long lasting and continuously integrating. It has changed me personally and also in my interactions with even distant family members. We have bonded in new ways, have more honesty in communication, more awareness and compassion for one another based on the pearls revealed and honored in constellation work. I have encouraged other family members to attend, and watched how some 20-30 year patterns in my family changed very quickly after the workshop. Since then, I have become an ambassador for this work, because of my personal experience with it as a clinician and a participant, and also through my knowledge that it has transformed the life of others as well. Brigitte Essl has profound insight into the nature and nurture of the person, and is one of the most competent healers I have ever known. She draws from many personal and professional disciplines and offers an extremely unique and thorough technique. It has been a privilege to work with her!
Tina Romano, M.S.
Corte Madera, CA
July 2007
Brigitte is highly skilled and intuitive in responding to the flow of energy in a constellation. Watching her work as she sort of hears her way into the important connections of a family system has always inspired me. As a representative, there have been times where I was conscious of feeling feelings that I knew were not part of me. What a gift for building compassion. Somehow, by tapping into this extraordinary places, Brigitte easily maneuvers constellations through a full range of energetic possibilities; bringing profound insight into ones own life.
Eduardo Joy
Sausalito, CA
May 2007
As a client: Recently, I did a constellation on behalf of my 10-year old child who displays various symptoms that are labeled "autistic spectrum disorder" and shows itself in severe learning disabilities, withdrawal, disruptive and disturbing emotional outbreaks, and behaviors combined with absence seizures. Years of consulting medical specialists could mostly bring relief by diminishing these symptoms, but creating new symptoms that were caused by the prescribed drugs. Nobody was really able to address the deep psychological or spiritual underlying causes of the condition. I knew that this was a special task that could not be targeted by common psychotherapy, for as the condition is as complex and puzzling as the approach needed to be able to reach far beyond the personal level.
Systemic constellation work seemed for me the right way to go, since over years of desperate searching for a solution, I had come to understand that my child's problems were an accumulation of problems that showed especially in my husband's family-line and his denial to look at his problems. When I learned that Dr. Brigitte Essl was offering this powerful work in my area, I signed up. What revealed itself in the first session regarding the dreadful entanglements my child, husband, and his male lineage were caught up in was quite revealing and fostered a deeper understanding for my son's and husband's personalities and their struggles. My compassion grew and our interactions softened overall – we all can receive each other again, which was not possible anymore before this work – the daily-life stress with a challenging child had been taken its toll.
The most wonderful outcome of all, I observe changes in my child: Has he been not able to control his erratic outbreaks before and then stayed locked in one emotional state for a while, he now is able to brace himself in minutes back to a stable baseline. Recently, he is also drawn much more to his father and spontaneously expresses his love for him. His thought processes seemed to have cleared up, which shows in the questions he asks and the conversations we can have with him – means he is so much more aware of his environment now! Only two days after the constellation he told me that he wanted to be in his room and set the rules of how he wanted his space to be entered – before he did not even want to be in his room or and was not able to structure his space at all.
It is now almost 4 weeks since the constellation and I am thrilled to see were we will be in half a year or a year, which is the time it takes for the shifts in the family system to be fully integrated. There is more work to do and I am looking forward to the next constellation session. I am grateful that Dr. Essl makes this powerful work available to us and I am deeply impressed in how compassionate, skilled, and devoted she facilitates this delicate and complex process. I felt absolutely safe in the space that she created.
As a representative: To be a representative in a family constellation has given me deep insights, compassion, and respect about and for myself, my family, and especially about us humans in general. I recognized how we all drag baggage with us that pains and limits us in so many ways, and how in the end we all need and want the same – to love, to be loved, to be acknowledged, and to belong. I found it insightful to be a witness and to participate in so many different family stories, to feel among others someone else’s grief, despair, denial or love, and move towards healing and closure, reconnects broken family chains and the extended human family on a deep level, perceiving us as fellow travelers on this journey called life. As a representative, I felt to further develop my heart and spirit in the safe setting that Dr. Brigitte Essl provided, and at the same time I was able to give something back to others that I had received when others stood-in for my own family’s constellation – this is a gift and has been a very rewarding experience for me. Beyond this all, I benefited from clearly perceiving myself by recognizing many emotional and mental states of people I represented – this secondary effect of the work was truly beneficial regarding my own self awareness and self perception.
Doro Meincke
Fremont, CA
April 2007
As a representative, I have participated in three of Dr. Essl's Systemic Family Constellation workshops and I have gained profound insights from this experience.
One time, I was chosen to represent someone's mother. I didn't have a clue as to what to expect, but once the constellation was activated, a force-field began to work itself out. I experienced that mother's core issues and felt terribly sorry for what happened in the past, as if I were the real mother. An energy passed through me, in a much more powerful way than my conscious mind could rationalize. The more I surrendered, the deeper I felt a sense of clarity and realization (of this mother's past events and unhealed wounds). Another time, I was chosen to represent someone that I had no idea who the person was. When I entered the constellation formation, I felt extremely confused and very disturbed along with strong body sensations. Dr. Essl skillfully and compassionately guided me through the process (that involved a mysteriously murdered person and lost soul from a previous generation). It was an unforgettable experience. It confirmed to me that we are all connected to a greater soul of humanity. To be a representative for another person is for me a service of love. Through this devotional passage, my humility and compassion was deepened as I experienced during representation my own untapped intuitive powers.
Akasa Tseng, M.A.
El Cerrito, CA
March 2007
I was attracted to the Hellinger Constellation work because of the trust I have for the homeopath I am working with, who suggested it. Also from knowing Dr. Essl professionally, and the trust and integrity I feel in her presence, and in how she conducts her private practice. She is masterful in preparing constellation participants, and in facilitating our optimal experience.
For many decades now, I have been doing psychological and spiritual work to untie the overt and covert knots of my family of origin. My mother is in her final year of life, and I want to feel complete with her before she dies. I do not want to live in the abuse patterns of my family, that were expressed to family members and the general public. My own health has been greatly affected by covert patterns of my mother's family, and I want great health to come more easily than I have been able to achieve it (as I recognized in the constellation patterns that unfolded during my weekend with Dr. Essl).
The actual experience of being constellated was so gentle, yet deep. I felt a great weight lifted from my body, and I felt my breathing was full for the first time in 55 years. The ripples of benefit have continued over the past 11 months, without me having to do anything...except attend and surrender to that constellation experience. All living family members have since opened up and changed, although I went to the constellation weekend by myself. Most profound has been the impact on my mother, her sister, and her brother. My mother's heart has softened, my aunt has found a new courage and clarity, my uncle has become more gracious and connected with his siblings. My aunt's daughters have also felt shifts within themselves and with their mother. I have felt my own softening, and have found a deeper courage and certainty within myself. My health is better and easier, and I feel greater compassion for my mother and her personal history.
Dr. B. Grace Pike, BPHE, DC
San Rafael, CA
February 2007
After my two constellations, I felt less frustrated and more at ease with life in general. Ahead of time, I didn't even realize that was a goal of mine. In my first constellation, the representatives of course had no knowledge of my life at all. It was stunning -- and unlike any therapeutic process I have ever experienced -- to see the representatives for the central characters of my life enacting a childhood nightmare of mine. Thanks to Dr. Essl's high level of skill and intuition, observing this ingenuous reenactment of trauma had a new and freeing resolution for me.
Jane Hawes, PhD, Clinical Psychologist
Berkeley, CA
February 2007
Brigitte Essl's offering of Family Constellation Work is a powerful group process that incorporates and heals old, and often discounted, family wounds. I was mesmerized by her expertise, sensitivity, intuition, and creativity in formulating an individual’s family system, and by her ability to shift the energetic patterns. It was a privilege to serve as a "representative" and evoked within me a sense of deep spiritual work.
Abby Caplin, MD, MA; Mind-Body Medicine and Medical Counseling
San Francisco, CA
February 2007
I wanted to do the constellation work on my father's
side of the family where there had been a lot of
tragic accidental male deaths at a very young age,
including my own brother. My father's maternal
grandmother was a mystery woman whom no one ever
mentioned except to say that there were rumors that
she was of "mixed" blood. She had also died at a very
young age when my grandmother was only two years old.
I did bring her photograph to the constellation and placed it
in one corner of the room. She looked like a
beautiful "Creole" woman to me.
By the end of the session, I felt like I was connected
with her in an incredible way. A great healing had
taken place by returning her to a rightful place of
honor. The surge of love and awe I felt on the day of the constellation, is with me to
this day, whenever I look at her photo which sits in a
place of prominence in my office. I feel her
ancestral strength and support deep in my blood and
bones now.
This work has had a very positive impact on my children as well. It is subtle, but very obvious to me, for I feel there is no longer the need for anyone to "atone" for her dishonorment through strange accidents and illnesses that plagued my father's side of the family so much. The group process that allows such a transformation to take place is truly amazing. How quickly each participant attunes and connects with the feeling life of one's family of origin. I was moved to tears so many times during the session and bursts of insight kept coming thick and fast as I witnessed objectively the unfoldment of my own family drama.
Brigitte is such a highly skilled and sensitive facilitator of this process. It demands of someone total awareness and presence and she never wavers. She has to guide and steer things along without being obtrusive or interfering with the flow that has a life of its own once the constellation is initiated. There is both magic and mystery here even as the result seems to be an improved sense of well-being and harmony in one's daily life. I feel like I accomplished more integration in a weekend than several years of on-going weekly therapy. It is a powerful tool for transformation.
Genevieve Vierling, Astrologer
St. Helena, CA
January 2007
I
did a constellation with Dr. Essl recently and was quite enthralled by my experience. I had never done anything quite like it before. Dr. Essl is a master facilitator. She made me feel completely at ease during the entire process. She has the intuition and sensitivity to know exactly what is needed and when it is needed. I always felt her presence there but it was never overpowering. She is kind and loving and her knowledge is profound.
The constellation process was remarkable. I was astounded by how 10 strangers can come together and be able to experience something like this. We actually became the members of each other's family not knowing anything about each other. The insights I gained from seeing the members of my family come alive through these people gave me understanding into myself and my patterns of behavior that have enabled me to move on from quite a few of my chronic issues that have plagued me for many years. I still cannot explain "how" this occurred except to say that it is largely a result of Dr. Essl's capable guidance and intuitive sense and the method itself which has been around for many years. There were many unexpected things that came out during the constellation which helped me make sense of my family issues for which I will be forever grateful. It was a remarkable weekend for my husband as a participant in my constellation as he experienced the role of a German soldier in World War II who reclaimed his humanity on the battlefield. This experience has brought him to tears and in a mere instant was one of the most profound experiences of his life.
It took me awhile to process what I learned during my constellation. I am still processing several months later. I feel that as a result of my deeper understanding of my family's history, I have been able to not let things get to me as they did in the past especially as pertains to my mother. I had the opportunity to see her in such a way that I feel compassion towards her rather than anger and frustration. I have been able to see very clearly how it has not been about me all these years but truly about my mother and her issues and how she dumped them on me.
I would recommend this experience to anyone. It is liberating.
J. B., Homeopath
San Francisco, CA
December 2006
I participated as a "constellator" in two contellation workshops about a year ago. I feel less burdened by my past, my history and by the past and history of my family and ancestors. I allow myself to be more truly who I am and who I want to be, instead of being someone who was, or let herself be, configured within the constraints of her family's expectations and ambitions of what her life should be. I am more capable of standing firmly on what I believe is right for me, and as a result, my boundaries are clearer, people see me more and are more receptive toward me. They smile more to me, which means my face must be and look more relaxed! There is more lightness of being.
What stands out the most is the part where I had representatives of all my female ancestors behind me, as if stacked up one behind the other, as well as my father, while working on acknowledging the child who died in an abortion I had about 30 years ago. I am not sure exactly how it affected me in the long term, but the simple fact that this child was acknowledged and integrated within my family as a real being was a very good feeling. Maybe it erased or "deleted" the guilt feelings I have had about the whole thing. I don't think it stopped me from wishing I had not done this abortion, but now I am not ambivalent about it. I know I should not have done it, when before I kept believing what my ex-husband told me back then, that it was for the better because "maybe the child would have had birth defects...." The process is very mysterious, but since it’s best to let it be without analyzing, that’s what I have done in the past year, let it do its underground work.
Another strong memory I have is regarding one of my paternal aunts. I might have inherited her deep grief, but was not aware of it at all. She held me in heart like her daughter, but had very tragic and dramatic tendencies throughout her life. People in my family have told me over and over that I look like her. I never wanted to look like her, because that meant that I also would be like her, tragic and dramatic. But somehow, underneath my conscious intention to not be like her, there was some sort of psychic bond that caused me to live my life with undertones of grief. I now have a sense that this is no longer true.
Brigitte is extremely sensitive and intuitive, and therefore an excellent facilitator for this type of work. She possesses the emotional intelligence that is essential to help unveil the obstacles or facades that we, as humans, learn so well to create, and get to the core of the problem or challenge and move on to live our life in more serene and satisfying ways, be more complete and able to get closer to our potential.
M.A., Publicist/Writer
San Francisco, CA
December 2006
The family constellation workshop with Dr. Essl was helpful to me in many regards. My original intent was to get a fresh perception of old family dynamics. Through the workshop I gained an "emotional understanding" of the heritage line of certain traits throughout the generations. This enabled me to have compassion towards perpetrators and obtain a more "objective" point of view. The experience allowed me to let go of blame and guilt. As a result I could keep out of formerly enmeshed triangles. I attribute this new ability to the process during the family constellation, where I do not act for myself, however a stranger will represent me, making it possible to become just an observer instead of a "re-actor."
Upon returning to my original family I was surprised how smoothly I was able to integrate in a very mature, relaxed way, keeping my inner balance of integrity without slipping into dysfunctional child-adult
patterns with my parents. The most impressive part of participating in the work was for me, how perfect strangers will embody family members or values and speak almost perfect quotes I had actually heard my family members say before! and how the representatives were actually able to clarify emotional experiences to the point (in my father's case the representing woman said, "I do not mean to be
cruel - I just feel cold and disconnected"). This lead to major shifts in my own perception.
Dr. Brigitte Essl brought her very consistent presence with great intuition and compassion to a successful
process, by gently pushing through any upcoming hurdles.
Helga Alessio, VP Hahnemann Labs
San Rafael, CA
December 2006
I have noticed since my constellations that I am fully reconnected with my own life, fully committed to being alive and deeply grateful for this life. I believe the constellation work helped me to release other
people's (family and clients) energies that I had been carrying for them. This has allowed me to have more access to my own soul and be aligned with Source. Since doing the work my estranged brother has reached out for relationship with me. I am delighted at this healing.
Brigitte your deep intuition, skill and wisdom made the constellation a potent alchemical process for
healing. The container you created was safe and sacred for me. I have enormous gratitude for having had the opportunity to do the Family constellation work with you. I recommend it highly.
Jorna White, LMFT
Mill Valley, CA
December 2006
The constellation process offered me a vessel to share a deep life concern of mine. To physically enact this concern with people who did not know my story but who were relating to the matter like my family members would, was amazing to experience. The enacting in itself was very healing. Hellinger's work, to me is very deep and gentle energy work.
I did find answers to questions that had occupied me for a very long time. I would think that it was a combination of working on my concerns in different ways for many years, but the constellation work did bring these concerns to a point of closure. There is only so much I could do by myself on an emotional, physical, and mental level. I am convinced that I'm part of a broader energy-web. In my experience, the Hellinger constellation process seems to work by changing such web patterns by means of "simply" acknowledging what is/was. It does sound simple, and yet it is very profound.
Brigitte is an outstanding facilitator, offering her gifts of intuition, deep knowledge, and compassion to lead and hold participants safely throughout the whole process. I can highly recommend working with her, and I am very grateful to know her and to have worked with her.
Brigitte Schanz, Clown and Movement/Theater Teacher
San Francisco, CA
December 2006
Brigitte Essl commbines deep insight, outstanding therapeutic skill and effective method to create the best family treatment I have experienced in my 30 years of practice as an LMFT family therapist.
Meike Kerper, LMFT
Cove, Oregon
December 2006
Some very beneficial changes have occurred for me since doing the constellation work. I think it is a wonderful blending of East and West, modern and tribal. The constellation work can help people who are stuck in relations with a family member, and it seems like that applies to just about everyone.
Jeff Etemad, DO
San Rafael, CA
* * Contact * * Systemic Family Constellation * * My Practice * * Metabolic Balance® * *