Statement
In February 2009, more than 40 people from ten different countries met in Vienna, Austria, for a conference. Each participant was either a constellation facilitator with a (complete or partial) Jewish background, or the life partner of a Jewish constellation facilitator. The conference was organized because the initiators felt a need to create an opportunity to explore and discuss how we, as people with a variety of Jewish backgrounds who are involved in systemic and transgenerational work, relate to the development of the theory, paradigms and models that are used and taught to address victim-perpetrator dynamics in family constellations. The initiative for this statement grew spontaneously out of the conference and the text was written by a group of volunteers in the weeks after the conference. After its completion the statement was presented to all who had been present at the conference and to constellation facilitators with a Jewish background who had not been present, and it was signed by all those who want to publicly endorse its content.
All who have signed this statement are of the opinion that the time has come to state that passively disconnecting from Bert Hellinger and his wife Sophie Hellinger (as many of us have done already over the years) is no longer sufficient. We feel that the most responsible way to respond to the recent developments in the work of the Hellingers is to make a joint public statement.
We recognize that Bert Hellinger has made valuable contributions to the discipline of systemic constellations in the past, and that he has done work that has greatly helped individuals and families. Bert Hellinger’s theory has inspired us in various ways. We remain grateful for this.
We have observed that in the development of the Hellingers’ work there is a consistent and growing tendency to use techniques of manipulation of groups, such as have been employed by sectarian religious groups and by totalitarian and fascist regimes and organizations. We believe that in recent years, some of the methods and theories developed and used by Bert and Sophie Hellinger and some of the statements made by them are harmful. We speak as psychotherapists and as constellations leaders, we also speak as people with a Jewish background and as partners of people with a Jewish background. We believe these developments are not just harmful to us ourselves, but that they are equally harmful for all others as well.
In this statement we find ourselves aligned with others who have expressed their concerns about the developments in the Hellingers’ work in their own words, for their own reasons. To mention a few examples: members of the board of directors of DGfS (Deutsche Gesellschaft für Systemaufstellungen, formerly the IAG) and of ISCA (the International Systemic Constellations Association) have publicly separated from Bert Hellinger in an open letter which was published (in German) in Praxis der Systemaufstellung issue 1/2008 (an English version of this statement is at the moment not yet available on the internet). In the same issue of the Praxis der Systemaustellung, Heinrich Breuer published a personal reflection on the distance that grew between Bert Hellinger and himself, and explains why he has taken a step back from him. In July 2007, a letter written by Dr. Melanie Salmon was posted on ‘constellation talk’ an Internet forum for constellation facilitators (www.constellationflow.com). In this letter, Dr. Salmon describes her experiences as a participant in a training by Bert and Sophie Hellinger, and ends with (quoted with permission): “If there was a world ethical organization that I was aware of that I could report my concerns to, I most certainly would do so.”
In several places, on several occasions, for example in Seville, Spain (October 2006), Bert Hellinger has allowed his wife to call him a prophet in front of large audiences. Additionally, for example in Buenos Aires, Argentina (August 2007) both Hellingers have claimed that Bert Hellinger's insights are directly given to him from a higher source or power. We reject Bert Hellinger in his role as a prophet and as the voice of an unknown higher force, because by taking this position he places himself in an untouchable position where personal and professional feedback becomes unnecessary and irrelevant.
In Mexico, February 2008, and in other groups, people were asked to shout repeating words (Yes! Yes! Yes!) or repeating slogans (“Yes to the mother!” “Yes to the father!”) with one arm raised. First this body movement was directed to be done with closed fists, but in Mexico also with outstretched fingers. Such gestures closely resemble the ‘Heil Hitler’ salutation that was used during the Hitler regime. We believe that a boundary has been crossed that should never be crossed. We express our deep concern and outrage at these developments, we consider them extremely alarming. We hope and recommend that collegues will not use them in their work.
In this statement, we want to specifically state our opposition to the often dogmatic and simplistic way the Hellingers address the dynamics between victim and perpetrator. The dynamics between perpetrators and their victims are complex, they differ from conflict to conflict, from culture to culture and from time to time. The dynamics between perpetrator and victim can be always be interpreted and understood in various ways, both within family structures when it concerns physical abuse and incest, and in conflicts between large groups and nations.
Based on our professional experience and on our personal experience as people with a Jewish background, we state that the negative effects of the past regarding perpetrator and victim dynamics can not and should not automatically be simplified and explained in the way the Hellingers do.
We agree that each person and each historical role they have chosen or that was forced on them by others in times of conflict, persecution or war needs to be recognized and seen for what it is. Both perpetrators and victims need recognition and need to be given their place, no one can be excluded. Still, the differences between victim and perpetrators cannot be denied and must be honored too. When we address the perpetrator-victim dynamics in constellations, we should be aware that what is appropriate for the people belonging to one group is not necessarily right for those belonging to the other group.
In Mexico, 2008, Bert and Sophie Hellinger asked approximately 500 people to engage in a visualization in which the family members of a Jewish Mexican constellation pioneer (who was no longer present at the conference) were all bowing down to the nazis, to ‘honor them’. They offered this as a solution to certain financial difficulties between themselves and this Jewish constellation leader (to read more about these events in Mexico, visit: www.transgeneracional.org). We believe that these actions by the Hellingers are a direct violation of all the laws of ethics that govern therapeutic work. For example: no therapist should ever disclose and expose someone’s family history without their permission. Beside this, family data of the Jewish facilitator were invented by the Hellingers and presented to the group as facts, to support their own opinion and serve their own agenda.
As professionals, we protest strongly against such disrespectful actions. Additionally, as people with a Jewish background, we find these actions extremely painful and insulting. We protest against the use of stereotypes about Jews, and about any other group of people. We do not want survivors of Jewish families to be recruited and used in visualizations in which they must bow down to honor the nazis who killed their relatives. It is not our experience that the complex, multifaceted intergenerational traumas and other difficulties that can be recognized in families of people who have been persecuted can simply be healed by asking or ordering people to unconditionally honor the perpetrators. We believe that to ask victims of persecution or their descendants to honor the murderers of their family members is not only counterproductive and painful, but also insulting and (re)traumatizing.
We want to make it specifically clear our refusal to accept dogmatic, simplistic paradigms about victim-perpetrator dynamics, does not mean that we reject the German people or the descendants of nazis and war criminals. We do not hold children responsible for the crimes of their parents.
Family constellations, in their many different forms, can be used as a method that brings healing. Family constellations can be used in such a way that they stimulate social responsibility and change for the better. But, constellation work can also be used as a method that confuses and harms people. We believe that the healing potential of constellation work can only be manifest in a climate of mutual respect and trust, in an environment that recognizes and protects the boundaries of all participants, and not in a climate of dogmatization and intimidation.
We believe that respectful dialogue between members of groups which have played different historical roles during times of war and oppression is essential and important. We believe that constellation work can be used in a way that supports and respects differences, diversity and the dignity of everybody present. We know that many facilitators worldwide believe the same, whatever their nationality, religion or background is. We respect their intentions and their work. We no longer believe that Bert and Sophie Hellinger (and those that copy their style of work) use the constellation work in this way.