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Learning Tracks

General Approach to Teaching and Learning
How can we teach family constellations? How shall we learn them? One of the thrilling aspects of this International Intensive Workshop is to experience first hand how differently individuals and cultures approach the task of learning and teaching something as subtle and complex as family constellations. Simultaneously, each faculty member has his or her particular strengths and interests, so the task of fitting learners' needs and faculty strengths is complex. We are continuing to experiment every year with new organizational structures and teaching methods, seeking the impossible goal of meeting everyone's needs equally well. This year, too, we have made changes in the structure of the workshop and the teaching. What will remain unchanged is our deep commitment to our basic values in teaching and learning: clear theoretical knowledge and practical skills go hand in hand and are complimentary; true respect for individual uniqueness arises out of the stillness of manipulation-free presence; minimal intervention for maximal effect; the constellation leads, the facilitator follows.

Various Opportunities to Learn
The International Intensive workshop does not claim to be a complete, systematic training in constellation work, rather it is an opportunity to learn. Participants become members of an international learning community, everyone learning and teaching in his or her own way. The International Intensive Workshop 2012 offers participants four formal training opportunities as well as the opportunity to engage in informal conversation and exchange with other participants and faculty. There are Morning Lecture, Morning Workshops, Afternoon Work Groups, and an evening program.

Lecture
Each morning will begin with a short lecture on a theme of general relevance to constellation work.

Morning Workshops
Each morning participants will be free to choose between four or five different workshops led by the faculty who teach about their special interests and experiences. The workshops may include opportunities for supervision, theory, and special themes. The morning workshops are an opportunity to experience faculty who may not be in your afternoon group. We are offering again this year a special workshop on Fundamentals of Theory and Practice. Unlike all other morning workshops, the Fundamental Workshop requires that participants attend the Fundamentals Workshop every morning. In addition, we are planning to offer one or more new series of workshops this year for participants interested in exploring specific themes in greater depth. Suggested themes may include Working with Trauma in Constellations or Bonding in Human Relationships

Afternoon Workshops
All participants join an afternoon Work Group facilitated by a faculty member. These groups are an opportunity to work on personal issues, experience being a representative, develop skills and observe experienced facilitators at work. To work effectively in this way, each group needs an opportunity to develop trust and an open atmosphere. For this reason participants will stay in the same afternoon Work Group for the whole week. Each group will work with four or five different faculty members during the week. Please be aware that no group will work with all faculty members. There are three different kinds of afternoon work group, and participants choose which style of learning they prefer. The difference between the afternoon work groups is primarily the style of learning offered. Some very advanced learners prefer to learn in the experiential mode. Here is some additional information about the afternoon Work Groups:

Afternoon Experiential Groups
The afternoon experiential learning groups are the option of choice for those participants who prefer to learn by observing faculty at work. These afternoon groups are an opportunity to learn by working on personal issues, being a representative in another participant's constellation, and by discussing the work with faculty and participants. The faculty lead all constellations in groups of this option.

Afternoon Practice Groups
The purpose of the practice groups is to give more experienced participants an opportunity to lead constellations, make mistakes, give and get feedback in a safe learning environment. For this reason, persons choosing this option agree to the following conditions:

1. Participants in practice groups are confident that they can facilitate constellations constructively and safely, even if imperfectly;

2. Participants are willing to explore personal issues under the leadership of other participants.

3. The faculty facilitators are present as resources, but constellations are led by other participants, although faculty will intervene if they deem it to be in he interests of the client.

4. Participants are confident that they can accept constructive criticism with an open mind and offer it to others with honesty and kindness.

Afternoon Learning Circle
As one form of the experiential group, the Learning Circle is an intended for advanced practitioners and trainers. No explicit teaching is offered in the Learning Circle, but rather it offers a safe space for very experienced participants to work on personal issues and to exchange experiences with colleagues at a shared level of experience. Participation in a learning circle must be approved by the program director, and is only open to participants with extensive knowledge and experience in leading and teaching this approach.

Evening Program
All participants are free to offer or organize workshops on relevant themes of their choosing during the evening program. In the past, these have ranged from discussion groups to watching DVD about the work, to group dancing and the constellation clown. Most faculty members are available to be invited as resource persons for evening sessions, but participants demonstrating their specialty have led the most powerful evening groups.

Learning Tracks  |  Faculty  |  Location