Responding to Intergenerational Psychological Trauma: A Literature Review Paper on the Place of Family Constellation Therapy

The intergenerational impact of psychological trauma and the repercussions that trauma can have upon an entire family system suggests individual therapy alone may be insufficient. The aim of this paper is to critically examine the Family Constellation Therapy approach as a potential therapy option f...

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Main Authors: John Hurley, Margarete Koenning, Angeline Bray
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia 2018-09-01
Series:Psychotherapy and Counselling Journal of Australia
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.59158/001c.71192
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author John Hurley
Margarete Koenning
Angeline Bray
author_facet John Hurley
Margarete Koenning
Angeline Bray
author_sort John Hurley
collection DOAJ
description The intergenerational impact of psychological trauma and the repercussions that trauma can have upon an entire family system suggests individual therapy alone may be insufficient. The aim of this paper is to critically examine the Family Constellation Therapy approach as a potential therapy option for responding to intergenerational trauma. This paper initially discusses the challenges of responding to trauma and then describes Family Constellation Therapy within a practice context. The underpinning philosophy of the therapy is also forwarded. To establish the potential worth of the approach, this paper then reports on the findings from a narrative review of the international peer reviewed literature on Family Constellation Therapy, following with a discussion on its application to intergenerational trauma. The limited evidence available suggests there is worth in integrating Family Constellation Therapy into other therapeutic approaches. There is also a clear need for creating a wider and deeper evidence base for Family Constellation Therapy.
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publisher Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia
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spelling doaj-art-8e6ac3b877ac47aaa5a186bcd2d9096d2025-08-20T02:38:25ZengPsychotherapy and Counselling Federation of AustraliaPsychotherapy and Counselling Journal of Australia2201-70892018-09-016110.59158/001c.71192Responding to Intergenerational Psychological Trauma: A Literature Review Paper on the Place of Family Constellation TherapyJohn HurleyMargarete KoenningAngeline BrayThe intergenerational impact of psychological trauma and the repercussions that trauma can have upon an entire family system suggests individual therapy alone may be insufficient. The aim of this paper is to critically examine the Family Constellation Therapy approach as a potential therapy option for responding to intergenerational trauma. This paper initially discusses the challenges of responding to trauma and then describes Family Constellation Therapy within a practice context. The underpinning philosophy of the therapy is also forwarded. To establish the potential worth of the approach, this paper then reports on the findings from a narrative review of the international peer reviewed literature on Family Constellation Therapy, following with a discussion on its application to intergenerational trauma. The limited evidence available suggests there is worth in integrating Family Constellation Therapy into other therapeutic approaches. There is also a clear need for creating a wider and deeper evidence base for Family Constellation Therapy.https://doi.org/10.59158/001c.71192
spellingShingle John Hurley
Margarete Koenning
Angeline Bray
Responding to Intergenerational Psychological Trauma: A Literature Review Paper on the Place of Family Constellation Therapy
Psychotherapy and Counselling Journal of Australia
title Responding to Intergenerational Psychological Trauma: A Literature Review Paper on the Place of Family Constellation Therapy
title_full Responding to Intergenerational Psychological Trauma: A Literature Review Paper on the Place of Family Constellation Therapy
title_fullStr Responding to Intergenerational Psychological Trauma: A Literature Review Paper on the Place of Family Constellation Therapy
title_full_unstemmed Responding to Intergenerational Psychological Trauma: A Literature Review Paper on the Place of Family Constellation Therapy
title_short Responding to Intergenerational Psychological Trauma: A Literature Review Paper on the Place of Family Constellation Therapy
title_sort responding to intergenerational psychological trauma a literature review paper on the place of family constellation therapy
url https://doi.org/10.59158/001c.71192
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AT angelinebray respondingtointergenerationalpsychologicaltraumaaliteraturereviewpaperontheplaceoffamilyconstellationtherapy