The Healing Power of the Past: A New Approach to Healing Family Wounds

Bertold Ulsamer, PhD
Underwood Books (2005)
ISBN 1887424997
Reviewed by Michelle Anne Cox-Lomas for Reader Views (1/07)

Anyone who is involved in dynamic psychology will enjoy the new techniques for healing past relationship traumas in “The Healing Power of the Past” by Bertold Ulsamer Ph.D. You will learn about the research and true case studies of how “Constellations” work. The idea and practice of constellations as a healing technique, especially for deep psychological problems rooted in family situations, was first put into practice by Bert Hellinger. Both Bertold Ulsamer Ph.D. and Bert Hellinger are popular and well-known figures in the European communities. Bert Hellinger taught Bertold Ulsamer how to use his constellation technique and Mr. Ulsamer was often a representative at the various workshops.

As Bertold Ulsamer saw how important these techniques were, he decided to put into literary form all Bert Hellinger’s ideas and practices so that we too may begin to understand many new things about ourselves…and our past.

“The Healing Power of the Past” was first written in the German language back in 1999. Sheila Saunders edited and translated it into English and it became available for the first time to the English speaking audience in 2005. She did an excellent job, for this work is very important and super insightful. Psychology in general is mysterious and the constellation technique is even more so.

Did you know that you could be suffering a psychological problem due to something your great, great, great, grandfather or grandmother experienced in their lives? It seems that the old saying, “The sins of the parents are passed on down to the child.” comes into true form when you read and research this book. A lot of it does make sense and some of it is hard to believe, but, in many situations, nothing else makes sense as to why some people go through the traumas that they do in their lives. Many, many examples are given in each chapter and I liked that a lot, for it helped me to understand their important theories. I enjoyed reading the true life examples and seeing how they put the pieces of the psychological puzzles together.

The practice of constellations is quite mysterious, for a client will come into the office and there will be people there called representatives. This client will pick which people he/she wants to play which part in unveiling his/her life story. Imagine you are the client and you go to the doctor because you have a problem with your family. Let us say that they are just not getting along and you feel like you have to be the person who always has to be strong and help them to get along. Ok, you pick a representative for your mother, one to play your father, one to play the part of your sister etc. then they all stand up and you decide where in the room you want them each to be and which way they should stand (facing or not) each other. You also pick a person to represent yourself and then you sit down and watch. You do not tell any of them anything about your situation with your family, they somehow each will pick up on what is called “The Knowing Field” and they will be able to “feel” what has been going on. You just simply observe. Most of the time, they will know which way to look at each other and the therapist will help guide them into a more healing way of being. There is also a language that the therapist helps them with in order to heal and honor each other. As you observe the healing taking place and when, or if, you feel that you would like to take out your representative and take your own place within the group, then you can do so, but it is not mandatory that you do that. You can simply observe and watch the healing interaction take place.

You will learn so many things about yourself and the people in your family through this deep psychological book. Constellations can be done between two people, or with a large group of people. It all depends on the situation that needs to be uncovered and healed through.

There were many amazing things that I learned that I never even had thought about before, especially the fact that we can be carrying around a type of psychological DNA energy from our ancestors that can effect how we think and act today. It made me think about how to be a better parent to my own children so that they don’t have to carry around any emotional baggage left over from me. This one point alone and the examples that “The Healing Power of the Past” gives, which are many, makes this book a real eye opener.

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