Frequently asked
Everything people ask
Clear answers before you decide to come.
Do I have to be in crisis, or have a diagnosis?
+
No. Most people come with a pattern that keeps repeating: in relationships, with money, with a parent, or with grief that does not move. You do not need a diagnosis, and you do not need to be in crisis.
Do I have to talk in front of everyone?
+
No. With a participant place you do not have to share anything personal. You take part, you observe, and if you feel comfortable you can represent in someone else's constellation.
Do I have to bring my family?
+
No. Your family does not need to attend, be present, or even know you are there. Representatives stand in for them.
What if I do not know my father, or I know little about my family?
+
That is common, and it is workable. The constellation works with what you know. Missing information is often part of what shows up.
What is the difference between participating and constellating?
+
A participant place, $30, joins the group: you accompany the constellations, you may represent, and you join the whole session. A constellator place, $60, works on your own theme. Only two people constellate in a workshop, and the places go in order of payment.
I have never been to anything like this. Is that a problem?
+
Not at all. Most people are there for the first time. With a participant place you do not have to tell your story, and everything that happens in the group is confidential.
Does one session fix it?
+
One session shows a picture. What you do with it afterwards is the work. People usually notice changes over the following weeks rather than in the room, and some themes are worth returning to later.
Can I do it online?
+
Yes. Private sessions run online with figures on camera or a shared board, and they work well for clients outside Quito.
Is this a religion, or against my religion?
+
It is neither. Family Constellations is a therapeutic and experiential method, not a belief system or a religious practice. You are not asked to adopt anything.
Does it replace therapy or medical care?
+
No. It is an experiential method and it does not replace medical or psychiatric treatment. We ask that anyone in acute crisis or under psychiatric care speak with Karina before joining a group.
Is it confidential?
+
Yes. What happens in the circle stays there. That is part of what makes the room work.
What should I bring?
+
Comfortable clothing and a bottle of water. Mats, blankets and cushions are provided at the centre. Please arrive ten minutes early, because the session starts on time.
Do I have to believe in the field?
+
No. Nobody will ask you to accept any explanation of how this works. What matters is what you notice in the room and afterwards. We call it a field because it is the closest word we have, and you are free to call it something else.