Family Constellations | Constellations Relationship Training

Professional Family (Systemic) Constellations Facilitator Training

A progressive learning pathway in
Family Constellations and Systemic Practice

Learning to facilitate Family Constellations is not about memorising techniques. It is about developing a different way of seeing, listening and being with people.

The most effective facilitators don't simply know what to do. They have developed the capacity to stay present with complexity, recognise hidden systemic dynamics, work safely with trauma, and trust the unfolding of the field.

These qualities cannot be rushed.

That is why this training has been designed as a progressive professional pathway of approximately 450 hours over two years. Each level builds upon the one before, allowing you to integrate theory, embodied practice, supervision and real-world application before moving to the next stage.

Whether you are a counsellor, psychologist, coach, educator, health professional or someone wanting to bring systemic thinking into your work, this pathway provides the knowledge, skills and experience to develop as an ethical and confident facilitator

Why This Training Is Different

Professional facilitation cannot be rushed.

This training has been intentionally designed as an 18 to 24-month professional learning pathway, combining live interactive training with self-paced learning, practical application, supervision and personal integration.

Some components are completed at your own pace through the online Learning Hub, allowing you to absorb the theory and revisit key concepts whenever you need. Live training then focuses on discussion, experiential learning, skills practice, supervision and the development of facilitator presence.

This blended approach allows you to learn the theory in your own time while making the most of our time together through experiential practice, feedback and reflection.

Developing into a confident and ethical facilitator takes time. Throughout the program you will progressively integrate systemic principles, trauma-informed practice and facilitation skills so they become embodied rather than simply understood intellectually.

By the completion of the program, you will have participated in approximately 300-350 hours of structured professional training, with the opportunity to continue into Advanced Practitioner specialisations, bringing the full professional learning pathway to approximately 450 hours.

This is not just a training of the mind but also a journey for the soul.

Your Professional Learning Pathway

Our training has been designed as a progressive professional pathway that develops your knowledge, practical skills and confidence over time. Rather than trying to learn everything at once, each stage builds upon the previous one, allowing you to integrate theory, embodied practice, supervision and real-world application.

Professional Systemic Facilitator Training

Duration: 12-18 months
Training Hours: Approximately 300-350 hours
Delivery: Blended learning combining live experiential training and self-paced online learning
Professional learning Includes: Supervision, case studies, practical facilitation and competency assessments
Further Study: Graduates may continue into Advanced Practitioner specialisations, bringing the complete professional learning pathway to approximately 450 hours.

Stage One: Systemic Foundations

Everything begins with understanding yourself and the systems that have shaped you.

Before learning to facilitate others, you will develop a strong understanding of the foundational principles of Family Constellations and the systemic lens through which we view individuals, families and organisations. You will explore the Orders of Love, phenomenology, systemic dynamics, trauma-informed practice and the hidden patterns that influence relationships, health, work and life.

As you deepen your understanding of the work, you will also explore your own system. Through experiential learning, you will increase your awareness of your family of origin, attachment patterns, unconscious loyalties and the ways your own history may influence your facilitation. This is not personal therapy, but professional development through increased self-awareness and embodied learning.

Alongside this inner development, you will build the practical foundations required to become a skilled facilitator, including nervous system awareness, facilitator presence, ethical practice, client interviewing, genograms, healing sentences, structural constellations and the foundations of one-to-one facilitation.

By the end of Part One, you will have a strong understanding of systemic principles, trauma-informed practice, greater awareness of your own system, and the confidence to begin facilitating foundational one-to-one constellations within a supervised learning environment.

Professional Facilitation

Building on the foundations developed in Part One, this stage focuses on integrating your knowledge into confident, ethical and professional practice.

You will progressively expand your facilitation skills through one-to-one and group constellations, supervised practice, case studies and experiential learning. As your confidence grows, you will learn to work with increasingly complex presentations while refining your ability to observe systemic dynamics, trust the phenomenological process and respond with greater clarity and presence.

This stage places a strong emphasis on developing professional judgement, ethical decision-making and the practical skills required to facilitate safely. Through ongoing supervision, feedback and reflective practice, you will continue to strengthen your facilitation style while remaining grounded in the principles of systemic work.

By the completion of Part Two, you will have developed the knowledge, practical experience and embodied presence required to facilitate Family Constellations professionally and safely.

Parts One and Two together comprise approximately 300-350 hours of structured professional training and lead to certification as a Professional Systemic Facilitator.

Stage Two: Advanced Practitioner Specialisations

After completing the Professional Systemic Facilitator Training, you may choose to continue your professional development through advanced specialist programs.

Current specialisations include:

Couples Constellations
Deepen your understanding of relationship dynamics, attachment, intimacy, separation, blended families and systemic approaches to working with couples.

Organisational & Business Constellations
Apply systemic principles to leadership, teams, organisations, family businesses, succession planning, decision-making, culture and organisational change.

Completion of the Professional Training together with an Advanced Practitioner Specialisation provides a total learning pathway of approximately 450 hours.

Why an Immersion Training?

Professional facilitation is not developed by learning techniques alone. It develops through knowledge, practice, reflection and personal integration.

This training has been intentionally designed as an immersion because becoming an effective facilitator takes time. As you progress through the program, you will not only learn new concepts, but gradually embody them through supervised practice, reflection and real client work. Over time, knowledge moves beyond intellectual understanding and becomes a natural way of seeing, listening and facilitating.

A fundamental principle of this training is that the facilitator is one of the most important instruments in the room.

The more present you are to yourself and your own experience, the more present you can be with your clients. Professional development therefore includes not only learning new skills, but continually developing self-awareness, emotional maturity and the capacity to remain grounded in the presence of complexity.

This commitment to ongoing personal and professional development is not something that ends with certification. It is a lifelong practice that strengthens the quality, safety and integrity of your work as a facilitator.

Family Constellations emerged from the psychotherapeutic tradition as a way of understanding the hidden structures and dynamics that influence individuals, families and larger systems. Today, systemic thinking is increasingly being integrated into counselling, psychotherapy, coaching, education, healthcare, leadership and organisational development.

Research across neurobiology, interpersonal neurobiology, attachment theory, epigenetics, somatic therapies and psychotherapy continues to demonstrate that experiences can influence not only individuals but also families across generations. Family Constellations offers a systemic framework for exploring these patterns, helping clients gain new perspectives, release burdens that no longer belong to them and move towards greater choice, connection and wellbeing.

Participation and Learning Expectations

This is a professional facilitator training program. Throughout the course, all students are expected to actively participate as both practice facilitators and practice clients. This dual role provides a deeper understanding of the facilitation process from both perspectives and is an essential part of developing competence and confidence as a facilitator.

The primary purpose of this training is to develop your facilitation skills, professional judgement and embodied understanding of systemic practice. While personal insights and growth often occur naturally through the learning process, this program is not designed as personal therapy.

During live training sessions, facilitators and training assistants focus on teaching, supervising and providing feedback. Practice constellations are facilitated by students as part of their professional development under guidance and supervision.

If you require personal therapeutic support or wish to undertake constellation work for your own personal process outside the training requirements, we encourage you to seek this with an appropriately qualified facilitator or mental health professional.

Student Testimonial

Coming from a background in clinical psychology it became clear that most issues clients bring are NOT rooted in individualistic constructs or paradigms. Family constellations was the missing link I was looking for, it is a systemic approach to resolving a client’s issues by focusing on situating their dis-ease, or, disconnections in the family or social system, and embedding healing in one’s nervous system.

Edwina is a skilled compassionate facilitator and trainer who understands and works systemically with whatever issue(s) a client brings. Working with her has been deeply revelatory and healing in my own core family wounding in ways inaccessible through traditional therapeutic modalities.

I was very impressed with the process and the way in which Edwina facilitated the constellations in the groups and saw parallels with depth psychological processes. The course was well structured, with excellent, clear grounding in the principles of Systemic constellations and the process of facilitation. The course contained plenty of structured practice sessions that gradually, and suitably increased in difficulty as the training progressed.

One of the key skills for facilitating Constellations, as with therapists and groupwork, is the attitude and state of awareness called 'the empty vessel' in SFC. It is an equivalent notion in psychotherapy which is referred to as 'holding the space'. It is a state in which the practitioner is trained to become conscious of, and set aside their pre-conceptions, biases, judgements, projections and other reactions to deal with what is happening in the present for the client from a client centred perspective in an objective manner. In psychodynamic therapy this is learning how to navigate transference and countertransference. Learning to be fully present, without projecting their own subjective experience, mindset and opinions onto the client or the presenting situation. Edwina not only taught the 'empty vessel' skill. She also modelled it and demonstrated it for my group during the entire course. Her facilitation skills were of a high standard.

The constellations process uses an object-relations model which enables people in the group to externalise their inner projection so that the subjective reality became objective, in other words, externalised in the constellation. This process enables them to look at their issue from a different (more objective) perspective. What impressed me was that is not merely role-playing. The SFC enables clients to tune into an intuitive field of awareness and consciousness by which people can objectively experience the previously unseen elements of their subjective reality. It helps what is suppressed, repressed and unconscious.

In the therapy process achieving object relations is difficult to do, and often takes months, if not years to achieve. While SFC is not recognised as a therapy in Australia (only overseas) I found it to be an incredibly efficient process with helps a client a simple way to locate, and bring to awareness, the elements of a system that are affecting them.

Caroline (BBSc(Hons), MPsych, MA)

Who Is This Program Designed For?

The Professional Systemic Facilitator Training is designed for people who want to develop the knowledge, skills and ethical practice required to facilitate Family and Systemic Constellations or integrate systemic thinking into their existing profession.

This training is particularly suited to:

Counsellors and Psychotherapists
Psychologists
Social Workers
Teachers and Educators
Health Professionals
Coaches
Allied Health Practitioners
Hypnotherapists

Kinesiologists
Community and Family Support Workers
People working with individuals, couples, families or groups
Those wishing to incorporate systemic principles into their current professional practice
People who are looking to transition into a helping profession through comprehensive professional training

Entry Requirements

No previous experience in Family and Systemic Constellations is required.

Applicants should:

Have an interest in supporting individuals, couples, families or groups.
Be willing to actively participate in experiential learning, supervision and skills practice.
Be open to personal reflection, professional development and constructive feedback.
Commit to developing ethical, trauma-informed facilitation skills throughout the program.

Applicants who are not currently working in a helping profession are encouraged to contact us to discuss their background and whether this training is the right fit.

*If you are not already in a therapy or helper career, there is a requirements at your own cost to prepare you for this work. Code of conduct course

Student Testimonial

I recently completed Edwina’s training. Whoa! It was quite a ride..… I’m so grateful for the whole
experience. Although Edwina’s course is not therapy, so many blind spots and unconscious
influences came to the surface. This allowed for some very deep healing and massive changes in
my life, especially around my practice and my self value. Edwina’s style is very practical and easy
to follow. I’ve always struggled with studying, and learning, but found this training to be very user
friendly. I felt extremely supported thorough out the training and made some tight bonds with the
other students. I feel so much more confident in facilitating group sessions now, and love that I
have extra tools that I can add to my practice. You can only go as deep with your clients as you
have gone within yourself. I highly recommend this training for existing practitioners. This work is
life changing. It wasn’t always easy, but it was totally worth it.

Thank you Edwina.

Warmly,
G.Marino

What's Included

Your Professional Systemic Facilitator Training includes:

Approximately 300-350 hours of structured professional learning (final hours to be confirmed)
Live experiential training
Self-paced online learning modules
Individual and group supervision
Extensive practical facilitation from one-to-one through to group constellations
Supervised skills practice with personalised feedback
Case studies and reflective learning activities
Competency assessments throughout the program
Access to your private online learning hub
Recorded training sessions for revision throughout the program
Quizzes, activities and additional learning resources
Opportunities to represent in Edwina's online and in-person Family Constellation workshops during your training
Ongoing support from a professional learning community throughout your training

Application Process

To ensure this training is the right fit for both you and the learning group, all applicants complete the following:

Submit an application form
Participate in a phone or Zoom conversation with Edwina
Discuss your professional background, experience and learning goals

No previous experience in Family and Systemic Constellations is required.

Certification Requirements

To be eligible for certification, participants must:

Successfully complete all required learning modules.
Attend and actively participate in live training sessions.
Complete all online learning activities, quizzes and reflective exercises.
Complete all required case studies and competency assessments.
Participate in supervision and practical facilitation requirements.
Demonstrate the ethical and professional competencies expected of a Systemic and Family Constellations Facilitator.

Professional Standards

Participants who are not already registered health or helping professionals may be required to complete additional training in professional ethics and codes of conduct before commencing clinical practice. Information about recommended pathways will be provided during the program.

Learning Resources

Participants receive access to a private online learning hub containing:

Recorded training sessions for revision throughout the program.
Online learning modules.
Quizzes and learning activities.
Downloadable resources and course materials.
Additional learning resources to support ongoing development.

Training sessions may be recorded for educational purposes and made available exclusively to enrolled participants through the secure online learning hub.

You WILL go to places you have never been....

Is This Training Right for You?

This professional training is designed for people who are committed to developing as ethical, competent and reflective Family and Systemic Constellations Facilitators.

To gain the most from the program, participants should be willing to:

Engage fully in experiential learning and practical facilitation.
Participate as both a facilitator and participant in practice constellations throughout the training.
Commit the time required to complete learning activities, supervision, case studies and assessments.
Approach learning with curiosity, openness and a willingness to consider different perspectives.
Reflect on their own learning and continue developing both personally and professionally.

This is a comprehensive professional training that asks for commitment, participation and a genuine desire to learn. If that sounds like you, we would love to welcome you into the program.

Your Trainer

More about Edwina

Edwina Van Der Westhuizen is a Family and Systemic Constellations facilitator, trainer, qualified professional clinical supervisor, counsellor and psychotherapist with more than 20 years of experience supporting individuals, couples and groups.

Holding a Master of Counselling, Edwina integrates Family Constellations with trauma-informed practice, psychotherapy, nervous system regulation and systemic thinking to provide a comprehensive and contemporary approach to facilitator training.

She has been facilitating Family Constellations since 2009 and has trained extensively in trauma, attachment, somatic approaches and systemic practice. As a university lecturer and experienced adult educator, she is passionate about helping students develop not only knowledge and technical skills, but also the presence, judgement and confidence required to facilitate safely and ethically.

Edwina is known for creating a supportive learning environment where complex systemic concepts become practical and accessible through a balance of theory, experiential learning, supervision and reflective practice.

She is a Clinical Member of the Psychotherapy and Counselling Federation of Australia (PACFA), a Level 3 Member of the Australian Counselling Association (ACA), and serves on the Advisory Board of Constellators International.

Her vision is to develop highly skilled, ethical and trauma-informed Family and Systemic Constellations Facilitators who can confidently integrate systemic principles into their professional practice.

Applications are now open for the following intakes:

September 2026 Apply Now

February 2027 Apply Now

Places are intentionally limited to maintain a high level of supervision, personalised feedback and practical learning.

Certification

Participants who successfully complete all learning, supervision, practical and assessment requirements will be awarded certification in the Professional Systemic Facilitator Training.

Investment

Professional Systemic Facilitator Training (2 years pathway- stage one and two)

Paid in full: $7,995
18-month payments of $465
24-month payments of $355

If you're unsure whether the full training is right for you, you may choose to begin with the first module as a standalone professional development program. Should you decide to continue into Stage One, the module fee is credited towards your enrolment.*

Stage One (Modules 1-5)

$5,750 paid in full
$775 X 8 month instalments
$540 X 12 month instalments (first payment one month before commencement)

Graduates of Stage One are eligible to continue into Stage Two to complete the full Professional Systemic Facilitator Training pathway.

Stage Two (Modules 6-8)

$2,500 paid in full
$350 X 8 month instalments
$250 X 12 month instalments (first payment one month before commencement)

Travel and accommodation for any in-person training components are additional and are the responsibility of the participant.

Previous Family Constellations Training

If you have previously completed Family Constellations training with another provider, please contact us to discuss your previous training and the most appropriate entry pathway into this program.

International Participants

Participants are welcomed from Australia and internationally. Please ensure the live training schedule is suitable for your time zone before enrolling.

Check conversion for your location: https://www.worldtimebuddy.com/