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Systemic Coaching and Constellations: The Principles, Practices and Application for Individuals, Teams and Groups
Systemic Coaching and Constellations offers a refreshingly uncomplicated path into a potentially complex subject, demonstrating how to understand and manage intricate relationship systems as part of a powerful coaching agenda.
This book provides a comprehensive introduction to the principles that sustain systems, how to map and explore them through constellations, as well as a step-by-step guide to integrating these principles and practices into coaching. Featuring a variety of case studies from around the world to illustrate different facilitation styles and approaches, it also contains practical exercises which can be used in a variety of contexts, including one-to-one coaching, group coaching, leadership development coaching and managing conflict in teams.
This updated third edition of Systemic Coaching and Constellations contains a new chapter on systemic supervision, new material on team coaching, systemic questions and resourcing constellations as well as new and refreshed case studies and updates to wider research and thinking. Whether used in an initial selection meeting or to underpin all coaching conversations and interventions, it remains an indispensable resource for coaches of all levels of experience and in all remits looking to transform their practice, as well as for those studying coaching as part of a degree or coaching qualification.
This book provides a comprehensive introduction to the principles that sustain systems, how to map and explore them through constellations, as well as a step-by-step guide to integrating these principles and practices into coaching. Featuring a variety of case studies from around the world to illustrate different facilitation styles and approaches, it also contains practical exercises which can be used in a variety of contexts, including one-to-one coaching, group coaching, leadership development coaching and managing conflict in teams.
This updated third edition of Systemic Coaching and Constellations contains a new chapter on systemic supervision, new material on team coaching, systemic questions and resourcing constellations as well as new and refreshed case studies and updates to wider research and thinking. Whether used in an initial selection meeting or to underpin all coaching conversations and interventions, it remains an indispensable resource for coaches of all levels of experience and in all remits looking to transform their practice, as well as for those studying coaching as part of a degree or coaching qualification.
368 pages, Paperback
Published August 25, 2020
45 people are currently reading
80 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
July 29, 2025
Interesting but difficult to get through!
April 30, 2024
Confusing in Epistemological Approach
Whilst this approach is said to be Somatic and phenomenological, the author appears to embrace the opposite philosophy in the theory behind the concept.
The problem of organisational dysfunction is to be found by examining 'under the hood" of the family system of the organisational members, particularly the leaders I CEO’s. These leaders then place responsibility for getting their unmet childhood needs serviced at the door of their organisations. There is no statistical evidence offered to back up this fact.
Wider sociological and political enquiries are not made and there is no reference to the discursive and cultural ideologies that underpin the organisational rules and structures that are continuously being renegotiated through conversation between people. The author is searching for one right static system wide organisational truth instead of many truths that are in flux and negotiated.
Although there is an attempt to relieve the organisational members of their head level thinking when they are stuck by using representative material, this isn't a somatic practice which would require the client to experience an introspective and proprioceptive right brained phenomenon beyond the simply representational (which still requires a left brained interpretation).
The most disturbing element for me is that the coach is seen as the expert and the ideology comes from a distinct search for “What’s Wrong” despite the fact that there are no stories of when this approach goes wrong!
Whilst this approach is said to be Somatic and phenomenological, the author appears to embrace the opposite philosophy in the theory behind the concept.
The problem of organisational dysfunction is to be found by examining 'under the hood" of the family system of the organisational members, particularly the leaders I CEO’s. These leaders then place responsibility for getting their unmet childhood needs serviced at the door of their organisations. There is no statistical evidence offered to back up this fact.
Wider sociological and political enquiries are not made and there is no reference to the discursive and cultural ideologies that underpin the organisational rules and structures that are continuously being renegotiated through conversation between people. The author is searching for one right static system wide organisational truth instead of many truths that are in flux and negotiated.
Although there is an attempt to relieve the organisational members of their head level thinking when they are stuck by using representative material, this isn't a somatic practice which would require the client to experience an introspective and proprioceptive right brained phenomenon beyond the simply representational (which still requires a left brained interpretation).
The most disturbing element for me is that the coach is seen as the expert and the ideology comes from a distinct search for “What’s Wrong” despite the fact that there are no stories of when this approach goes wrong!
September 13, 2025
Synopsis:
John Whittington's "Systemic Coaching" presents a comprehensive dive into the world of systemic coaching, segmented into five insightful parts.
Part one, lays the groundwork by defining systemic coaching and constellations, and contextualizing them within the coaching domain.
Part two examines the principles of belonging, guilt, innocence, and systemic rules like time, place, and exchange.
Part three provides practical tips on integrating these techniques into coaching practices.
Part four illustrates their application in both individual and group settings, while part five addresses frequent themes in systemic coaching sessions.
My Opinion:
The illumination provided by the first three parts was particularly beneficial for me as a beginner, offering a textbook-like structure that neatly laid out foundational concepts. The exploration of systems as interconnected webs of dynamics and rules was insightful.
However, the latter chapters seemed geared towards more seasoned practitioners. A bifurcation of the book into foundational and advanced sections might enhance clarity and focus for readers at different expertise levels.
John Whittington's "Systemic Coaching" presents a comprehensive dive into the world of systemic coaching, segmented into five insightful parts.
Part one, lays the groundwork by defining systemic coaching and constellations, and contextualizing them within the coaching domain.
Part two examines the principles of belonging, guilt, innocence, and systemic rules like time, place, and exchange.
Part three provides practical tips on integrating these techniques into coaching practices.
Part four illustrates their application in both individual and group settings, while part five addresses frequent themes in systemic coaching sessions.
My Opinion:
The illumination provided by the first three parts was particularly beneficial for me as a beginner, offering a textbook-like structure that neatly laid out foundational concepts. The exploration of systems as interconnected webs of dynamics and rules was insightful.
However, the latter chapters seemed geared towards more seasoned practitioners. A bifurcation of the book into foundational and advanced sections might enhance clarity and focus for readers at different expertise levels.
August 25, 2020
It was an informative and very useful read that introduced me to new concepts that I will surely use in my work activity.
I love the style of writing and how it is organised.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
I love the style of writing and how it is organised.
Highly recommended.
Many thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for this ARC, all opinions are mine.
January 27, 2022
I found the concepts in this book inspiring. It explains the principles and practices of Systemic Coaching and Constellations in an easy to follow way. I would highly recommend this book to coaches or anyone interested in the hidden dynamics within relationships.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews