Effectiveness and Experience
of Systemic Constellations


VIRTUAL REALITY SYSTEM INSTALLATIONS – TECHNOLOGY MEETS INTUITION


Family entrepreneurs and family businesses are facing increasingly complex challenges. One method that repeatedly reveals powerful insights in this context is systemic constellation.

The research project “Effectiveness and Experience of Systemic Constellations – A Randomised Controlled Feasibility Study” is a cooperative project funded by the WIFU Foundation at the Witten/Herdecke University, led by the Chair of Clinical Psychology and Psychotherapy III by Christina Hunger-Schoppe (Faculty of Health) and the WIFU Foundation Chair of Organisation and Development of Business Families by Heiko Kleve and Thomas Druyen.

RESEARCH QUESTIONS

The researchers involved in the project are addressing the following questions:

  • How can counseling intervention be conducted using VR technology and what effects can be observed?
  • What is the experience of the participants in virtual reality and what significance does this have for the use of the intervention in counseling?
  • What possibilities does VR technology offer that go beyond the classic presence setting in counseling contexts?

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this interdisciplinary research project is to investigate the feasibility of systemic constellations in VR as a systemic intervention for people in organisations with chronic socio-psychological conflicts within the framework of an RCT design. The study focuses on family entrepreneurs and family businesses.

FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN THE STUDY

The project implementation is planned from November 2023 to March 2024. The project management is happy to provide further information to those interested in the study. Contact us!

PROJECT PARTICIPANTS

The study is led by Prof. Dr. Christina Hunger-Schoppe (Chair of Clinical Psychology III) and Tobias Knoll (M.A./Doctoral Candidate), funded and supported by Prof. Dr. Heiko Kleve, Prof. Dr. Thomas Druyen, and Prof. Dr. Tom Rüsen.

BACKGROUND

There is little evidence-based research on the effectiveness of systemic constellations. An exception is the “Heidelberg Study on Systemic Constellations” in RCT design, whose results indicate short- to long-term effectiveness. Most formats of systemic constellation require a group setting with at least 10 people and take place in person – usually in one- to multi-day seminar events. This requires a high logistical, time, and economic effort, which makes it difficult to use systemic constellations regularly in everyday organisational life. It also poses a barrier for those who value a more anonymous setting to address particularly sensitive issues. A new, expanded, and possibly lower-threshold approach to dealing with psychosocial problems could be virtual reality (VR). This technology is already successfully used in various psychotherapy and counseling settings.

PROJECT FLYER


You can find further information about this research project here:

Flyer of the research project

CONTACT


Do you have any questions or suggestions regarding this research project?

Profile of Christina Hunger-Schoppe