La Sonrisa
Coaching with horses
Family constellations and systemic coaching with horses
Gaining insight into what is unconsciously at play
Sometimes you may notice that certain patterns keep repeating themselves. In relationships, at work, or in the way you relate to yourself. You may understand with your mind what is happening, yet still feel that little truly changes.
Systemic work can help you discover what is moving beneath the surface.
At La Sonrisa, we use constellations to make visible the dynamics that may be influencing your question or situation. When these dynamics come into view, there is often more understanding, calm, and space for change.
What is systemic coaching?
Systemic coaching is based on the understanding that every person is part of different systems: your family of origin, your current family, your team, or your organisation.
Within these systems, unconscious patterns and dynamics can be present. When the balance within a system is disturbed, this may become noticeable in relationships, work, or personal development.
Systemic coaching helps to make these underlying dynamics visible through a constellation.
Systemic coaching can be helpful when you notice that:
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certain patterns keep repeating themselves
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you are carrying more than what is yours to carry
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you feel responsible for others
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you find it difficult to take your place
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you experience an inner conflict
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choices continue to feel heavy or confusing
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there are recurring conflicts within your family or at work
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you feel stuck in (career) choices
Often, these are themes that cannot be fully resolved through talking alone.
The goal is not to “fix” the system, but to bring into awareness what wants to be seen. This often creates more inner calm, clarity, and space.
You do not need any experience with horses.
We work beside the horse, not on the horse. Safety, calm, and your own pace are always our priority.
The added dimension of horses
When systemic work takes place in the presence of horses, they bring an added dimension.
Horses often respond directly to systemic disturbances, such as tension, exclusion, or unclear order within a system.
Their responses are pure and without judgement. They can make tangible what words sometimes cannot fully capture.
Systemic sessions are, of course, also possible without horses, for example indoors. Even then, the work can be powerful and deeply insightful.
What is a systemic constellation?
A constellation is a method in which your question is placed spatially.
Elements from your system — for example family members, a symptom, a desire, or a choice — are given a place in the space. This makes visible what usually remains hidden.
There are different ways of working with constellations
Family constellation
In a family constellation, we explore the dynamics within your family system, often starting with your family of origin. Many of the patterns we encounter later in life have their roots here.
We begin with you and the question or theme you would like to explore. This may relate to recurring patterns, relationships, family, work, life choices, loss, responsibility, or a feeling that you are carrying something that does not fully belong to you. By giving people, feelings, or themes a place in the constellation, it becomes visible how you relate to your family system. Not to judge or analyse, but to gently explore what wants to be seen.
Organisational or team constellation
In an organisational or team constellation, we explore the underlying dynamics within a team, company, or organisation. This may involve collaboration, leadership, roles, communication, change, conflict, or the achievement of shared goals.
By giving team members, roles, clients, goals, or key themes a place in the constellation, hidden patterns and dynamics can become visible. This helps reveal where tension, confusion, or a loss of energy may be present. Not to assign blame, but to understand what the system needs in order to regain clarity, balance, and forward movement.
Health and symptom constellation
A health or symptom constellation can be helpful when you want to explore what may be present on a deeper level in relation to physical symptoms or recurring health complaints. It is not intended to identify a medical cause, but rather to explore the relationship between you, your body, the symptom, and the system from which you come.
Within the constellation, elements such as yourself, the symptom, the body, family members, significant events, or supportive resources may be given a place. This can reveal whether there are underlying tensions, loyalties, unresolved grief, longstanding patterns, or something that has not yet been acknowledged.
The constellation invites you to gently explore what your body may be expressing or bringing into awareness. Not as a judgement, but as a doorway to greater awareness, acknowledgement, and a deeper connection with yourself.
A health or symptom constellation is not a medical treatment, diagnosis, or a substitute for care provided by a doctor, therapist, or other healthcare professional. It may offer additional insights alongside conventional medical or psychological care.
Career constellation
In a career constellation, we explore the deeper dynamics that may be influencing your work, sense of direction, and career choices. This may involve feeling stuck in your current job, uncertainty about taking a new step, difficulty being visible, a desire for different work, or the feeling that you are not fully using your talents and potential.
By giving elements such as your current work, your aspirations, a new direction, fear, security, success, or family expectations a place in the constellation, it becomes visible what supports you and what may be standing in the way of your next step.
I offer different forms of constellation work
Individual constellation
(1:1 constellation)
Floor markers
Using floor markers, the different elements are given a place in the space. By observing the relationships and distances between them, and sometimes physically stepping into different positions, you can experience how each place feels and what it reveals. I most often use this form of constellation work among the horses, but it can also be done without the horses if you prefer.
Table constellation
Using wooden figures and other elements, your system is set up on a table. This is an accessible and clear way to make patterns visible.
This table constellation does not take place with the horses, but for example outside on my terrace, or perhaps even at your home. Please contact me to discuss the possibilities.
Drawing constellation
In this form, you intuitively draw the different elements of your question. The relationships, distance, and position often provide surprising insights. This can be done among the horses but it can also be done without the horses if you prefer.
Group constellation
In a group constellation, several people come together to create a constellation. Participants may stand as representatives for people or elements from the system of the person bringing in the question.
What is often remarkable is that representatives experience information or feelings that fit the role they are representing. In this way, underlying dynamics often become surprisingly clear and visible.
Are you interested in taking part in a group constellation?
Please contact me or check my Facebook page La Sonrisa - Coaching with horses for available dates.
When there are enough registrations, a new date will be scheduled.
Together, we choose a form of working that suits you.
Each form has its own strength and can help you gain insight into the dynamics of a situation.
Would you like to discover what a constellation could mean for you?
Please feel free to contact me for more information or to schedule a session.
What is the difference between coaching with horses and systemic work with horses?
Although both forms have similarities, they differ in approach and focus.
Coaching with horses
Mainly focuses on you as an individual and your personal development in the here and now.
For example, you may work on:
In short:
You work on yourself, with the horse as a mirror.
Systemic work with horses
Goes one layer deeper and explores the dynamics of the system you are part of, such as your family or work environment. The dynamics become visible through a constellation.
In short:
You explore not only yourself, but also the underlying patterns within your system.
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self-confidence
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boundaries
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communication
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leadership
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personal growth
How do you choose what is right for you?
Are you unsure whether to choose coaching with horses or systemic work? These guidelines may help.
Coaching with horses may be suitable if you:
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want to work on a concrete personal theme
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want to practise new behaviour
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want to develop more self-confidence or clarity
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are looking for practical tools
Systemic work with horses can be helpful if you:
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notice that patterns keep repeating themselves
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feel that you are carrying something that is not yours
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have questions around family, relationships, or your place within a system
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feel that a deeper layer is at play
Not sure which choice to make?
During the session, we will look together at what best suits your question.
Get in touch to book your session.