The representation of abortion is one of the points where the clinical system (McGoldrick) and the systemic reading (Hellinger) diverge, and understanding both conventions avoids serious confusion.
Standard McGoldrick Convention: A miscarriage is represented by a small filled triangle + cross; an induced or provoked abortion is represented by a triangle + cross + horizontal line (the horizontal line distinguishes it from a miscarriage). A stillborn baby is represented full-size with a large X, not as a triangle. These distinctions matter: three distinct clinical situations, three distinct symbols.
Hellinger Reading: While the clinical genogram tends to marginalize abortion (small symbol, outside the main sibling line), Hellinger places it in its actual ordinal position in the sibling line —at the same size as living children— because systemically it belongs equally. Some Constellation facilitators (Cristina Cáceres) also distinguish between desired abortions (X) and undesired abortions (darkened circle).
For the Constelando website, both representations are relevant: the McGoldrick is the recognized standard in psychology; the Hellinger is what captures the systemic weight of the lost member.
Clinical Example
A woman draws her genogram following McGoldrick: a tiny triangle to the side represents the abortion her mother had. The Constellation facilitator asks her to redraw it using the Hellinger convention: the abortion now has a normal-sized symbol, in its ordinal place in the sibling line. Visually, the woman sees the sibling she lost for the first time. Something shifts.
Illustrative case, anonymized and composed from frequent patterns in Family Constellation sessions.
Bibliography
- Genograms: Assessment and Treatment — Monica McGoldrick, Randy Gerson, Sueli Petry. W.W. Norton, 4th ed., 2020.
- Love's Own Truths — Bert Hellinger. Herder, 2001.
- Importance of including abortions in the family system (article) — Cristina Cáceres. cristinacaceresmangas.com.
These books are in the reference library that nurtures Constelando el Origen.
Site articles on this topic
Related terms
Ordinal place of the lost child (Hellinger's rule)
In the systemic system, a deceased sibling —including miscarriages and premature deaths— retains their ordinal place. If there was a miscarriage before the first living child, the first living child is "the second."
See entrySibling line and birth order
Horizontal line from which children hang in birth order, from oldest (left) to youngest (right). All siblings —living, deceased, unborn— occupy their ordinal place.
See entryExcluded from the system
A member of the clan whom the system erases from the narrative. When someone is excluded, the system assigns a descendant the task of representing them.
See entryBelonging
First systemic law: everyone who belonged to the system, belongs forever. Excluding someone forces the system to represent them later.
See entryA session that names what hurts
If you recognize this dynamic in your own story, a Family Constellation can reveal where it comes from and what movement can order it. Daniela accompanies each case with respect.
Sessions in Spanish only