Joan Garriga Bacardí (Sant Cugat del Vallès, Spain, 1956) is a psychologist, trainer, and author of several books that have popularized the systemic approach in the Spanish-speaking world. Trained directly by Bert Hellinger in the 1990s, he directs the Institut Gestalt de Barcelona and has trained hundreds of Constellation facilitators.
His most widely read books—*Where Are the Coins?*, *The Good Love in Couples*, *The Key to the Good Life*—combine the rigor of the systemic method with clear language and a humanist emphasis. His voice is a reference for those who want to access the approach without the Germanic density of Hellinger’s original texts.
Garriga is especially insightful about the couple's bond, the place of the mother and father in the adult psyche, and the movements of the soul in the face of suffering. His books appear in the bibliography of several entries in this glossary.
Evidence and Contemporary Voices
Joan Garriga Lahera, a Spanish clinical psychologist (Barcelona, 1955), is the author of popular works on Family Constellations derived from Bert Hellinger's model, such as 'Buena educación en la familia' (Good Education in the Family, 2003) and 'El buen amor en la pareja' (Good Love in Couples, 2006), applied to relational dynamics. There is no peer-reviewed academic research empirically evaluating his clinical contribution to systemic psychology or transgenerational trauma. Studies on Family Constellations, such as that by González-Pascual et al. (2020) in Repisalud, conclude that the scarce available evidence does not allow affirming efficacy or safety in mental illnesses, with no specific references to Garriga. In rigorous clinical contexts, his work is associated with unvalidated phenomenological approaches, contrasting with evidence-based family therapies like those of Minuchin or Bowen.
Verifiable Citations
- "Family Constellations lack scientific backing and are considered a pseudotherapy." — González-Pascual et al., Efficacy and safety of Family Constellations in mental illnesses (2020).
Researchers and Referents
- Bert Hellinger — Founder of Family Constellations — Original development of the phenomenological method
- Joan Garriga Lahera — Hellinger Institute of Barcelona — Popular applications in education and couples
Auditable Sources
Notes and Open Debates
Garriga's work, as Hellingerian extensions, faces criticism for lack of empirical validation and unfalsifiable premises, with ethical risks such as the suggestion of false memories and victim blaming, according to analyses by Fundación PSF (2023) and reviews in Psicología y Mente.
Additional research generated by consulting academic sources (Perplexity Sonar Pro). Citations and URLs are the responsibility of their original source; verify before formally citing.
Bibliography
- The Good Love in Couples — Joan Garriga. Destino, 2013.
- The Key to the Good Life — Joan Garriga. Destino, 2014.
These books are in the reference library that nourishes Constelando el Origen.
Related terms
Family Constellation
Therapeutic method developed by Bert Hellinger that makes visible the hidden dynamics of the family system through representatives in space.
View entryBert Hellinger
German psychotherapist (1925-2019). Founder of Family Constellations and formulator of the orders of love.
View entryOrders of love
The three systemic laws formulated by Hellinger: belonging, order, and balance. The basis of the entire method.
View detailsA session that names what hurts
If you recognize this dynamic in your own history, a Family Constellation can reveal where it comes from and what movement brings order to it. Daniela respectfully accompanies each case.
Sessions in Spanish only