Bert Hellinger credits his childhood home, his family and his faith as the major influences on his work. After World War II, he entered a Catholic religious order. His 16 years in South Africa as a missionary to the Zulu also deeply shaped his work. The process of living closely within a culture so unlike his native upbringing sharpened his awareness of the relativity of many cultural values. He is deeply committed to the goodness of culture, human variety and doing things in a different way.

Hellinger left the religious order amicably after 25 years believing being a priest no longer was an appropriate expression of his inner growth. He returned to Germany and began a psychoanalytic training in Vienna, met his wife, Herta, and soon married. They have no children.
 
He later trained in family therapy where he first experienced family constellations and systemic family therapy. After time he discovered this method of work was complimentary to his beliefs. Hellinger makes no claim to discovering something new, but there is no question he has made a new integration.
 
The Bert Hellinger Approach for systemic solutions with families and organizations has rapidly reached worldwide interest. Now in 25 countries consultants, therapists, and other practioners of family and organization constellation are working with the Hellinger Approach.