Marine Sélénée, Family Constellations Therapist
Marine Sélénée is a New York-based Family Constellations therapist, author, and speaker. She offers in-person and virtual private sessions and workshops. She also speaks at panel discussions and conferences delivering motivational speeches. Since 2019 she’s partnered with Goop Health as an expert and this year she joined Hay House where her book will be published in the spring of 2022. Her unique approach to Family Constellations helps people heal from family wounds and find individual blocks rooted in the family system. Her clients can get to the root of their pain, to not only heal themselves but the generations before and after them. Her greatest passion is sharing the transformative power of Family Constellations.
A French native, Marine was born in Brittany and raised in Paris. After studying psychology and communications in Paris, she moved to Miami where she met one of her greatest mentors who introduced her to Family Constellations therapy. For her, it was love at first sight. Discovering the life-changing nature of this healing work for herself was a complete re-awakening and she began to immerse herself in the process.
Marine moved to New York City to continue her studies in Family Constellations at the Bert Hellinger Institute. For those unfamiliar with Family Constellations, the practice was designed to detect the blocks only our subconscious mind is aware of. It holds the unique power to shift generations of unhappiness, unconscious family loyalties, and hidden dynamics preventing us from living a full life. Through this awareness, we can uncover and dissolve the blocks in our family system that impact the cornerstones of our lives: relationships, finances, careers, and health.
Upon completing her studies, Marine opened her private practice in New York. Her natural charisma and enthusiasm for her work along with the innate ability to recognize her client’s triggers and traumas is why so many clients flock to her practice. Her insight creates the opportunity to dig up and dissolve unconscious blocks to receive real healing and lasting change.
It is a fact that French women are renowned for their beauty, style, and confidence. Marine is very much all of the above. Most of all, though, there is such an appealing quality to her that cannot be described or named easily. The French call it “je ne sais quoi”. She has this wondrous ability to truly hear you and help you identify trauma or blocks you’ve never even known were there. I had several huge aha moments from just a short walk with her. Moments where I wondered how had I not seen that in all of my years of searching when Marine had uncovered it in less than 10 minutes.
Not only does she unsheathe these hidden blocks but she also provides amazingly simple instructions on how to release these newly discovered ancestral traumas. It’s not every day one has to heal events that occurred two generations back. Her method embraces ease in the healing process. When healing may often seem overwhelming or overcomplicated Marine celebrates simplicity. Sometimes you need someone to help see all that has been right in front of you for most of your life but that you have not seen. Marine is that lighthouse that directs you through the fog into clearer, calmer seas.
Find out more information about working with Marine and on Family Constellations at www.marineselenee.com and @marineselenee.
What is your secret to living a high-vibrancy life?
Alignment with myself by being in love with my life and the person that I am. I also give myself the freedom to do what I want. It’s not an easy practice but I do my best each day.
Who is a woo-woo working woman that you admire and why?
Any woman who lives on her terms and is not afraid of being herself (same for men!). Women who are bold, badass, confident, vulnerable, sexy, and glamorous. A few that come to mind are Ashley Graham, Gwyneth Paltrow, Oprah Winfrey, Ruth Ginsberg, Christy Turlington, Doutzen Kroes, and, on top of the list, my mother.
How do you balance work, wellness, and spirituality?
By acknowledging what I need to function properly. Every Sunday, I block a few hours on my agenda for my workout, a massage, a lunch with my girlfriends, or a walk in nature. Just know what you need to be happy, make room for it, and then the rest will follow.
And, again, just a kind reminder that you’re doing your best at that moment and this is more than enough.
Was there any one significant event that moved you onto the path of becoming the woman you are today?
Four significant events led me to my path.
At the age of 13, I was sexually abused. I promised my young, teenage self that one day, she would be happy, in love, and loved by an amazing man. I promised that her experience would help other women with similar events learn how to still show up for their sexuality and pleasure.
At the age of 22, my father disowned us (my brother, mother and I). I embraced a career as a family constellations therapist because I wanted to understand my father and heal what happened before him and with him so that no one else after him would have to suffer with it as well. My family reunited in 2015 finally and, of course, my parents are still divorced but we are at peace with each other now.
At the age of 23, I left my husband. He was jealous, possessive, violent, and madly in love with me. Despite everything that happened, he was the one who supported and embarked on the journey of coming to America with me and, ultimately, the one who encouraged me to believe in myself
At the age of 34, I lost my best friend. The first man who took care of me and looked at me like I was a f****** treasure. When he committed suicide, my entire world fell apart. It was a blessing in disguise. I had to finally become vulnerable and open my heart to meet love and my soulmate.
My relationship with men has always been pretty intense and passionate but they have represented the triggers I needed to move me onto the path of becoming the woman I am today.
Personal Mantra?
“Impose your chance, hold tight to your happiness, and go towards your risk. Looking your way, they’ll follow.” Rene Char
“Tomorrow is another day” Scarlett O’Hara (Gone with the Wind)
“Act now, think after.” “It’s a mess but there is no problem!” * (That’s from me!)
What did discovering what you wanted to do professionally in the healing and wellness world look like for you?
An awakening. Love at first sight. Like meeting the man of your life and instantly knowing that it is him. That’s exactly what happened to me with Family Constellations. It was just natural, a revelation, something meant to be and since then, I’ve never broken up with it!
Are there any skills or life behaviors you wish you’d developed or learned earlier that are essential to your success now?
Self-Confidence. Self-Love. Trusting in who I was and not paying attention to judgment or criticism.
What do you wake up looking forward to in your work?
What matters to me is that my clients finally break free from their stories. They come to understand that they are responsible for their lives and they can write the story of their choice. They come to understand their past does not define who they are especially the unfortunate occurrences.
How does family constellation therapy help one to live their fullest, most aligned life?
Family Constellation is a philosophy on life. It’s all about acceptance, respect, and belonging. It’s about replacing order and finally recognizing that we are not in charge of our family but that we can only help ourselves. It reveals that no individual stands alone. We are all connected within something else. It reunites that which has been split apart. It reconciles life with love.
How does it relate to your career? Is there a way to use this work to figure out your professional path in life?
Of course! Your family system follows you everywhere so if you’re struggling with your path and career maybe something is blocking your way that comes directly from your family system and of course, it’s unconscious! Ask yourself: With my career, what am I trying to resolve? How was the relationship between my parents and money/career? What did you witness as a child?
Are there any exercises and or practices one can do on their own to start releasing ancestral trauma?
Drawing your family tree! You can download the free guide on my website: www.marineselenee.com
Do you follow any specific doctrines on diet or fitness?
Not at all! I follow pleasure. I trust my body. I love The Class by Taryn Toomey and Melissa Wood Health but, sometimes I will go for a run too when I feel like it. If I want a delicious pie from Four and Twenty Blackbirds I will go! Life is way too short to make it more complicated than it already is. Enjoy! Trust your body. The most important doctrine/diet/fitness is LOVE.
Just love who you are, what you do, and what you eat. It can never go wrong with love.
What are your favorite forms of activity?
Walking in nature, hiking, boxing, dancing, reading, cuddling, making love, working with my clients, being with my friends, traveling, cooking, and baking. Again, enjoying life.
Do you have any routines or rituals that help you stay focused and grounded?
Working out every day. Placing crystals on my body before going to sleep. Saging my apartment. Talking to my mother. Walking in nature. Baking and cooking. Journaling.
How do you reset after a challenging day?
A glass of wine…Kidding…So French. I will have a comfort food meal, call one of my best friends, watch a Friends episode, or take a bath.
How does one bring an emphasis on mindfulness and wellness into their everyday lives?
LOVE. LOVE. LOVE.
What would the title of your autobiography be?
She Loved.
In my free time, when I have any, you can usually find me __________.
Chatting, eating, laughing with my girlfriends.
Most people don’t know that I really enjoy__________?
Driving my car and going on a walk in nature or on the beach.
What is the greatest gift you can give yourself?
Loving who you are to the fullest and being unapologetic about it.
Favorite spots in and around NYC?
So many! Saint Ambroeus – Gradisca – Butcher’s Daughter - MET – Brooklyn Museum – Four and Twenty Blackbirds – Laduree – Bagatelle – Fotografiska – Russ & Daughters – Greenwood Cemetery – Street Art – Beacon – Jazz clubs – And, anytime walking in the streets of NYC at night. There is something magical about it.
Favorite motivational instagram account, podcasts, and/or books?
Instagram: @Sisters-astrology @Les-oracles-disa @Moonomens @The_numinous @Healers Wanted @Ritual and Routine @Liliedelahaie @Yeswecards @Mysticmamma
Books: Marianne Williamson - A Return to Love, Paulo Coehlo - The Zahir, Rupi Kaur - Honey and Milk, Alejandro Jodorowsky -Psychomagic, Laurent Gounelle - The Man Who Wanted To Be Happy, All of Bert Hellinger’s books…he is the founder of Family Constellations
Go to healers or practitioners for beauty, health, and wellness.
Here is my list. They are my village and the absolute best!
Georgette Yannetti – Massage Therapist
Ben Brown – Massage Therapist
Monique Guerra for the Modeladora Massage
Samantha Story for Acupuncture
Susana Salazar, Amy Pelot, and Melani Bobé for Gua Sha facials
Melanie Herring for Akashic Records reading
Nina and Lilie Delahaie (My psychics! They are French)
Nina at Sage Moon for Shamanic Healing
Bee Bosnak for Yoga
Amy Angelo for Astrology
Megan Sweeten for Moon Circle
And my mother but she is only available to me.
Advice to the Woo🖤Wooo Working Women out there figuring out how to live their best high-vibrancy life?
Just love what you do. The answers that you are looking for are within you. You are the only one who knows what works for you or what does not. Trust your intuition, trust your gut feeling, and just do it. Even if it does not make sense for others. Who cares if it makes sense to you. That’s all that matters.
