Genogram Description A genogram is a graphical representation of a family with a set of basic rules and conventions. Simplified, genograms serve as illustrated family trees. They generally portray family members, their relationships and information about the generational experiences they have encountered. A genogram is built from a client s recollection of familial events and basic demographic data and also includes information such as key events in the history of the client or family and major evolutions or transitions encountered. Genograms include basic information about the number of marriages, number of children in each marriage, birth order, age and death. Genograms also outline qualitative relationships between individuals and highlight information on disorders prevalent in a family such as alcoholism, depression and diseases. Genograms allow someone to quickly comprehend the key elements in the lives of family members on an intergenerational level through the use of prescriptive symbols, lines and notationsl. Below is an example of a genogram: Clinical Application All clients may benefit from the development of a genogram to help illustrate familial relationships, connections, strengths and challenges that may be present or pervasive within the family system. While a genogram is started at the onset of all cases for the purpose of assessment (insert link to requirement/standard if appropriate), it is also a living tool that can be added to and built on throughout the life of the case. Genograms are also an integral part of the family finding process and help to organize a family member database from which to initiate the search. A genogram is often completed in connection with case mining, which is another valuable method of gaining a great deal of useful demographic information. A genogram is a clinical tool in which clients learn about their family history and dynamics and gain understanding of their current life circumstances and relationships. Developing a genorgram with a client or sharing a genogram with a client and family members is a powerful way to work with a client and build the helping relationship. Genograms are also used in the assessment of potential resource families to identify relational strengths or possible discord among family members (link to requirement/standard if appropriate). 1 P a g e
Background Genograms were first popularized in clinical settings by Monica McGoldrick and Randy Gerson through the publication of a book titled Genograms: Assessment and Intervention in 1985. According to Wikipedia, genograms are now used by various groups of people in a variety of fields such as medicine, psychiatry, psychology, social work, genetic research, education, and many more. A genogram is one of the tools used to build up the knowledge base that ultimately helps tell the story of family connections and inter-generational patterns. The use of genograms also helps to identify other natural connections as well as identifying support systems for clients. Genograms help facilitate these efforts and are a tool supporting the strategies and values of family connections and birth family work. There is a great deal of useful data that can be collected with a genogram. Some of the critical elements of genograms as noted on the genograms.org website are: Dates provide information that helps place events in perspective. Gender beliefs and values may thread through families in powerful and subtle ways. Secrets, still unrevealed or unknown to some, provide information [about] the boundaries and communication patterns in certain families. A key genogram factor is the issue of loss including critical illness, death, disabilities, economic reversals, job losses, miscarriages, divorces, and several health and wellbeing losses. Themes make evident a family's core values and belief structure that guide the family s future behavior. A family s cultural heritage may serve to provide clues to values, beliefs, behaviors and communication patterns. Family boundaries establish the members relationship with the outside world as well as between and among family members. (Information above retrieved from Genogram Clues: Understanding Relationships and Patterns at www.genograms.org/clues.html/) How to Make a Genogram The most critical component of conducting an effective genogram lies in the interaction between assigned staff and client. Through purposeful engagement strategies and the use of appreciative inquiry one can gather a great deal of useful familial information to help increase family connections and understanding. Genograms are living documents that are meant to be on-going projects to be added to by multiple family members as they are engaged in the service planning with the client. Understanding that the client or family is the expert on their lives and simply asking questions to elicit more information can result in the collection of valuable information and help empower the client and/or family as they help co-create the genogram. The end goal of a genogram is an enhanced understanding of a family. The clinical process of developing the genogram with a client is more important than the final product, but it is important that the genogram is useful to the client and other assigned staff now and in the future. For genograms, this includes consistent use of structure, symbols, and connections. Standard Symbols for Genograms are shown at the end of this section. 2 P a g e
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