How to Make a Genogram: A Comprehensive Guide
How to Make a Genogram is an essential skill for mapping family history and relationships in a detailed and insightful way. A genogram goes beyond a traditional family tree by using special symbols to represent relationships, major life events, and family dynamics across multiple generations.
Mental health and medical professionals frequently use genograms to identify patterns of mental and physical illnesses, such as depression, bipolar disorder, cancer, and other hereditary conditions. Learning how to make a genogram can help individuals uncover genetic risks and understand emotional connections within their family.
To start, gather information by interviewing family members. Once you have the necessary details, use standard genogram symbols to create a structured diagram that captures your family’s unique history. If you’re unsure how to make a genogram, consider using specialized software or online tools to assist in designing an accurate and visually clear representation.
By mastering how to make a genogram, you can gain valuable insights into your family’s past, helping you make informed decisions about health, relationships, and personal growth.
Part1 Deciding What You Want to Learn from a Genogram
1. Determine Your Reason for Creating a Genogram
The first step in how to make a genogram is to establish its purpose. Your objective will help you focus on the type of family information you need to collect and determine who will have access to the final diagram. Some details may be sensitive, so it’s important to handle them with care.
- Genograms can track various hereditary patterns such as substance abuse, mental illness, and physical violence.
- They provide healthcare professionals with a visual document that maps out mental or medical predispositions within your family.
- Understanding your family’s medical and emotional history can help you make informed health decisions.
For more information on medical genograms, visit Verywell Health.
2. Understand What You Are Looking For
Before gathering information, define what insights you hope to gain from your genogram. Are you using it for a school project, medical consultation, or personal curiosity? Knowing your goal will help you organize the process more effectively.
- A genogram is more than a family tree—it reveals relationships, emotional bonds, and patterns in family dynamics.
- It can highlight connections such as marriages, divorces, and children from each union.
- A well-structured genogram may also expose patterns of depression, addiction, or hereditary diseases.
For a step-by-step guide on how to make a genogram, check out FamilySearch.org.
3. Decide How Many Generations to Include
The number of generations you choose to represent will dictate how much research you need to conduct.
- If you aim for three generations, you may start with your grandparents.
- To build a detailed historical genogram, consider going back to great-grandparents or beyond.
- If distance is a challenge, use email, video calls, or social media to connect with relatives and gather information.
For more tips on researching family history, visit Ancestry.com.
4. Develop a Set of Questions for Your Relatives
To collect the most relevant information efficiently, prepare a list of targeted questions. Here are some examples:
- Basic Family Details: “What was your grandmother’s name? Who was she married to? When and how did she pass away?”
- Family Size: “How many children did your mother’s parents have?”
- Health and Genetics: “Has anyone in the family suffered from genetic conditions such as cancer, diabetes, or heart disease?”
- Emotional and Behavioral Patterns: “Did [family member] struggle with addiction or mental illness?”
For more insights on how to make a genogram, check out our comprehensive guide.
Part2 Researching Family History
1. Write Down What You Already Know
Before diving into research, start by listing everything you already know about your family history. Chances are, you’re already familiar with significant details, especially if you have close relationships with family members.
- Review the questions you’ve prepared and see how many answers you can provide on your own.
- Take note of any gaps in information that need further research.
For additional tips on how to make a genogram, check out our step-by-step guide.
2. Talk to Family Members
Once you’ve exhausted your own knowledge, turn to your relatives for insights.
- Ask detailed questions about family relationships, significant events, and historical connections.
- Take detailed notes and document key details as accurately as possible.
- Be prepared to hear unexpected stories that may provide valuable context.
- Approach sensitive topics with care, as some family members may find them difficult to discuss.
For more information on collecting family history, visit FamilySearch.org.
3. Search Through Family Books, Documents, and the Internet
If family members can’t recall everything, supplement your research with books, official documents, and online genealogy resources.
- Check old letters, photo albums, diaries, and legal records for hidden details.
- Use genealogy websites like Ancestry.com or MyHeritage to cross-check information.
- Ensure the accuracy of online sources before adding them to your genogram.
4. Look at Your Own History
Your own personal history can serve as a valuable starting point for creating a genogram.
- Review your medical records to identify any genetic conditions or health patterns.
- Take note of any medications you take—this could indicate a hereditary condition shared by other family members.
- Identify personal experiences that might align with family patterns.
For more guidance on how to make a genogram, refer to our detailed instructions.
5. Learn the Familial Relationships
Understanding how family members are connected is crucial for making an accurate genogram.
- Document marriages, divorces, and children from each relationship.
- Take note of widowed, separated, or cohabiting relatives.
- If necessary, explore sensitive topics such as short-term relationships, adoptions, or forced separations.
- Approach delicate subjects with care and be mindful of who you are speaking to.
For further details on family structures in genograms, check out Genogram Analytics.
6. Learn the Emotional Relationships
A genogram isn’t just about family connections—it also maps emotional relationships.
- Identify whether relationships are loving, neutral, or strained.
- Look for patterns of abuse, neglect, or conflict.
- Distinguish between physical and emotional dynamics within family relationships.
- Recognizing these emotional ties can help uncover psychological trends and family behaviors.
For additional resources on emotional relationships in genograms, visit Verywell Mind.
By following these steps, you’ll have a well-researched and detailed genogram that provides insights into your family’s history, health, and emotional connections. For a complete guide on how to make a genogram, check out our comprehensive tutorial.
Part3 Designing Your Genogram
1. Design Your Genogram
Before you start, decide how you want to create your genogram. There are various options:
- Use online genogram templates that provide a structured format.
- Draw one by hand using a blank sheet or grid paper.
- Utilize genogram software like GenoPro or Microsoft Word/Excel’s “Shapes” feature to create digital diagrams.
For step-by-step instructions on how to make a genogram, check out our detailed guide.
2. Use Standard Genogram Symbols
Genograms use a universal set of symbols to visually represent family members, relationships, and medical history.
- Men → Represented by a square (placed to the left in marriages).
- Women → Represented by a circle (placed to the right in marriages).
- Marriage → A single horizontal line connecting two individuals.
- Separation/Divorce → Two slanted parallel lines cutting through the marriage line.
- Children → Placed below their parents, arranged from oldest (left) to youngest (right).
- Special symbols → Used for pregnancy, miscarriage, illnesses, deaths, and even pets.
To see a complete list of genogram symbols, refer to our symbol guide.
3. Organize the Chart Based on Family Interactions
Start with the oldest generation at the top and work your way down. You can begin with:
- Grandparents or great-grandparents at the top.
- Parents, uncles, and aunts in the middle.
- Your generation and younger family members at the bottom.
Genograms can reveal patterns in family relationships and medical history. Use symbols to indicate:
- Emotional bonds (strong, distant, conflict, estrangement).
- Abuse (physical, sexual, emotional).
- Mental and physical disorders (depression, genetic diseases).
For a step-by-step breakdown of structuring your genogram, visit our genogram tutorial.
4. Look for Patterns
Once your genogram is complete, analyze it for potential trends. You may uncover:
- Hereditary health conditions (e.g., cancer, diabetes, mental illness).
- Recurring behavioral patterns (e.g., job instability, relationship struggles).
- Family migration trends (why ancestors moved from one place to another).
⚠️ Caution: Avoid jumping to conclusions. A genogram is not a diagnosis tool. If you notice concerning hereditary patterns, consult a medical professional rather than making assumptions.
Genograms are also helpful for writing family history. They provide insight into family dynamics, past struggles, and how those patterns have shaped generations.
For more in-depth family history research, check out our genealogy research guide.
