Whether you’re a therapist, counselor, social worker, or healthcare professional, understanding genograms can greatly boost your ability to comprehend and analyze family dynamics. With this comprehensive guide, we will cover everything you need to know about genograms, from what they are, how to create a genogram, to how to understand what they mean.
What Is a Genogram
A genogram is a visual tool that allows you to visually map out and explore the intricate relationships, patterns, and influences within a family system. Unlike a standard family tree, a genogram includes additional information such as medical history, emotional relationships, and social interactions.
By examining the interplay of genetics, behaviors, and social factors across multiple generations, genograms provide valuable insights into a person’s background, emotional health, and overall well-being.
How to Make a Genogram
Making a genogram is a relatively straightforward process. Here are the basic steps on how to make a genogram:
- Gather names, birthdates, and key family details.
- Choose symbols for gender and relationships.
- Arrange family members hierarchically, starting with yourself.
- Add details like marriages and divorces with varied lines.
- Label each member with names and essential info.
- Use line styles to show relationship types.
- Analyze for patterns and insights.
Our genogram maker simplifies this process by providing you with the following,
- Comprehensive genogram shape library
- Easy way to show multiple relationship types
- Professional designed genogram templates
- Ability to add files, medical records as shapes
- Powerful customization to show index person
Step 1. Gather information
Start by collecting detailed information about each family member. This includes names, birthdates, and key life events, but aim to go further by exploring information that reveals patterns, such as:
- Education and career paths
- Health conditions or major illnesses
- Significant life events, challenges, or achievements
Speaking to multiple relatives can help you gather different perspectives and fill in any gaps, creating a fuller picture of your family’s history.
Creately tip: Use sticky notes and the integrated notes panel to jot down notes as you go. You can also add multimedia by directly dragging and dropping images or attaching documents to each shape, providing a rich context for each family member.
Step 2. Choose symbols
Genograms are most effective when genogram symbols are used consistently and purposefully. Spend some time familiarizing yourself with standard genogram symbols, as they are designed to convey complex family relationships and patterns quickly. Decide early on if you need additional symbols for unique family dynamics or specific traits that recur within your family. For example, you might want to create custom symbols to represent common health issues or shared hobbies across generations.
Creately tip: Creately includes genogram symbols to depict gender, family relationships and emotional relationships. With these you can create family genograms, relationship genograms, emotional genograms, and more. You can also browse for more symbols using the in-app Google image search or drag and drop them from your own device.
Step 3. Draw the genogram
Begin with yourself at the center or base of the genogram, connecting yourself to your parents, siblings, and then extended family. Arrange each generation hierarchically, with older generations at the top and younger generations below. To maintain clarity:
- Work systematically from one side of the family to the other.
- Draw from oldest to youngest within each generation for an organized flow, making it easier to spot patterns.
Creately tip: Use Plus Create to quickly add the next shape and the connector to speed things up. Use the Quick Toolbar to switch between symbols and connectors. You can then use the preset color themes to quickly customize your genogram.
Step 4. Include additional details
This step is where the genogram can go beyond a simple family tree and become a rich resource for understanding family dynamics. Use different lines or markers to indicate marriages, divorces, estranged relationships, adoptions, and other important connections. By differentiating between relationship types, you can highlight key dynamics and see patterns or recurring issues (like separations or tight family bonds) that have affected multiple generations.
Creately tip: Use the integrated notes panel and additional data fields for each shape to add and store more information on each family member.
Step 5. Add labels
Each family member should be labeled not just with their name but also with any relevant identifiers that make their role or history clear at a glance. Consider labeling with details that stand out or may have impacted family dynamics, such as educational achievements, major relocations, or significant life changes. Including full names and both birth and death dates (if applicable) helps anchor each individual’s place in the family history.
Step 6. Indicate connections
Represent relationships with a variety of line styles and thicknesses to convey the type and strength of each connection. Solid lines can represent strong or close connections, while dashed or thinner lines could indicate less frequent or strained interactions. If emotional or behavioral patterns are central to your genogram’s purpose, use distinct line styles to represent types of relationships (e.g., supportive, conflicted, distant), giving added depth to the visual.
Step 7. Interpret and analyze
This step involves closely studying the genogram to identify themes, behavioral patterns, and any recurring influences that emerge across generations. Look for intergenerational patterns, like career paths, family health trends, or recurring interpersonal dynamics (such as strong bonds between certain family members or frequent relocations). Taking time to analyze these patterns can help you understand how family histories shape current relationships and experiences.
Creately tip: Quickly share the genogram you created with others by adding them as collaborators with edit or view access. Collect their feedback via comments and track the changes they make with live mouse tracking and synced previews.
When to Create a Genograms
A genogram isn’t just for tracing family history—it’s a versatile tool that can offer insight into various aspects of life. Here are some moments when creating a genogram can be especially beneficial:
1. When you want a deeper understanding of family dynamics
If you’re curious about how family roles, emotional bonds, or recurring patterns have shaped your life, a genogram can help you see the big picture. It’s useful when you feel similar challenges or strengths have been passed down through the generations.
2. In therapy and counseling sessions
Therapists often begin by creating a genogram to explore relationships, uncover family secrets, or understand sources of conflict. This helps both the counselor and client identify patterns that might be contributing to emotional or behavioral issues.
3. When tracking medical history
For those looking to understand health risks, a genogram can map out hereditary conditions like heart disease, diabetes, or mental health issues. This visual can provide clarity to both patients and healthcare providers, leading to better preventive care.
4. During major life transitions
If your family is going through significant changes—such as divorce, remarriage, or loss—a genogram can help clarify new relationships and evolving roles. This makes it easier for everyone to adjust to the new dynamics.
5. For estate planning and legal purposes
Estate planning often involves understanding family relationships in detail. A genogram can help legal professionals and families navigate inheritance issues, clarify beneficiary relationships, and prevent disputes. It visually organizes key family members and their connections, making complex family structures easier to manage during legal proceedings.
6. In social work and case management
Social workers and case managers use genograms to quickly assess a family’s support systems and identify areas where intervention might be needed. It’s a practical way to get an overview of how individuals are connected and where vulnerabilities lie.
7. In educational settings
Educators and school counselors sometimes use genograms to appreciate a student’s background, helping them understand how family dynamics might influence behavior and learning. This deeper insight can guide more empathetic and effective support in the classroom.
Genogram Symbols
It’s important to note that genogram symbols can vary slightly depending on the conventions used by different professionals or cultural contexts. When creating or interpreting a genogram, provide clear explanations and use key symbols consistently for better understanding and communication. Here are some common genogram symbols and their meanings:
Basic Genogram Symbols 
Family Relationships 
Medical Genogram Symbols 
Medical Genogram Symbols - Colored 
Tips and Best Practices for Creating Genograms
1. Gather accurate information
Make sure that you have accurate and up-to-date information about family members. Double-check names, dates of birth, and other relevant details to ensure the genogram is as accurate as possible.
2. Maintain confidentiality
Genograms contain personal and sensitive information about individuals and their families. It is crucial to maintain confidentiality and use genograms only in appropriate professional settings, adhering to ethical guidelines and privacy regulations.
3. Create a safe and supportive environment
When discussing genograms with clients or patients, create a safe and supportive environment for them to share their family history and experiences. Encourage open communication and active listening to create a deeper understanding.
4. Consider cultural sensitivity
Be aware of cultural considerations and sensitivities when creating and interpreting genograms. Different cultures may have unique symbols, values, or expectations related to family dynamics. Respect and honor diverse perspectives and practices.
5. Encourage collaboration
Involve clients or patients in the process of creating genograms. Encourage them to share their insights, interpretations, and perspectives about their family relationships and patterns. This collaboration helps build a sense of ownership and empowerment.
6. Use genograms as a starting point
Genograms provide a snapshot of family dynamics, but they are not the entire story. Use them as a starting point for exploration and understanding. Combine genogram information with other assessment tools, therapeutic techniques, and interventions to develop a comprehensive understanding of the individual and their family system.
7. Maintain neatness and organization
Create a clean and organized genogram by using straight lines, spacing symbols appropriately, and labeling family members clearly. This enhances readability and makes it easier to interpret the genogram.
Common Mistakes to Avoid When Making Genograms
Learning how to make a genogram can be a rewarding experience, whether you’re doing it for personal reflection or professional work. But to get the most out of it, it’s important to avoid some common mistakes that can lead to confusion or missed insights. Here are a few things to watch out for:
1. Not setting a clear purpose
Before you start, ask yourself why you’re making the genogram. Is it to explore family history, track medical conditions, or understand emotional patterns? Having a clear purpose helps you focus on the right information and keep the genogram meaningful.
2. Using inconsistent symbols
Genograms rely on specific shapes and lines to show relationships. If you switch symbols or make them up as you go, it can be hard to read or understand later. Stick to standard genogram symbols and keep things consistent throughout.
3. Leaving out important details
When learning how to make a genogram, it’s easy to focus just on names and dates. But emotional ties, patterns of conflict, health issues, and life events matter too. Try to include these kinds of information when they are relevant and available.
4. Making it too complicated
A genogram should be detailed, but not overwhelming. Adding too much at once can make it hard to follow. Focus on key relationships and information that supports your goal, and expand only as needed.
5. Not checking for accuracy
It’s easy for small mistakes to slip in—like missing a sibling or confusing dates. Take time to double-check the information you’ve gathered with family members or other reliable sources.
6. Ignoring non-biological relationships
Families come in many forms. When figuring out how to make a genogram, don’t forget to include step-relatives, adoptive family members, or close non-family figures if they play a meaningful role in someone’s life.
7. Forgetting to update the genogram
Families change—new relationships form, people pass away, children are born. A genogram is most useful when it’s kept up to date. Try to revisit and revise it when needed, especially for long-term use.
Genogram Examples and Templates
Family Genogram Template
Career Genogram
3 Generations Genogram Template
Cultural Genogram
Genogram Template for Relationship Types
Conclusion: How to Make a Genogram
Creating a genogram goes beyond building a simple family tree. It’s a powerful tool for gaining insights into family dynamics, patterns, and histories, offering a unique way to explore connections that have influenced generations. As you build your genogram, remember that each symbol, line, and label represents a part of your family’s story, providing a clearer understanding of relationships, health trends, or behavioral patterns.
Whether you’re using your genogram for personal discovery, research, or a professional purpose, taking the time to gather detailed information and accurately represent connections will make your genogram a valuable resource. By interpreting these patterns, you can gain deeper awareness into factors that shape family experiences and open doors to meaningful conversations with relatives.
