How the Genogram is Used to Determine Family History

The genogram is a useful tool for family counselors and educators to help understand patterns of family behavior. The genogram is a classic tool for researching and making use of the information from a client's family history. The genogram is very effective in marriage and family practice settings. Also, genograms are effective in health care, social work, addictions treatment, and other fields. For example, a business genogram can be used to research a family's pattern of poverty and wealth. The use of the genogram in family therapy was inspired by genealogical charts. Genealogical charts are used by social scientist to help families trace kinship and research family history. "It provides a roadmap of the family system. Randy Gerson refers to the genogram as the "supreme integrative tool" for understanding families, the "royal road to both the family system and the inner world of the individuals in that family."(Conolly, C, p. 84) A genogram is a visual diagram of a family tree that analyzes a family's patterns, roles, relationships, and medical history.

To begin with, family diagrams were effective in marriage and family counseling to study the history of family patterns. The term "genogram" was developed as a shorter term to replace the family diagram and the genogram proved to be an effective tool in many other fields of study. In 1978, the genogram was developed by Murray Bowen. However, the genogram was expanded and made popular by Monica McGoldrick and Randy Gerson which the genogram proved to be a flexible tool. Monica McGoldrick and Randy Gerson developed the genogram so that health professionals could understand the patterns of relationships across generations. McGoldrick and Gerson researched the idea of genograms and provided the results into a book as a resource for other clinicians. In counseling, a therapist should consider the family history when diagnosing a problem with a client. The original format of the genogram evaluates families in three steps. First, the genogram lists the biological and legal relationships across 3 or more generations. Second, the genogram shows information about individual family members. Also, the genogram shows demographic information, personality characteristics, emotional issues, behavior issues, and medical background. Third, the genogram focuses on drawing an outline of family relationships. Also, the genogram focus on the conflicts and the closeness between family members and patterns that occur between generations. Over history, the genogram has been a work in progress. "In the earlier years, the genogram graphically depicted the biological and legal relationship of different family members from one generation to the next, spanning at least three generations. Only later, as the understanding of family expanded, did the family therapy field begin to include extended family and non-blood kinship." (Connolly, C. P. 85) McGoldrick and Gerson have expanded on the genogram and so has other therapists. It's really not a good idea for a counselor to just focus on biological relatives when using the genogram. This will cause the counselor to map an inaccurate family system. The genogram format adapted many changes and variations since entering the family counseling setting. The structure of the genogram has been changed many times but the concept remains the same.

The design of the genogram is flexible and therapists have created new models to fit the use of their clients. There are different ways that the genogram has been expanded. For example, a timeline was added to the original genogram. Also, a color coded genogram was constructed to classify characteristics, traits, or issues. In addition, a multicultural genogram was developed to focus on race, ethnicity, immigration, social class, gender and religion. Extending, a gendergram was developed that focus on gender role assumptions and how gender influence behavior. Furthermore, the spiritual genogram was developed to help people with religion. Also, the sexual and intimacy genogram was developed to help people with sexuality. Moreover, there has been many variations of the genogram created and the genogram and it's encourage that you self create a genogram that fits your lifestyle or problem.

The genogram is an excellent tool to use with engaged couples and married couples. Also, the genogram can be use as tool that evaluates a couple relationships over some years. For example, the couple can compare the relationship from the beginning of the relationship to the present. In addition, the genogram is a tool that can be used with cardiovascular patient to explore health issues. On the other hand, the genogram is an excellent tool for people with history of terminal illness. This will help the client to identify those at risk, support systems, and early awareness of the illness. Generally, genograms are developed with the client at a face to face session. The genogram allows the client and therapist to work on the genogram together and allow change for over the course of the treatment.

Furthermore, the genogram is an excellent tool to use in therapy. As a counselor, I would use the genogram with my client because it allows a client to see the negative patterns that are passed down from generation to generation. The genogram forces a client to research their family history to gain some clarity about family relationships. The genogram can help a client resolve any distance relationships in a family or friendship. Therefore, the genogram has proved to be a success in therapy and helping to unite families.

Bibliography

Milewski-Hertlein, K. (2001, January). The Use of a Socially Constructed Genogram in Clinical Practice, American Journal of Family Therapy, 29(1), 23-38. Retrieved November 30, 2007, from Professional Development Collection database.

Friedman, H., & Krakuer, S. (1992, September). Learning to draw and interpret standard and time-line genograms: An experimental comparison. Journal of Family Psychology, 6(1), 77-83.Retreived November 30, 2007, from PsycARTICLES database.

Gross, Douglas R. & Capuzzi, David (2007). Counseling and Psychotherapy: Theories and Interventions, 4^th ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson Education, Inc.

Connolloy, C. (2005).Discovering Family Creatively: The Self Created Genogram. Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, 1(1), 81-105. Retrieved February 19, 2008, from SocIndex with Full Text database.

Daughhetee, C. (2001, March). Using genograms as a tool for insight in college counseling. Journal of College Counseling, 4(1), 73-76.Retrieved February 19, 2007, from PsycINFO database.