Building and Estab-

lishing Harmonized
Relationship with the
Family
Lesson 2 and 3:

Tracing One’s Roots 1

and 2
How well do you know your entire
family in terms of their medical
history, psychological health and
relationship status?
One of the most effective ways to
trace your roots to be able to
understand who you are is through
the construction of your genogram.
What is Genogram
A genogram is a very detailed and
elaborate visual representation of a
family tree. It maps out not just
details on hierarchy and lineage,
but also important information on
the family’s medical history,
psychological health and relation-
ship status through symbols.
Purpose of Genogram
When making a genogram, it is
understood that there is a goal for
greater understanding of one’s
roots. It is a process wherein
results bring light to different
aspects of an individual’s life.
 1. Tracking of Patterns

Genograms reveal different patterns

that may have long been in play in a
family’s history. From simple traits
like inclination towards sports or
music to patterns in substance or
drug abuse.
 2. Tracing of Medical History

Genograms can help in evaluating the

health risks that a family or individual
faces. Knowing pre-existing conditions
or an individual’s predisposition to
certain diseases can help one better
prepare.
3. Understanding Emotional
Relationships
Genograms can also reveal the quality
of relationships that family members
were or are in. It helps to identify
support networks, resources, and
possible conflicts that may affect
marital or sibling or familiar
relationships.
 4. Family and Individual Therapy

Genograms are used as a starting point

of therapists in assessing the status of a
family or an individual in the middle of
an issue. Because a therapist can assess
family dynamics and issues through this
visual, it helps in the solution-making
part of the therapy process.
 Genogram’s Implications on the
Family

Genograms are helpful in unders-

tanding both individuals and families. A
well-researched and well-crafted
genogram may have positive lasting
effects on a person and his family if
analyzed with openness and
acceptance.
A. Better Relationships

– Seeing a genogram and realizing

how all are interconnected in the
family may bring about a more united
and more cohesive bond among its
members.
B. Nature of Families
– Analyzing one’s genogram can lead
to a more forgiving and more
accepting attitude towards one’s
family.
 How to Make A Genogram

1.Decide on the goal of the genogram.

2.Research very well.
 Reminders for Designing

1.Make a legend.
2.Always start with your immediate
family.
3.Put significant details only.
4.State complete and accurate
information on 3 generations.
Rules and Symbols
1. Gender

-To symbolize a male person, a square is

used.
-To symbolize a female person, a circle is
used.
-For lesbian, put inverted triangle inside
circle.
-For gay, put inverted triangle inside
square.
2. Family Connection

Connect the two gender symbols

with any of the following rules in
mind:
-For married couples, draw a solid line
underneath to connect them.
-If divorced or annulled, draw the solid
line underneath but with 2 slanted lines
the middle.
-If separated, draw the solid line
underneath them but with 1 slanted line
only.
-If widowed, draw the solid line with an X
in the middle.
-If couple is cohabitating (living together
but not married), draw a dashed line
instead to connect the two, with a small
house in the middle.
*Note: The male should always be on
the left. Female is always on the right.
3. Birth Order

Under the family connection line of

parents, attach children’s gender
symbols with the correct line.
-Draw a solid line if child by natural
means.
-Draw a dashed line if child is adopted.
-If identical twins, connect the two gender
symbols together with a solid line
and connect the two gender symbols to
the family connection line.

-If twins are not identical, no need to

connect the gender symbols together-
just draw line from both gender symbols
and connect together at the family
connection line.
-If child is still unborn, meaning mother is
still pregnant with him/her, a triangle
takes the place of the square or circle.

-If child is dead due to miscarriage or

abortion, write M or A respectively.
*Note: In drawing oldest to youngest
children, start from left to right.
4. Life Status

-Draw an X inside gender symbol if

person is already dead.
-You may choose to write age of death
inside the gender box with X.
5. Quality of Emotional
Relationship
To illustrate the quality of the
relationship between two people, draw
any of the following lines between the
gender symbols:
-Two solid lines: very close
-Dashed line: distant relationship
(meaning not close, minimal contact)
-Zigzag line: hostile or in conflict (not
in good terms at all)
-One zigzag line with arrow: physical
abuse
-One zigzag line (that looks like the
zigzag line of a hostile relationship):
emotional abuse
-Two zigzag lines with one arrow:
sexual abuse
*Note: Arrows are pointed towards
the victim.
6. Medical Conditions

Genograms are useful in illustrating

the medical history of a family.
Individuals creating genograms are
free to use colors or symbols to depict
specific diseases. Just make sure to
note your symbols in the legend.
Provided below is an example:
7. Specific Traits

If you would like to cite specific traits

of individuals in your family, you are
free to do so. Again, just include
symbolisms made in the legend.
*Note: You may customize your
symbols according to your preference
as long as it is not in conflict with
other existing symbols.
For example:
Examples of Genogram:

Here are some basic examples to show

how symbols can be put together to
form a genogram: