Creating a genogram sounds more complicated than it is – and simpler than it then actually turns out to be once one starts asking the right questions. This guide leads you in six steps to the finished genogram according to McGoldrick and Gerson, whether on paper or digitally.

Flowchart mit sechs Schritten zum Erstellen eines Genogramms
Sechs Schritte — vom ersten Symbol zum fertigen Genogramm.

Brief Explanation: What Is a Genogram?

A genogram is an extended representation of the family tree that goes beyond names and dates – it maps relationship qualities, recurring patterns, and significant life events across at least three generations. In brief: it shows not only the family tree, but also the climate in which it grows.

Genograms are used in systemic therapy, family therapy, social work, supervision and education. The standardized symbols according to McGoldrick and Gerson ensure that a genogram from Hamburg can also be understood in Vienna – which is more than one can say for some families.

Genogramm nach Schritt 3 — Eltern und Index eingetragen, Großeltern noch offen
Nach Schritt 3 stehen Eltern und Index — Großeltern folgen als Nächstes.

Preparation: What Do You Need?

Before you begin, gather the following information:

Vollständiges Drei-Generationen-Genogramm mit allen sechs Schritten umgesetzt
Vollständiges 3-Generationen-Genogramm nach Abschluss aller sechs Schritte.
  • Family data: Names, birth dates, occupations, and where applicable dates of death across at least three generations (grandparents, parents, your own generation)
  • Relationship information: Partnerships (married, separated, divorced), children, and the emotional quality of important relationships (close, distant, conflictual)
  • Significant events: Illnesses, deaths, relocations, adoptions, separations, or other meaningful life events

Six Steps to the Finished Genogram

Follow these six steps to create your first genogram:

Step 1: Establish the Index Person Begin with the index person – the person at the centre of the exploration (usually the client or patient). Place them in the middle of the page or screen. The index person is highlighted with a double border.
Step 2: Build the Nuclear Family Add the partner of the index person on the same horizontal level. Connect them with a partnership line. Add children below, from left (oldest) to right (youngest). Use squares for males, circles for females.
Step 3: Add the Parent Generation Move one generation upward: add the parents of the index person and their siblings. Proceed likewise with the partner's parents. Each generation should lie on a horizontal line.
Step 4: Add the Grandparent Generation Add the grandparents as the topmost generation. Three generations are the minimum standard for a meaningful genogram. You can add further generations as needed.
Step 5: Draw Relationship Lines Now it gets interesting: draw the emotional relationship lines. Double lines for close relationships, zigzag lines for conflicts, dashed lines for distance, lines with bars for cutoffs. This step makes the family dynamics visible.
Step 6: Add Details and Context Finally, add important details: illnesses, occupations, significant life events and external participants (therapists, institutions). Check the genogram for completeness and legibility.

Common Mistakes When Creating Genograms

  • Too few generations: A genogram with only two generations shows no transgenerational patterns. Include at least three generations.
  • No relationship qualities: Entering only names and dates is not enough. The emotional relationship lines are the heart of the genogram.
  • Inconsistent symbols: Use the standard symbols according to McGoldrick and Gerson consistently. Individual inventions lead to misunderstandings.
  • Too cluttered: Not every piece of information belongs in the genogram. Concentrate on the aspects relevant to your current question.

Tips for Better Genograms

These practical tips will help your genograms turn out even better:

Practical tip: Create the genogram together with the client. The process of joint creation is often therapeutically more valuable than the finished result – for the questions that arise in the drawing are frequently the more important ones.
  • Clarity: Leave enough space between symbols. A clear genogram is more meaningful than an overcrowded one.
  • Build gradually: You need not capture everything at once. Add to the genogram across several sessions.
  • Different perspectives: Have different family members create the same genogram – the differences are therapeutically valuable.
  • Update regularly: A genogram is not a static document. Update it with new insights or changes.

Digital or on Paper?

Genograms can be created both on paper and digitally. For therapeutic practice, software such as GenoEasy offers the advantage that changes are possible at any time, symbols appear automatically standards-compliant, and sensitive client data can be stored encrypted – things that with paper genograms are at best difficult and at worst impossible.

With GenoEasy you create your first genogram in a matter of minutes – by drag and drop, with automatic layout and professional PDF export. Getting started is free, the learning curve is shallow, and your first genogram will probably be of your own family. That is how most people begin.

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