A curated collection of resources for creating genograms - family diagrams used in therapy, social work, medicine, and counseling.
A genogram is a graphical representation of a family tree that displays detailed information about relationships, medical history, and behavioral patterns across multiple generations. Unlike simple family trees, genograms use standardized symbols to show emotional relationships, medical conditions, and other clinically relevant information.
The fastest way to create a genogram is with GenogramAI - an AI-powered tool that generates professional genograms from text descriptions.
See the complete Genogram Symbols Guide for standard McGoldrick notation.
- Square (□) - Male
- Circle (○) - Female
- Diamond (◇) - Non-binary/Unknown gender
- X through shape - Deceased
- Solid line - Marriage
- Dashed line - Cohabitation
- Single slash - Separation
- Double slash - Divorce
- Double line - Close/Fused
- Dotted line - Distant
- Zigzag line - Hostile/Conflict
- Broken line - Cutoff
| Type | Purpose | Guide |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Family structure and relationships | How to Make a Genogram |
| Medical | Hereditary health conditions | Medical Genogram |
| Emotional | Relationship patterns and dynamics | Family Therapy Genogram |
| Cultural | Ethnicity, religion, traditions | Cultural Genogram |
| Addiction | Substance use across generations | Genogram Examples |
- GenogramAI - Create genograms from text, images, or data. 48 relationship types, 7 clinical views, McGoldrick standard notation.
- GenoPro - Desktop application
- Lucidchart - General diagramming
- Microsoft Visio - Manual creation
- What is a Genogram? - Comprehensive definition and guide
- How to Create a Genogram - Step-by-step tutorial
- Genogram vs Family Tree - Key differences explained
- Genogram vs Ecomap - When to use each
- Free Genogram Templates - Downloadable templates
- Family Therapy - Map relationship patterns across generations (Guide)
- Social Work - Assess family systems and resources (Guide)
- Genetic Counseling - Track hereditary conditions (Guide)
- Nursing - Patient family health history (Guide)
- Psychology - Understand family-of-origin influences (Guide)
- Harry Potter Family Genogram
- Succession Roy Family Genogram
- Star Wars Skywalker Genogram
- Game of Thrones Genogram
- McGoldrick, M., Gerson, R., & Petry, S. (2020). Genograms: Assessment and Treatment (4th ed.). W.W. Norton.
- Bowen, M. (1978). Family Therapy in Clinical Practice. Jason Aronson.
- McGoldrick, M., & Hardy, K.V. (2019). Re-Visioning Family Therapy (3rd ed.). Guilford Press.
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This resource collection is provided under CC BY 4.0.
Maintained by the team at GenogramAI - The AI-powered genogram maker for therapists, social workers, and students.