It can be a helpful tool for understanding the psychological and hereditary factors affecting individuals and families.
Keep reading to learn more about how genograms work and why they can be useful during therapy.
Clients attendingcouples therapymight use the genogram to identify how various patterns in their families of origin impact their relationship.
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Additionally, genogram symbols included binary transgender individuals but did not offer nonbinary options.
In recent years, researchers have addressed these limitations and expanded genogram symbols to include variousnonbinary identities.
Genograms have also begun, including options for ethicallynon-monogamousrelationships.
These changes have allowed providers to construct genograms for many different types of families.
How Genograms Are Constructed
Genograms use specific symbols to represent important information about families and individuals.
Medical Information
Each persons symbol can include marks to represent various diagnoses.
These symbols help medical providers identify genetic predispositions to various diseases.
A client might not feel ready to share certain information at the start of therapy.
They mightremember relevant detailsabout relationships that they disclose later on.
How Are Genograms Used?
Relationships evolve, and peoples perception of relationships can change as they gain new insight into past interactions.
As such, a genogram can be seen as a living document to be updated regularly.
You might re-conceptualize things in different ways.
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Rockville (MD): Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (US); 2020.
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