Complete guide
How to Make a Genogram
Learn how to create a professional genogram step-by-step. From basic family structure to clinical symbols — everything you need to know.
Create Your Genogram Now — FreeWhat is a genogram?
A genogram is a visual representation of a family across multiple generations. Unlike a simple family tree, a genogram includes information about relationships, medical history, and behavioral patterns. Genograms are widely used by therapists, social workers, doctors, and counselors to understand family dynamics and identify hereditary patterns.
The term "genogram" was popularized by Monica McGoldrick and Randy Gerson in the 1980s, though family mapping has been used in therapy since the 1970s. Today, genograms are standard tools in family therapy, genetic counseling, and medical practice.
Step-by-step: How to make a genogram
Start with the index person
The index person is your main subject — the client in therapy, the patient in medical settings, or yourself for a personal genogram. Place them in the center of your canvas.
Add parents and their families
Add the index person's parents above them. Include their siblings (your aunts and uncles). Note marriages, divorces, and any step-parents.
Extend to grandparents
Add grandparents above the parents. This third generation often reveals patterns that repeat across generations — essential for clinical genograms.
Add siblings and children
Add the index person's siblings on their level, and any children below. Order siblings left to right by birth order (oldest on left).
Draw relationship lines
Connect family members with appropriate lines: solid for marriage, dashed for separation, parallel for close relationships, zigzag for conflict.
Add clinical information
For clinical genograms, add symbols for: medical conditions, mental health diagnoses, substance use, abuse, and other relevant patterns.
Review and export
Check for accuracy and completeness. Export as PDF for documentation or PNG for presentations. Save your work for future updates.
Essential genogram symbols
People
- Male (square)
- Female (circle)
- Unknown/Non-binary
- ✕Deceased (X through)
Partnerships
- Marriage
- Cohabitation
- /Separation
- //Divorce
Emotional Bonds
- Close
- Distant
- 〰️Conflictual
- | |Cutoff
Tips for better genograms
Start simple, add detail later
Get the basic structure right first — names and relationships. Then add clinical information, dates, and emotional bonds.
Use consistent spacing
Place generations on horizontal levels. Keep siblings evenly spaced. Digital tools handle this automatically.
Order siblings by birth
Oldest children go on the left, youngest on the right. This convention makes genograms easier to read.
Include a legend
If using symbols that aren't universally standard, include a legend explaining their meaning.
Focus on relevant information
You don't need every detail. Include information relevant to your purpose — clinical, medical, or genealogical.
Update regularly
Families change. Digital genograms make updates easy — just click and edit rather than redrawing.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to make a genogram?
With GenogramCreator, most people create their first genogram in 10-15 minutes. Complex multi-generational genograms may take 30-60 minutes. Hand-drawn genograms typically take 2-3 hours.
What information do I need before making a genogram?
Gather basic information about family members: names, birth years, death dates (if applicable), marriages, divorces, and children. For clinical genograms, you'll also want medical history, mental health conditions, and relationship quality information.
How many generations should a genogram include?
Most genograms include 3 generations: the index person, their parents, and their grandparents. For detailed clinical work, some genograms extend to 4-5 generations to identify intergenerational patterns.
What are the basic genogram symbols?
Basic symbols: Square = male, Circle = female, Diamond = unknown gender, X through symbol = deceased, Horizontal line = marriage, Single slash = separation, Double slash = divorce, Vertical lines = children.
Can I make a genogram without software?
Yes, genograms can be drawn by hand on paper. However, digital tools like GenogramCreator make it much faster, allow easy editing, and produce cleaner results for professional documentation.
What's the difference between a genogram and a family tree?
A family tree shows lineage (who is related to whom). A genogram adds clinical information: emotional relationships, medical conditions, mental health, behavioral patterns. Genograms are used in therapy and healthcare; family trees are genealogical.
Ready to make your genogram?
GenogramCreator is free to use. Create your first genogram in minutes with our drag-and-drop tool.
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