Blank Genogram Template
Start from Scratch
Everything you need to build a genogram from a blank canvas — standardized symbols, relationship lines, and a step-by-step checklist for what to include.
What Is a Blank Genogram?
A blank genogram is an empty framework that follows standardized genogram conventions, ready for you to populate with your family's data. Think of it as the architectural blueprint before the building — the structure, spacing, and conventions are already established so you can focus entirely on the content.
Whether you're a therapist preparing for a client intake, a student completing a course assignment, or someone exploring their own family history, starting from a blank genogram template ensures you follow the standardized notation system developed by Monica McGoldrick and Randy Gerson. This notation has been the international standard since the 1980s, used across therapy, social work, nursing, and medicine.
Unlike a family tree — which simply shows who is related to whom — a genogram captures the quality of relationships, medical and mental health history, behavioral patterns, and emotional dynamics. Starting from a well-structured blank template ensures you leave room for all of these dimensions rather than running out of space after listing names and dates.
Why Start Blank Instead of Using a Pre-filled Template?
Pre-filled genogram templates are useful for learning, but every family is unique. Starting blank gives you complete freedom to capture your specific family structure — whether that includes single parents, blended families, adoptions, multiple marriages, or non-traditional family configurations. A blank canvas accommodates any complexity without forcing your family into someone else's template.
Essential Genogram Symbols
These are the core symbols you'll use when building your genogram from scratch
Male
A square represents a male family member. Fill it in or add an X to indicate deceased.
Female
A circle represents a female family member. Fill it in or add an X to indicate deceased.
Unknown Gender
A diamond represents a family member whose gender is unknown or non-binary.
Deceased
An X through any symbol indicates that person has died. Add the year of death if known.
Pregnancy / Miscarriage
Triangles and dashed shapes represent pregnancies, miscarriages, and stillbirths.
Couple / Partnership
A horizontal line connecting two symbols indicates a partnership or marriage.
What to Include in Your Blank Genogram
Use this comprehensive checklist to make sure you capture everything important
Family Structure (Generation 1 — Grandparents)
- Maternal grandparents (names, birth/death years)
- Paternal grandparents (names, birth/death years)
- Marriage dates and any divorces or remarriages
- Number of children born to each couple
Family Structure (Generation 2 — Parents)
- Parents and their siblings (names, birth years)
- Marriage/partnership dates and status
- Divorce, separation, or remarriage details
- Miscarriages, stillbirths, or adoptions
Family Structure (Generation 3 — You & Siblings)
- Yourself and all siblings (names, birth years)
- Birth order (left to right, oldest to youngest)
- Current relationship status for each person
- Children of your generation if applicable
Symbols Key & Annotations
- Standard male/female/unknown gender symbols
- Deceased members marked with X
- Index person (client) identified with double border
- Twins, adopted members, or foster children noted
Relationship Lines
- Marriage lines (solid horizontal lines)
- Divorce lines (slashes through marriage line)
- Emotional bonds (close, fused, distant, hostile, cutoff)
- Conflict patterns and alliances
Emotional & Medical Overlays
- Emotional relationship quality between key pairs
- Medical conditions or causes of death
- Mental health history (depression, anxiety, addiction)
- Behavioral patterns (abuse, neglect, codependency)
How to Build a Genogram from a Blank Template
Follow these six steps to go from an empty canvas to a complete genogram
Start with Yourself
Place your own symbol at the center-bottom of the genogram. This is your index person — the focal point. In GenogramAI, simply type "start with me" and the AI places you correctly and asks follow-up questions.
Add Your Parents
Draw your parents above you, connected by a horizontal marriage line with a vertical line descending to you and your siblings. Add birth years, marriage date, and note if divorced or separated.
Extend to Grandparents
Add both sets of grandparents above your parents. This gives you the critical three-generation view where patterns start to become visible — repeating marriages at certain ages, recurring health conditions, or similar family sizes.
Add Siblings, Aunts, and Uncles
Fill in the horizontal layer of each generation: your siblings, your parents' siblings, and their families. Place children left to right in birth order. Note any half-siblings, step-siblings, or adopted members.
Map Relationship Lines
Now add the emotional layer. Draw relationship lines between key pairs: close, distant, hostile, enmeshed, or cutoff. This transforms your blank genogram from a simple family tree into a rich clinical or personal assessment tool.
Annotate with Key Information
Add medical conditions, mental health history, occupations, significant life events, and behavioral patterns. Use the margins or a legend to keep annotations organized and readable.
Common Mistakes When Starting from a Blank Genogram
Not leaving enough space
Families are almost always larger than you expect. Leave generous space between generations and between siblings. Digital tools like GenogramAI solve this entirely — the canvas is infinite and auto-adjusts as you add members.
Forgetting the index person
Every genogram needs a clearly identified index person (IP) — the focal individual. Without one, the reader doesn't know whose perspective the genogram represents. Mark the IP with a double border around their symbol.
Inconsistent birth order
By convention, siblings are placed left to right from oldest to youngest. Mixing this up creates confusion and can lead to misreading the genogram. Be consistent across all generations.
Only mapping structure, not relationships
The most common mistake is creating what is essentially a fancy family tree. The power of a genogram comes from the relationship lines, medical annotations, and behavioral patterns. Without these layers, you're missing the point.
Blank Genogram vs. Pre-filled Template
Blank Genogram
- Complete freedom to capture any family structure
- Ideal for client intake sessions
- Accommodates non-traditional families
- Best when you know genogram conventions
Pre-filled Template
- Faster for standard nuclear families
- Great for learning genogram notation
- Shows correct symbol placement examples
- Best for students and beginners
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I include in a blank genogram?
A complete genogram should include at least three generations, standard symbols for male (square) and female (circle) family members, relationship lines between partners, emotional relationship indicators, and key life events such as births, deaths, marriages, and divorces. Adding medical conditions and behavioral patterns makes it even more useful for clinical or personal insight.
Can I start a genogram from scratch without any template?
Yes, but starting from a blank template saves significant time. A blank genogram template provides the correct structural framework — proper spacing for generations, standardized symbols, and relationship line conventions — so you can focus on entering your family data rather than designing the layout from scratch.
What is the difference between a blank genogram and a family tree template?
A family tree template only captures names, dates, and lineage. A blank genogram template includes space for emotional relationships, medical history, behavioral patterns, and standardized clinical symbols. Genograms are far more detailed and are used by therapists, social workers, and medical professionals for assessment purposes.
How many generations should my blank genogram include?
At minimum, three generations (grandparents, parents, and the current generation) are recommended. Three generations allow you to identify repeating patterns in relationships, health conditions, and behaviors. For deeper analysis, four or five generations provide even richer insights, though information may be harder to gather for earlier generations.
What software can I use to create a genogram from a blank template?
GenogramAI is purpose-built for creating genograms with AI assistance. Unlike generic diagramming tools, GenogramAI understands genogram conventions, offers all 24 relationship line types, and can help you build your genogram through natural conversation. You can start from a blank canvas and have a complete, professional genogram in minutes.
Free Downloadable Guides
Print-ready PDFs you can reference anytime — no sign-up required.
Start Your Genogram from a Blank Canvas
GenogramAI gives you an infinite canvas, all 24 relationship line types, and an AI assistant that helps you build your genogram through conversation.
Try GenogramAI Free