Genogram example · Family structure
Adoptive Family Genogram
Quick answer
At a glance
| This example | |
|---|---|
| Generations | 3 |
| Family members | 13 (5 male, 8 female) |
| Birth years | 1950 to 2015 |
| Deceased | 1 |
| Index person | Lily Grant |
| Emotional relationships | Close |
| Conditions marked | Anxiety Conditions, Depressive Disorders, Mental Health Conditions, Cardiovascular Conditions and Cancer |
| Category | Family structure |
| Tags | Family Structure, Educational |
About this genogram
An adoptive family genogram featuring both biological and adopted children. Includes one child adopted internationally from China, one adopted domestically through an open adoption with birth mother contact, and one biological child. Illustrates birth parent connections, adoption adjustment, and the dynamics of mixed-origin families.
Family analysis
Overview
This 3-generation genogram maps 13 family members with birth years spanning from 1950 to 2015, comprising 5 males and 8 females (1 deceased). The genogram tracks 6 medical/psychological condition categories and 1 emotional relationship type across 3 documented dyads. The index patient is Lily Grant (b. 2009), high school student.
Generation by generation
The family system encompasses 3 generations with distinct patterns at each level. The oldest generation includes Richard, Barbara, Helen and 1 other, with 2 presenting documented conditions. The middle generation includes Thomas, Sarah, Unknown and 1 other, with 1 presenting documented conditions. The youngest generation includes Lily, Mia, Noah and 2 others, with 2 presenting documented conditions.
Emotional relationships
Emotional relationship mapping reveals 3 close relationships. Specific patterns include a close relationship between Ashley and Mia, a close relationship between Sarah and Ashley, a close relationship between Lily and Mia.
Health conditions
Medical and psychological conditions are documented in 5 of 13 family members (38%). Cardiovascular conditions appears in 1 member (Richard). Reproductive appears in 1 member (Sarah). Anxiety-spectrum conditions appears in 1 member (Lily). Comorbidity is observed in 1 family member, with Lily presenting 2 concurrent condition categories.
This genogram illustrates how family structure shapes individual development and relational patterns. The presence of adopted child connections highlights the complexity of modern family systems beyond traditional biological models. Professionals working with families of this structure can use the genogram to normalize diverse family configurations and identify both strengths and areas for growth in the family system.
How do you read the Adoptive Family Genogram?
- 1
Find each person and generation
Squares are males and circles are females, and each row is one generation, oldest at the top. This one has 5 males and 8 females across 3 generations. - 2
Check the status markers
Markers on a symbol add facts about that person: Deceased (X) and Index Patient (Arrow). 1 person is marked deceased. The index person, the focus of the assessment, is Lily Grant. - 3
Follow the family lines
Horizontal lines join partners and vertical lines drop to their children, born left to right in birth order. This genogram uses Marriage, Parent-Child, Biological Child and Adopted Child lines. - 4
Read the emotional lines
Lines drawn between two people show how they relate: Close. Notice who has several lines converging on them, and which patterns repeat from one generation to the next. - 5
Read the shading
Shaded symbols mark health conditions: Anxiety Conditions, Depressive Disorders, Mental Health Conditions, Cardiovascular Conditions and Cancer. Trace each line of descent to see where a condition recurs and where it stops.
Genogram symbols used in this example
| Symbol | Type | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Male (Square) | Person Symbols | A square represents a male family member in standard genogram notation. |
| Female (Circle) | Person Symbols | A circle represents a female family member in standard genogram notation. |
| Deceased (X) | Status Markers | An X drawn through the symbol indicates the person is deceased. |
| Index Patient (Arrow) | Status Markers | An arrow pointing to a person identifies them as the index patient — the individual who is the focus of the clinical assessment. |
| Marriage | Structural Relationships | A solid horizontal line connecting two individuals represents a marriage or committed partnership. |
| Parent-Child | Structural Relationships | A vertical line descending from a couple line to a child symbol represents a parent-child relationship. |
| Biological Child | Child Connection Types | A solid vertical line from parent to child indicates a biological relationship. |
| Adopted Child | Child Connection Types | A dashed vertical line with brackets indicates an adopted child. |
| Close | Emotional Relationships | Two parallel lines between individuals represent an emotionally close relationship. |
| Anxiety Conditions | Medical Conditions | Shading in the genogram symbol indicates anxiety-spectrum diagnoses (GAD, panic disorder, phobias, OCD). |
| Depressive Disorders | Medical Conditions | Shading indicates depressive conditions (major depression, dysthymia, bipolar disorder). |
| Mental Health Conditions | Medical Conditions | Shading indicates psychological or psychiatric conditions beyond anxiety and depression. |
| Cardiovascular Conditions | Medical Conditions | Shading indicates heart disease, hypertension, stroke, or other cardiovascular conditions. |
| Cancer | Medical Conditions | Shading indicates any cancer diagnosis, with specifics noted in the individual's record. |
Build a genogram like this one
Example prompt
- 1
Start from the dashboard
Sign in to GenogramAI and choose Create with AI (paid plans), or open a blank genogram and use Ask AI (any plan). To start from this exact chart instead, use Open as template. - 2
Describe your family
Paste a description like the one above, with your own names, dates, relationships and health history. - 3
Check and adjust
Edit people and lines by hand, or ask the AI for one change at a time. - 4
Export
Download a PNG on the free plan. PDF and SVG export are on paid plans.
The free plan includes 2 genograms and 5 AI credits a month. See the AI genogram creator for what else it can do.
Related resources
- Browse our genogram templates to find structures similar to this example.
- See our 3-generation genogram guide for standard multigenerational mapping techniques.
- This example uses the close relationship symbol to denote emotional closeness between family members.
- The deceased symbol (X through the shape) marks family members who have passed away.
Frequently asked questions
What clinical patterns does the Adoptive Family Genogram reveal?
The Adoptive Family Genogram maps multigenerational transmission of psychological patterns, emotional dynamics, and relationship structures. Clinicians use it to identify recurring cycles of behavior, attachment styles, and communication patterns that may inform diagnosis and treatment planning in family therapy.
Who would benefit from studying the Adoptive genogram?
The Adoptive genogram is valuable for family therapists, social workers, counseling students, medical professionals, and anyone interested in understanding family dynamics and intergenerational patterns through visual family mapping.
What genogram symbols are used in the Adoptive Family Genogram example?
This genogram uses Male (Square), Female (Circle), Deceased (X), Index Patient (Arrow), Marriage, Parent-Child, Biological Child, Adopted Child, Close, Anxiety Conditions, Depressive Disorders, Mental Health Conditions and 2 more. All of them follow standard genogram notation, so the chart reads the same way in any genogram program or textbook.
Can I build a genogram like the Adoptive Family Genogram example?
Yes. Open GenogramAI, choose Create with AI on the dashboard (paid plans) or open a blank genogram and use Ask AI in the editor (any plan), and describe the family in plain words: who is in it, how they are related, key dates and the relationships or health conditions you want to show. The AI draws the symbols and lines, and you can then edit by hand or ask for one change at a time. A family of 13 people like this one takes a short paragraph to describe. The free plan includes 2 genograms and 5 AI credits a month, with PNG export.
About this example
