See how a genogram maps divorce, remarriage, step-children, and half-siblings. The Martinez-Chen family illustrates the complexity of modern blended families using standard clinical notation.
Blended families (also called step-families or reconstituted families) are increasingly common. According to the Pew Research Center, about 16% of children in the United States live in a blended family. For therapists, social workers, and family counselors, accurately mapping these complex structures is essential for understanding family dynamics.
A blended family genogram must capture multiple marriages, divorces, children from different relationships, step-parent bonds, half-sibling connections, and the reality of children moving between two households. Standard genogram notation provides specific symbols for each of these elements. This example demonstrates how GenogramAI handles these complexities while maintaining a clear, readable diagram.
Two previously married parents who form a new household with children from prior marriages and a shared biological child.
Maria and Carlos married in 2011 and divorced in 2020. They share custody of Sofia and Diego on a week-on/week-off schedule. Their relationship is cordial but distant. Carlos has not remarried.
David and Jennifer married in 2012 and divorced in 2019. Jennifer has primary custody of Lily and Ethan. David has them every other weekend and alternating holidays.
Maria and David married in 2022. Baby Mia is their shared biological child, making her a half-sibling to all four older children. The household dynamic shifts between weeks when different children are present.
Two diagonal slashes through the marriage line show divorce. Maria-Carlos (2020) and David-Jennifer (2019) divorces are each marked with year of divorce.
Maria and David's 2022 marriage is shown as a second marriage line, positioned to the right of each person's first marriage. The marriage year is noted on the line.
Dashed lines connect step-parents to step-children: David to Sofia and Diego, and Maria to Lily and Ethan. These visual cues distinguish biological from step relationships.
Mia shares Maria as a biological mother with Sofia and Diego, and David as a biological father with Lily and Ethan. She is a half-sibling to all four older children.
A dashed box around the Martinez-Chen household shows who lives together. Lily and Ethan are shown with visiting lines, indicating their primary residence is with Jennifer.
Both Maria and David have two marriage lines, illustrating the standard genogram convention for showing a person's marriage history chronologically from left to right.
Children in blended families often experience loyalty conflicts between their biological parents and step-parents. Sofia (age 12) may feel torn between her father Carlos and her step-father David. The genogram helps clinicians identify these triangulations by visually mapping where a child sits between competing parental figures. A therapist can use this to explore how Sofia navigates relationships in both households.
The Martinez-Chen household includes full siblings (Sofia and Diego), step-siblings (Sofia/Diego with Lily/Ethan), and a half-sibling (Mia) who connects everyone. The genogram reveals that the sibling subsystem changes composition depending on the week, as Lily and Ethan are only present every other weekend. This shifting dynamic can create instability and requires intentional family rituals to build cohesion.
The genogram shows four adults (Maria, Carlos, David, Jennifer) who must coordinate parenting across two households. The quality of these co-parenting relationships significantly impacts children's adjustment. A distant but respectful relationship between Maria and Carlos (shown with a dotted line) is clinically preferable to ongoing conflict. The genogram provides a visual framework for assessing and improving these boundary structures.
Two-year-old Mia occupies a unique position as the only child biologically connected to both Maria and David. In blended family systems, a shared biological child can serve as a bonding force that strengthens the new family unit. However, it can also intensify loyalty conflicts if older children perceive the new baby as evidence that their parent has "moved on." The genogram makes this structural position visible and accessible for clinical discussion.
Start by drawing both original marriages (Maria-Carlos and David-Jennifer) with their children.
Draw two diagonal slashes through both original marriage lines and note divorce years.
Draw the Maria-David marriage line and add Mia as their shared child below it.
Draw dashed lines from step-parents to step-children and mark household boundaries.
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GenogramAI handles complex family structures with ease. Create a clear, professional genogram for therapy, family discussions, or personal understanding.