Genogram example · Specialty
Genetic Counseling Genogram
Quick answer
At a glance
| This example | |
|---|---|
| Generations | 3 |
| Family members | 12 (6 male, 6 female) |
| Birth years | 1948 to 2013 |
| Index person | Sarah Levine |
| Emotional relationships | Close |
| Conditions marked | Mental Health Conditions, Cardiovascular Conditions and Genetic Conditions |
| Category | Specialty |
| Tags | Medical, Academic, Educational |
About this genogram
A genetic counseling genogram for a couple seeking pre-conception genetic counseling. The wife's family has a history of Down syndrome (trisomy 21) including an affected sibling. The husband's family is of Ashkenazi Jewish heritage with Tay-Sachs carrier status in the lineage. Demonstrates how genograms are used in genetic counseling to map carrier statuses, affected individuals, reproductive history, and calculate genetic risk for future pregnancies.
Family analysis
Overview
This 3-generation genogram maps 12 family members with birth years spanning from 1948 to 2013, comprising 6 males and 6 females. The genogram tracks 4 medical/psychological condition categories and 1 emotional relationship type across 2 documented dyads. The index patient is Sarah Levine (b. 1982), occupational therapist.
Generation by generation
The family system encompasses 3 generations with distinct patterns at each level. The oldest generation includes Frank, Margaret, Harold and 2 others, with 4 presenting documented conditions. The middle generation includes Sarah, David, Tommy and 2 others, with 3 presenting documented conditions. The youngest generation includes Emma, Lucas.
Emotional relationships
Emotional relationship mapping reveals 2 close relationships. Specific patterns include a close relationship between Sarah and Tommy, a close relationship between David and Rebecca.
Health conditions
Medical and psychological conditions are documented in 7 of 12 family members (58%). Reproductive appear in 3 members (Margaret, Sarah, Miscarriage). Genetic conditions appear in 3 members (Harold, David, Tommy). Cardiovascular conditions appear in 2 members (Frank, Tommy). Comorbidity is observed in 1 family member, with Tommy presenting 3 concurrent condition categories. The multigenerational prevalence of reproductive suggests both genetic predisposition and possible environmental or behavioral transmission pathways.
This genogram illustrates how family structure shapes individual development and relational patterns. 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 Genetic Counseling 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 6 males and 6 females across 3 generations. - 2
Check the status markers
Markers on a symbol add facts about that person: Index Patient (Arrow). The index person, the focus of the assessment, is Sarah Levine. - 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 and Parent-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: Mental Health Conditions, Cardiovascular Conditions and Genetic Conditions. 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. |
| 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. |
| Close | Emotional Relationships | Two parallel lines between individuals represent an emotionally close relationship. |
| 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. |
| Genetic Conditions | Medical Conditions | Shading indicates inherited genetic disorders (sickle cell, hemophilia, cystic fibrosis, etc.). |
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
- Explore how career genograms map occupational patterns across generations.
- Learn how genograms in social work professionals use specialized genograms in practice.
- This example uses the close relationship symbol to denote emotional closeness between family members.
- The marriage symbol connects partnered individuals in this genogram.
Frequently asked questions
What clinical patterns does the Genetic Counseling Genogram reveal?
The Genetic Counseling 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 Genetic Counseling genogram?
The Genetic Counseling 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 Genetic Counseling Genogram example?
This genogram uses Male (Square), Female (Circle), Index Patient (Arrow), Marriage, Parent-Child, Close, Mental Health Conditions, Cardiovascular Conditions and Genetic Conditions. 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 Genetic Counseling 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 12 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
