Genogram example · Family structure
Multi-Divorce Blended Family
Quick answer
At a glance
| This example | |
|---|---|
| Generations | 3 |
| Family members | 14 (5 male, 9 female) |
| Birth years | 1940 to 2010 |
| Deceased | 1 |
| Index person | Daniel Reyes |
| Emotional relationships | Close, Distant, Conflict, Fused/Enmeshed and Hostile |
| Conditions marked | Anxiety Conditions, Depressive Disorders, Mental Health Conditions, Cardiovascular Conditions and Diabetes |
| Category | Family structure |
| Tags | Family Structure, Educational |
About this genogram
A multi-divorce blended family genogram featuring a father married three times with children from each marriage. Illustrates complex custody arrangements, half-sibling and step-sibling relationships, conflict between ex-wives, and the challenges children face navigating multiple households and loyalty conflicts.
Family analysis
Overview
This 3-generation genogram maps 14 family members with birth years spanning from 1940 to 2010, comprising 5 males and 9 females (1 deceased). The genogram tracks 5 medical/psychological condition categories and 5 emotional relationship types across 7 documented dyads. The index patient is Daniel Reyes (b. 1993), paralegal.
Generation by generation
The family system encompasses 3 generations with distinct patterns at each level. The oldest generation includes Victor, Laura, Monica and 1 other, with 2 presenting documented conditions. The middle generation includes Natalie, Daniel, Isabella and 2 others, with 3 presenting documented conditions. The youngest generation includes Sofia.
Emotional relationships
Emotional relationship mapping reveals 1 hostile relationship, 1 conflictual relationship, 3 close relationships, 1 distant relationship, 1 fused/enmeshed relationship. Specific patterns include a hostile relationship between Laura and Victor, a conflictual relationship between Laura and Natalie, a close relationship between Isabella and Jade. The co-occurrence of fused and conflictual relationships suggests a family system with poorly differentiated boundaries, where emotional intensity oscillates between enmeshment and discord.
Health conditions
Medical and psychological conditions are documented in 7 of 14 family members (50%). Anxiety-spectrum conditions appear in 3 members (Victor, Natalie, Jade), affecting 2 females and 1 male. Depressive disorders appear in 2 members (Laura, Daniel), affecting 1 female and 1 male. Cardiovascular conditions appear in 2 members (Rosa, Ernesto), affecting 1 female and 1 male. Comorbidity is observed in 2 family members, with Daniel presenting 2 concurrent condition categories. The multigenerational prevalence of anxiety-spectrum conditions suggests both genetic predisposition and possible environmental or behavioral transmission pathways.
This genogram illustrates how family structure shapes individual development and relational patterns. The presence of step 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 Multi-Divorce Blended 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 9 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 Daniel Reyes. - 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, Divorce, Parent-Child, Biological Child and Stepchild lines. - 4
Read the emotional lines
Lines drawn between two people show how they relate: Close, Distant, Conflict, Fused/Enmeshed and Hostile. 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 Diabetes. 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. |
| Divorce | Structural Relationships | A marriage line with two diagonal slashes indicates divorce or legal separation. |
| 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. |
| Stepchild | Child Connection Types | A dashed vertical line indicates a step-parent/step-child relationship. |
| Close | Emotional Relationships | Two parallel lines between individuals represent an emotionally close relationship. |
| Distant | Emotional Relationships | A dotted line represents an emotionally distant or disengaged relationship. |
| Conflict | Emotional Relationships | A zigzag line between individuals represents an openly conflictual relationship. |
| Fused/Enmeshed | Emotional Relationships | Three parallel lines with a zigzag overlay represent a fused relationship — emotionally intense with poor boundaries. |
| Hostile | Emotional Relationships | A zigzag line with an arrow indicates a hostile, one-directional aggressive dynamic. |
| 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. |
| Diabetes | Medical Conditions | Shading indicates Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes. |
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.
- The hostile relationship symbol represents aggressive relational dynamics in this example.
- The conflict relationship symbol marks openly hostile dynamics between family members.
Frequently asked questions
What clinical patterns does the Multi-Divorce Blended Family genogram reveal?
The Multi-Divorce Blended 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 Multi-Divorce Blended genogram?
The Multi-Divorce Blended 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 Multi-Divorce Blended Family example?
This genogram uses Male (Square), Female (Circle), Deceased (X), Index Patient (Arrow), Marriage, Divorce, Parent-Child, Biological Child, Stepchild, Close, Distant, Conflict and 7 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 Multi-Divorce Blended Family 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 14 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
