Genogram example · Clinical case studies
Okafor Family Genogram
Quick answer
At a glance
| This example | |
|---|---|
| Generations | 2 |
| Family members | 6 (3 male, 3 female) |
| Birth years | 1951 to 2014 |
| Index person | Ngozi's Mother |
| Category | Clinical case studies |
| Tags | Clinical, Immigration, Educational |
About this genogram
Adaeze Okafor, 16, is brought to therapy by her parents, Chukwu (50) and Ngozi (47), for "defiant behavior." She has been arguing with her parents about dating, refusing to attend church, and expressing a desire to attend college out of state. Chukwu and Ngozi immigrated from Nigeria in 2002. They have three children: Emeka (22, engineer, lives nearby), Adaeze (16, high school student), and Chidi (12).
Clinical analysis
Overview
This 2-generation genogram maps 6 family members with birth years spanning from 1951 to 2014, comprising 3 males and 3 females. The index patient is Ngozi's Mother (b. 1951).
Generation by generation
The family system encompasses 2 generations with distinct patterns at each level. The oldest generation includes Ngozi's, Chukwu, Ngozi. The middle generation includes Emeka, Adaeze, Chidi.
Clinical perspective
From a clinical perspective, this genogram offers rich material for therapeutic exploration. The presenting concerns of Ngozi's Mother can be contextualized within 2 generations of family patterns. Bowen family systems theory would note the intergenerational transmission of relational patterns. This case is particularly suited for exploring differentiation of self, family projection processes, and the way anxiety moves through the family emotional system.
How do you read the Okafor 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 3 males and 3 females across 2 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 Ngozi's Mother. - 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.
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. |
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
- Learn more about how genograms in family therapy sessions use multigenerational mapping like this example.
- This example illustrates concepts from Bowen family systems theory including intergenerational transmission.
- Explore how attachment theory genograms map relational bonds across generations.
- The marriage symbol connects partnered individuals in this genogram.
Frequently asked questions
What clinical patterns does the Okafor Family Genogram reveal?
The Okafor 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.
How do therapists use the Okafor genogram in sessions?
In clinical practice, the Okafor genogram serves as both an assessment and intervention tool. Therapists use it to externalize family patterns, help clients visualize inherited dynamics, identify triangulation and enmeshment, and develop insight into how past generations influence present-day functioning and relationships.
What genogram symbols are used in the Okafor Family Genogram example?
This genogram uses Male (Square), Female (Circle), Index Patient (Arrow), Marriage and Parent-Child. 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 Okafor 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 6 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
