Structural Family Therapy Example (Minuchin)
A teaching genogram illustrating Salvador Minuchin\'s structural family therapy concepts: enmeshed and disengaged subsystems, cross-generational...
Interactive Structural Family Therapy Example (Minuchin)
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About This Genogram
A teaching genogram illustrating Salvador Minuchin\'s structural family therapy concepts: enmeshed and disengaged subsystems, cross-generational coalitions, parentified child, boundary violations, and dysfunctional family hierarchy. Depicts a family presenting for therapy with a symptomatic adolescent, revealing how structural dysfunction maintains the symptom. Shows the before-therapy pattern that a structural therapist would seek to restructure.
Key Patterns in This Genogram
Symbol Reference
Standard genogram symbols and notation demonstrated in context.
Template Structure
Proper genogram layout and organization for academic assignments.
Learning Framework
A teaching tool for understanding family systems theory in practice.
Pattern Analysis
This 3-generation genogram maps 10 family members with birth years spanning from 1945 to 2014, comprising 4 males and 6 females. The genogram tracks 5 medical/psychological condition categories and 5 emotional relationship types across 8 documented dyads. The index patient is Lily Torres (b. 2007), high school student.
The family system encompasses 3 generations with distinct patterns at each level. The oldest generation includes Carl, Gloria, Tony and 1 other, with 3 presenting documented conditions. The middle generation includes Maria, Steve, Lisa, with 2 presenting documented conditions. The youngest generation includes Lily, Jake, Mia, with 3 presenting documented conditions.
Emotional relationship mapping reveals 2 fused/enmeshed relationships, 3 distant relationships, 1 conflictual relationship, 1 hostile relationship, 1 close relationship. Specific patterns include a fused/enmeshed relationship between Maria and Lily, a fused/enmeshed relationship between Gloria and Maria, a distant relationship between Steve and Lily. The co-occurrence of fused and conflictual relationships suggests a family system with poorly differentiated boundaries, where emotional intensity oscillates between enmeshment and discord.
Medical and psychological conditions are documented in 8 of 10 family members (80%). Anxiety-spectrum conditions appear in 4 members (Gloria, Maria, Lily...). Depressive disorders appear in 3 members (Maria, Steve, Lily), affecting 2 females and 1 male. Cardiovascular conditions appears in 1 member (Carl). Comorbidity is observed in 2 family members, with Maria presenting 2 concurrent condition categories. The multigenerational prevalence of anxiety-spectrum conditions suggests both genetic predisposition and possible environmental or behavioral transmission pathways.
As a teaching resource, this genogram demonstrates standard McGoldrick–Gerson notation in a realistic family context. Students can practice identifying key patterns: multigenerational transmission, family life cycle stages, and the interplay between structural relationships and emotional processes. The example integrates both medical and emotional overlays, making it suitable for advanced coursework in family therapy and family medicine.
Genogram Symbols Used in This Example
The following standard genogram symbols appear in the Structural Family Therapy Example (Minuchin). Each symbol follows McGoldrick and Gerson clinical notation conventions.
Person Symbols
- Male (Square)
- A square represents a male family member in standard genogram notation.
- Female (Circle)
- A circle represents a female family member in standard genogram notation.
Status Markers
- Index Patient (Arrow)
- An arrow pointing to a person identifies them as the index patient — the individual who is the focus of the clinical assessment.
Structural Relationships
- Marriage
- A solid horizontal line connecting two individuals represents a marriage or committed partnership.
- Parent-Child
- A vertical line descending from a couple line to a child symbol represents a parent-child relationship.
Emotional Relationships
- Close
- Two parallel lines between individuals represent an emotionally close relationship.
- Distant
- A dotted line represents an emotionally distant or disengaged relationship.
- Conflict
- A zigzag line between individuals represents an openly conflictual relationship.
- Fused/Enmeshed
- Three parallel lines with a zigzag overlay represent a fused relationship — emotionally intense with poor boundaries.
- Hostile
- A zigzag line with an arrow indicates a hostile, one-directional aggressive dynamic.
Medical Conditions
- Anxiety Conditions
- Shading in the genogram symbol indicates anxiety-spectrum diagnoses (GAD, panic disorder, phobias, OCD).
- Depressive Disorders
- Shading indicates depressive conditions (major depression, dysthymia, bipolar disorder).
- Mental Health Conditions
- Shading indicates psychological or psychiatric conditions beyond anxiety and depression.
- Cardiovascular Conditions
- Shading indicates heart disease, hypertension, stroke, or other cardiovascular conditions.
- Diabetes
- Shading indicates Type 1 or Type 2 diabetes.
Related Resources
- Use this example as a reference for genogram assignments in family therapy courses.
- Our guide for genograms for psychology students explains the notation used in this example.
- Start with simple genogram examples if you are new to genogram notation.
- The fused relationship symbol indicates enmeshed boundaries in this family system.
- The distant relationship symbol in this genogram indicates emotional disengagement.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Educational disclaimer: This genogram example is an educational illustration of genogram notation and family systems concepts. Examples based on public figures use publicly available information. They are not clinical documents. All examples are intended for learning genogram symbols and patterns.