Free genogram template

Genogram Assignment Template for Counseling, Social Work and Nursing Students

A three-generation layout with the checklist most instructors grade against.

Updated October 2026 · PDF, PowerPoint, PNG and SVG · no sign-up

Quick answer

A genogram assignment template is a three-generation genogram with a name, course and date header and a checklist of what instructors usually grade: three generations, a symbol key, dates and ages, emotional lines, two named patterns, and reflection questions. It suits family-of-origin assignments in counseling, MFT, social work and nursing programs.

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Download the genogram assignment template

Free files, no sign-up or email. Print the blank, edit the PowerPoint, or reuse the example image with a credit to genogramai.com.

When to use a genogram assignment template

Use this template for a family-of-origin genogram assignment. Most counseling, MFT, social work and nursing programs ask for the same things: three generations, a key, dates and ages, emotional relationships, and a written reflection on patterns you notice. The checklist on the page turns that into boxes you can tick before you submit, which is where many students lose marks.

Drawing your own family raises questions about privacy and comfort. You can use initials, leave out details you do not want to share, and check your program’s guidance on what to include. The reflection usually matters more than artistic quality; a clear genogram with two well-argued patterns is better than an elaborate chart with none.

If the assignment is a client case study rather than your own family, use the template for the setting (the Social Work, Nursing or Family Therapy Genogram Template). For four generations, use the 4 Generation Genogram Template. See the Genogram Assignment guide for grading tips.

The blank template and a filled-in example

Left: the blank printable. Right: the same template filled in for a fictional family in GenogramAI.

Blank genogram assignment template: A three-generation structure with a header for Name, Course and Date, and an assignment checklist box: three generations, symbol key, dates and ages, emotional lines, two patterns named, and reflection questions. A key with basic symbols and partner lines. — Blank: A three-generation structure with a header for Name, Course and Date, and an assignment checklist box: three generations, symbol key, dates and ages, emotional lines, two patterns named, and reflection questions. A key with basic symbols and partner lines.

Genogram Assignment Template filled in: Family of Origin Genogram: Graduate Student Assignment Example drawn in GenogramAI with a genogram key — Filled in: The completed example is a fictional MSW student, Aaliyah Johnson (28), whose family-of-origin genogram covers four generations of an African-American family whose great-grandparents moved from Mississippi to Chicago in the Great Migration. It shows sibling position, a parental triangle, divorce and remarriage, a separation, alcohol and heart disease patterns, education levels and a dated chronology. Read the full example

Open this example in GenogramAI to start from the finished layout: it copies into your account (the Free plan holds 2 genograms) and every person, line and condition stays editable.

How to fill in a genogram assignment template

1
Draw three generations
Start with yourself, add your parents and siblings, then both sets of grandparents.
2
Add dates and the key
Write birth and death years and ages, and fill in the symbol key for every symbol you use.
3
Add emotional lines
Show close, conflict, distant and cutoff relationships, and any triangles.
4
Work through the checklist
Name at least two patterns and answer the reflection questions before submitting.

Symbols this template uses

Drawn the way GenogramAI draws them. Every other symbol is in the genogram symbols guide and the genogram key.

Symbol	What it means
Double outline	You, as the index person, in a family-of-origin assignment.
Square / circle and X	Male / female; an X marks a deceased relative, with dates.
Partner lines	Solid for marriage, dashed for cohabitation, one slash separation, two slashes divorce.
Two blue lines / two dashed red lines	Close / conflict emotional lines.
Red line broken by two bars	Cutoff.
Triangle drawn around three people	A triangle: two people managing tension through a third, often asked about in Bowen-based courses.

Common mistakes to avoid

Missing the key. A genogram without a key cannot be read, and most rubrics deduct for it.
Listing facts without naming patterns. Instructors look for two or more patterns you can explain.
Leaving out dates and ages, which are what let a reader see life-cycle transitions.
Using non-standard symbols, such as drawing children in age order right to left.

Who uses this template?

Graduate and undergraduate students in counseling, marriage and family therapy, social work, psychology and nursing, and the instructors who set genogram assignments.

Common uses

Family-of-origin genogram assignments
Self-of-the-therapist work in clinical training
Bowen theory and family systems courses
Nursing family assessment coursework
Practicum reflection journals

What the template covers

Three-generation layout with a student header
Assignment checklist box
Reflection prompts
Key with basic symbols and partner lines
Editable PowerPoint and SVG versions

What is free?

Free and paid, plainly

All five files on this page (blank PDF, PowerPoint, SVG, example PDF and PNG) are free to download and use, with no sign-up. In GenogramAI, the Free plan includes 2 genograms, 5 AI credits a month, all 64 relationship types, medical shading and PNG export, with no card. PDF, SVG and GEDCOM export, file import and photo import are on paid plans; Professional is $12/month.

Frequently asked questions

What should a genogram assignment include?

Usually three generations, a symbol key, names or initials, dates and ages, partner and emotional lines, and a written analysis of at least two patterns. Check your syllabus for anything extra, such as medical history or culture.

Do I have to include everything about my family?

No. You can use initials and leave out details you do not want to share. Most instructors care that the genogram is accurate and the reflection is thoughtful, not that every secret is on the page.

How many generations does a genogram assignment need?

Three is standard: grandparents, parents and your generation. Some programs ask for four. The 4 Generation Genogram Template is on this site if you need it.

Can I make my assignment genogram online?

Yes. Open the completed example in GenogramAI, replace the names, and export it as PNG on the free plan, or as PDF on a paid plan. The Free plan holds 2 genograms.