How to Create a Genogram
Learn to create professional genograms step-by-step. This guide covers symbols, relationship types, and best practices used by therapists and social workers worldwide.
What You'll Learn
8 Steps to Create a Genogram
Gather Family Information
Before you start drawing, collect information about your family members across at least three generations.
- Names and birth/death dates
- Marriages, divorces, and partnerships
- Children (including adopted, foster, step)
- Medical conditions and causes of death
- Occupations and education levels
- Significant life events
Tip: Start with what you know and fill in gaps later. Even incomplete genograms are valuable.
Start with the Index Person
The index person (usually you or your client) is the reference point for the entire genogram.
- Place the index person in the center of your canvas
- Use a square for male, circle for female
- Add a double border to indicate this is the index person
- Fill in basic information: name, age, occupation
Tip: In GenogramAI, click 'Add Person' and check 'Index Person' in the inspector panel.
Add Parents Above
Parents are always placed above the children they're connected to.
- Draw the father on the left, mother on the right (traditional convention)
- Connect them with a horizontal marriage/relationship line
- Drop a vertical line from their relationship line to the children below
- If divorced, add two slashes through the line; separated, one slash
Tip: The relationship line type indicates marital status: solid = married, dashed = cohabiting, dotted = dating.
Add Siblings
Siblings are placed on the same horizontal level as the index person.
- Arrange siblings from oldest (left) to youngest (right)
- All children connect to the same parent relationship line
- For twins, use V-shaped connector; add horizontal bar for identical twins
- Indicate birth order with position, not numbers
Tip: Half-siblings connect to only one parent's side. Step-siblings connect with a stepped line.
Extend to Grandparents
Continue the pattern upward for each set of grandparents.
- Paternal grandparents above the father
- Maternal grandparents above the mother
- Apply the same conventions for their marriages and children
- You can continue to great-grandparents if relevant
Tip: Three generations is standard for most clinical work. Go deeper only if needed for your assessment.
Add the Index Person's Family
Add partners and children of the index person below their generation.
- Partners connect horizontally at the index person's level
- Children drop down from the relationship line
- Show multiple marriages/relationships from left to right chronologically
- Indicate current vs. past relationships with line styles
Tip: Position the current partner closest to the index person.
Add Emotional Relationships
Emotional relationship lines show the quality of relationships between any two people.
- Close relationship: Double green lines
- Conflicted: Red zigzag lines
- Distant: Gray dashed lines
- Cut-off/Estranged: Line with T-bar break
- Fused/Enmeshed: Triple green lines
- Abusive: Directed arrow lines
Tip: Emotional lines curve above structural lines to keep the genogram readable.
Add Medical & Cultural Information
Fill in medical history and cultural background using standard notation.
- Mark deceased persons with an X through the symbol
- Use quadrants to indicate medical conditions (e.g., heart disease, cancer)
- Add cultural heritage patterns/fills to show ethnicity
- Note religious affiliations if relevant
Tip: Color-code medical conditions consistently: red for heart, blue for cancer, etc.
Or Let AI Create Your Genogram
Don't want to draw it manually? Describe your family in plain English and GenogramAI will create a professional genogram in seconds.
Example:
"My parents John and Mary married in 1985. They have me (born 1990) and my sister Kate (1993). My parents divorced in 2010. My dad has heart disease. I'm married to Tom and we have one daughter."
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Placing children at different vertical levels
Fix: All siblings should be on the same horizontal plane, regardless of age differences
Forgetting to show relationship status changes
Fix: Use slashes for divorce/separation, different line styles for different relationship types
Not distinguishing biological from adopted children
Fix: Use dashed lines for adopted, dotted for foster, stepped for step-children
Making the genogram too crowded
Fix: Focus on the most relevant relationships; you don't need to include everyone
Missing emotional relationships
Fix: Emotional patterns often reveal more than structural relationships—don't skip them
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take to create a genogram?
A basic 3-generation genogram takes 15-30 minutes. Complex genograms with detailed emotional relationships and medical history can take 1-2 hours. With GenogramAI's AI feature, you can create a basic structure in under 2 minutes.
How many generations should a genogram include?
Three generations is standard for most clinical and educational purposes (grandparents, parents, index person's generation). Include more generations if multigenerational patterns are relevant to your assessment.
What's the difference between a genogram and a family tree?
A family tree shows lineage and ancestry. A genogram adds emotional relationships, medical history, behavioral patterns, and life events. Genograms are clinical tools; family trees are genealogical records.
Can I create a genogram online for free?
Yes! GenogramAI offers a free plan that includes 2 genograms with all features. You can create professional genograms with AI assistance, 48 relationship types, and medical tracking—no credit card required.
What software do therapists use to create genograms?
GenogramAI is the most popular modern option with AI-powered creation. Other options include GenoPro (desktop-only, Windows), Lucidchart (general diagramming), and hand-drawing on paper.
How do you show divorce on a genogram?
Draw the marriage line with two diagonal slashes through it. If the couple separated but didn't divorce, use one slash. For annulment, use three slashes or the letter 'A'.
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