[acb-hsp] Creating a genogram

[J.Rayl]

Hi.  I do use genograms, however it is modified.  MY clients actually like 
it as well, and do as well, as they do with the drawings of them.
You can learn about the actual drawing, then explain that and how to 
clients--if you so desire.
Or, you can do as I do and have them write it out in text, drawing errors or 
whatever symbols they may or may not choose.
For example, I might start with the great grandparents--or grandparents. 
Its important to find out whether the client even knows his/her great 
grandparents or any information about them (I do not).
So, here is an example:
Paternal grandfather:  Marital Status--Married until death;  Children--4, 3 
girls, 1 boy; Work--Sales and marketing; Medical--heart disease, died age 
60; Mental Illness--none; Substance Abuse--none; Religion--Christian 
protestant; Political persuasion--Republican.  Education--High school 
graduate.  Other--Supportive of family, good family provider; often not home 
due to work travel; no other issues.

So, you go down through the line just like that:  paternal grandmother
Maternal Grandfather, Maternal grandmother.
Father:
Mother:

And you can include aunts, uncles, etc. as well--depends on the client, what 
you are looking for, etc.
Then, self is last.

This is easy enough to create with Excel--if you know it, and I do it on 
table format so that all fields follow each other as a table.  Then, once 
they complete that, they can look at it and say:
Well, all the men in my family work; women seem to be house wives / mothers.
No mental illness, no substance abuse;
History of cancer, heart disease and diabetes with early death.
(Whatever it might be).

Under Other, you might include marital affairs although that could be 
included under marriage, and whatever issues seem to be significant--anger 
problems (for anger management); And I sometimes change Substance Abuse to 
Addictions which could include gambling, sex, (now internet), etc.

If they do this via computer, you can (as the therapist) read it.  If not, 
you'll likely have to get them to tell you what is written there.

So, hopefully that helps.  I made my University professors accept my format 
because these circles, squares, lines, etc. mean nothing whatsoever to me, 
and are too difficult to explain to lower functioning clients who say: what 
does that mean? Or, how do I connect that and that (while pointing to the 
circles and triangles).

I've been using these some 20 years and so far, clients benefit; sighted 
supervisors live.  <smiles>

Jessie Rayl
thedogmom63 at frontier.com
www.facebook.com/Eaglewings10
www.pathtogrowth.org

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Anjelina Cruz" <anjelinac26 at gmail.com>
To: <acb-hsp at acb.org>
Sent: Friday, January 25, 2013 8:06 AM
Subject: [acb-hsp] Creating a genogram


Good morning,
Currently I am taking a practice with families course toward my BSW.
One of the requirements is to complete a family assessment by using a
genogram as a visual depiction of the families structure.
If you have used genograms, how did you create one? Thank you for your 
input.

-- 
Anjelina
_______________________________________________
acb-hsp mailing list
acb-hsp at acb.org
http://www.acb.org/mailman/listinfo/acb-hsp