The Importance of Genograms in Family Assessment and Therapy

My genogram
Genogram is a graphic representation of the characteristics, relationships and medical history
of a person's family. they allow clinicians to visualize genetic patterns and psychological
factors that can disrupt or help relationships. It is also used for the identification of behavioral
and recurrent behaviors and the recognition of transmissible tendencies. DeMaria, R., Weeks,
G. R., & Hof, L. (2013)
In the genogram drawing; a square is drawn to represent a male; the circle represents a female
and the lines connecting show the kind of relationship they have. A straight line is a symbol
of a normal plain relationship. There are many symbols in a genogram that can express
emotional relationships legend who can fit together to provide an overall picture of a client’s
emotional life. DeMaria, R., Weeks, G. R., & Hof, L. (2013).
Mcgoldrick and Gerson argue that a genogram depicts aspects that had impacts on the client’s
life events. (McGoldrick, Gerson, Shellenberger, 1999). I practiced this while constructing
my genogram, I could see how our Christian faith impact generations as we have two family
members work as priests (in the Coptic orthodox church priests can marry).
Also, Genograms explains the transgenerational relationships of a family structure and it
gives the clients the opportunity to look at their life from a distance and externalize their
thoughts and feeling by retelling their stories. (Hardy & Laszloffy, 1995).
I reflected on my relationship with my cousins and second cousins and how our immigration
to Australia affected our closeness. Immigration affects relationships.
As Rogers and his colleagues suggested that when clients understand the background of their
families, they can perceive any biological and psychological disorder. Drawing the genogram
of my family I found that I have a high risk of cancer and that the obesity is rooted in my
dad’s family. BECK, R. (1987). Eating disorder is related to anxiety and depression.

Also, I figure out that Mohsen’s (my uncle) broken marriage had a serious effects not only on
his family but on the extended family as well. I found that I still hold some bitterness because
I saw my cousins suffering during my childhood. I have a distant relationship with Fadi and
Paul my cousins since they left the family home.
Although the genogram is a useful tool, the construction of a genogram could trigger
memories and emotions that may disturb the client. McGoldrick and Gerson (1985) claim that
the genogram procedure may have some effects on the client and may be the client is not
ready to deal with these unnecessary implications. Papadopoulos, L., & Bor, R. (1997).
Remembering the loss of my family members wasn’t easy and it triggered grief and sadness.

References:
BECK, R. (1987). The genogram as a process. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 15,
343-352.
Chrzastowski, Szymon K. (2011). A narrative perspective on genograms: Revisiting classical
family therapy methods. Clinical Child Psychology and Psychiatry., 16(4), 635-644.
DeMaria, R., Weeks, G. R., & Hof, L. (2013). Focused genograms : intergenerational
assessment of individuals, couples, and families
Glenn, M. L. (1987). Review of Genograms in family assessment. Family Systems Medicine,
5(1), 132–133. https://doi-org.ezproxy.navitas.com/10.1037/h0090058
Hardy, K., & Laszloffy, T. (1995). The cultural genogram: Key to training culturally
competent family therapists. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 21, 227–237.
McGoldrick, M., Gerson, R., & Shellenberger, S. (1999). Genograms: Assessment and
intervention. New York: W. W. Norton & Company.
Papadopoulos, L., & Bor, R. (1997). Genograms in counselling practice: A review (part 1).
Counselling Psychology Quarterly, 10(1), 17.
https://doi-org.ezproxy.navitas.com/10.1080/09515079708251408
ROGERS, J., DURKIN, M. & KELLY, K. (1985). The family genogram: an underutilized
clinical tool. New Jersey Medicine, 82, 887-892.

Activity 3.2
Part 1
1. The client is in high level of suicidal risk if the responses of the assessment kit
shows some factors. The first four questions of the kit demonstrate the level of the
client’s mental health. Baumeister argues that clients tend to commit suicide in
order to escape negative emotions such as depression, anxiety, stress or any sort of
pain. (Baumeister, 1990)
Joiner claims that if the clients have previous suicidal attempts such as non-
suicidal self-injury, they would familiarise themselves to the pain and may reduce
their fear from death. In this case the clients are in high risk of attempting suicide.
(Joiner, )
Researchers found that if the client prove that they don’t fear death and they are
able to handle physical pain that correlated with the suicide, they will most
probable commit suicide. (Zhang et al., 2017)
Likewise, Pretzel 1972 underscore that the counsellor must take the client’s
previous suicidal attempts very critically because they have already the knowledge
and the skills to accomplish it. (Pretzel, 1972)
Zubrick argues that distressing occurrences can move the clients from moderate
level of suicidal risk to a higher stage of risk. (Zubrick et al., 2016)
Chehil and Kutcher clarify that if the client had chosen the time and the settings of
the suicide then the counsellor should consider it as a high risk of suicidal attempt.
(Chehil & Kutcher, 2012)