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Genogram examples

Five worked examples of family genograms, each with a short reading of what the symbols say. Open any of them in the maker and adapt it.

m. 1974m. 1976m. 2008 d. 2019Frank1948–2015, age 67Heart diseaseRuthb. 1951Tomb. 1950Joanb. 1953Davidb. 1976Markb. 1979Lisab. 1978Depression15Mayab. 201012Ellab. 20139Samb. 2016

Three-generation family genogram

A classic three-generation genogram for a 15-year-old client, showing both sets of grandparents, parents, siblings, one death, a divorce and the key emotional patterns.

  1. Maya (double outline) is the index person: the client the genogram is drawn for.
  2. Her paternal grandfather Frank died in 2015 of heart disease; the X marks the death and the filled left half marks a serious illness.
  3. The filled bottom half on grandmother Joan shows alcohol misuse, and the zigzag between Joan and her daughter Lisa records a conflictual relationship: a pattern worth exploring across generations.
  4. Two slashes on the line between David and Lisa mean they are divorced (2019). Maya is very close to her sister Ella (three lines) and distant from her father (dashed).
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m. 2007 d. 2016m. 2020m. 2010 s. 2014Benb. 1982Carlab. 1985Omarb. 1983Kimb. 198616Leob. 200913Ninab. 201214Jayb. 20112Ayab. 2023

Blended family genogram

Remarriage with children from two unions: how to draw step-relationships, a half-sibling and custody without losing clarity.

  1. Carla has two partner lines. Her first marriage to Ben ended in divorce (two slashes); her second marriage is to Omar.
  2. Children hang from the line of the couple they were born to, so Leo and Nina belong to Carla and Ben, while baby Aya is Carla and Omar’s child and a half-sibling to both.
  3. Omar’s son Jay, from his earlier cohabiting relationship (dashed partner line), lives in the same household: he is Leo and Nina’s stepbrother.
  4. The zigzag between Leo and Omar marks stepparent conflict, a common focus in blended-family work.
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lt. 2012Alexb. 1984Jonb. 1987Tinab. 1995Birth mother10Rosab. 20158Kaib. 2017Foster placement 2024

Adoption and foster care genogram

A same-sex couple with an adopted daughter and a foster child, plus the adopted child’s birth mother: the conventions child-welfare workers need most.

  1. The inverted triangle inside each partner’s symbol records that they identify as gay; their dashed partner line shows they cohabit.
  2. Rosa is adopted: her line to the couple is dashed and her symbol sits in brackets. Her birth mother Tina is drawn with a solid line to Rosa to keep the biological tie visible.
  3. Kai is a foster child: a dotted line joins him to the household.
  4. An arrow from Tina to Rosa could be added if the adoption followed neglect; here it is recorded in the note instead to keep the chart readable.
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m. 1964m. 1994George1940–2009, age 69Type 2 diabetesHelen1943–2012, age 69Breast cancerCarolb. 1966Breast cancer, 48Anneb. 1969Bethb. 1969HypertensionPaulb. 1967Heart diseaseGraceb. 1996Owenb. 1999

Medical genogram (family health history)

A health-focused genogram used in nursing and genetic counselling: conditions are shaded and annotated so inherited risk patterns stand out.

  1. Shading marks conditions: here, the filled left half flags a diagnosed illness and the note beneath names it.
  2. Breast cancer appears in the maternal grandmother and in an aunt, the kind of pattern a genetic counsellor would follow up.
  3. Twins are drawn from a single point on the sibling line; the horizontal bar between them marks them as identical.
  4. Ages at death and causes are written beside each deceased person, which is what makes a medical genogram useful to a clinician.
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m. 1986 d. 1995m. 2012 s. 2016lt. 2021Walt1960–2018, age 58Patb. 1962Kerryb. 1988Robb. 1986Deanb. 1985Amyb. 199111Jessb. 2014

Social work assessment genogram

A child-protection style genogram showing substance misuse, a cutoff, a focused relationship and an abuse arrow, the relationship symbols social workers use most.

  1. Jess (index) lives with her mother Kerry and her mother’s partner Dean (dashed line: cohabiting).
  2. The dark bottom half on Dean shows substance misuse; the zigzag-with-arrow from Dean to Kerry records physical abuse and points at the person harmed.
  3. Kerry is cut off from her own mother (a line broken by two bars): no contact, so no family support from that side.
  4. The arrow from grandmother Pat to Jess marks a focused relationship: Pat is the protective adult most involved with Jess.
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How to read any genogram example

  1. Find the index person: the double outline. Everything is organised around them.
  2. Read generations top to bottom: grandparents, parents, then the client’s generation. Siblings run oldest to youngest, left to right.
  3. Scan for Xs and slashes: deaths and breakups are the losses and transitions that shape a family.
  4. Follow the shading: illness or substance misuse appearing in more than one generation is a pattern to ask about.
  5. Trace the emotional lines: look for triangles, cutoffs and repeated conflict between the same roles (mother–daughter, father–son).

Unsure what a symbol means? The genogram symbols key covers every one used here. For a deeper walkthrough of the most common assignment format, see the three-generation genogram guide.

Frequently asked questions

Can I edit these genogram examples?

Yes. Each “Open in the maker” button loads the example into the free genogram maker, where you can rename people, change symbols and export your own version as PDF, PNG or SVG.

Are these real families?

No. All examples are fictional families written to demonstrate genogram conventions. Any resemblance to real people is coincidental.

What should a genogram example include for a class assignment?

Most courses ask for at least three generations, dates of key events, deaths with ages, health and substance use, emotional relationship lines, and a key. Check your rubric: some also want an ecomap or a written analysis of patterns.

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