Genogram maker / Genogram rules and format
Genogram rules and format
Oldest generation at the top, one row per generation. Male partner on the left. Children drop from the partner line, oldest on the left. Double outline for the client. Dates beside every symbol and partner line. Always add a key.
These are the layout conventions from McGoldrick, Gerson and Petry’s Genograms: Assessment and Treatment, the reference most social work, counselling and nursing courses use. The genogram maker applies them for you.
The seven layout rules
Generations run top to bottom
Each generation sits on its own horizontal row: grandparents at the top, the client’s generation near the bottom, their children below. Never draw a parent below a child.
Right: grandparents → parents → client Male partner on the left
In a heterosexual couple the male symbol sits on the left and the female on the right, joined by a partner line that drops from both and runs across. For same-sex couples, order by age or whatever keeps lines from crossing.
Right: male left Wrong: swapped Siblings in birth order, oldest on the left
Children hang from the parents’ partner line, left to right from oldest to youngest. Deceased siblings, miscarriages and stillbirths keep their place in that order.
Right: 1990 → 1997 Wrong: youngest first Mark the client with a double outline
The index person (IP) is the person the genogram is drawn for. A double outline makes them the anchor every reader looks for first.
Write the dates
Birth year under each symbol, birth–death years and age at death for anyone deceased, and “m. 1988”, “s. 2003”, “d. 2005” above partner lines. Timing is half of what a genogram shows.
Use the standard symbols, and only add, never redefine
Squares, circles, Xs, shading and partner-line slashes have fixed meanings (see the full genogram symbols key). If your agency needs an extra mark, add it to the key rather than reusing an existing symbol.
Add a key, a title and the date drawn
A genogram is a snapshot of what the client told you on a given day. The key lists every symbol and relationship line you used; the maker’s export builds it automatically.
How to read a genogram
- Find the double outline. That is the client; everything is read in relation to them.
- Read the rows top down. Who were the grandparents, how many children did they have, where does the client sit among siblings?
- Scan for losses and transitions. Xs are deaths; slashes on partner lines are separations and divorces. Check the years: do losses cluster?
- Follow the shading. Illness, mental health conditions or substance misuse in more than one generation is a pattern to ask about (see the medical genogram guide).
- Trace the emotional lines. Look for repeated conflict between the same roles, cutoffs, and triangles: two people in tension who draw in a third, often a child.
Practise on the worked genogram examples; each has a short reading you can compare with your own.
Genogram assignment checklist
- At least three generations, including the parents’ siblings (see the three-generation genogram guide).
- Everyone included: deceased relatives, ex-partners, miscarriages, adopted and foster children.
- Dates on every person and partner line; ages for the living if your course asks for them.
- Health, mental health and substance use shading with a note naming each condition.
- Emotional relationship lines for the relationships that matter most.
- A key, a title and the date drawn; initials or codes if the chart is shared or submitted.
- A short written reflection on the patterns you see, if your rubric asks for one.
Frequently asked questions
What are the rules for arranging a genogram?
One horizontal row per generation with the oldest at the top; the male partner on the left of a couple; children hanging from the partner line in birth order, oldest on the left; the client (index person) marked with a double outline; dates beside symbols and partner lines; and a key for every symbol used.
What is the format of a genogram?
A genogram is a top-to-bottom diagram of at least three generations. Each person is a symbol (square, circle, diamond), couples are joined by a partner line, children drop from that line, and emotional relationships are drawn as separate coloured or patterned lines. A title, date drawn and a key complete the format.
Does the male always go on the left in a genogram?
By convention, yes, in heterosexual couples: it makes charts quick to read. For same-sex couples, order by age or by whichever partner keeps lines from crossing. Clarity beats rigid rules; note any departure in the key.
How do you order siblings in a genogram?
Left to right from oldest to youngest, including siblings who died, miscarriages and stillbirths in their place in the birth order. Twins come from one shared point on the sibling line.
How many generations does a genogram need?
At least three: the client’s generation, parents and grandparents. Add the client’s children as a fourth row where relevant.
How do you read a genogram?
Find the double-outlined client, read the generations from the top down, scan for Xs (deaths) and slashes (separations), follow the shading for health and substance use, then trace the emotional lines for repeated patterns, triangles and cutoffs.
Let the maker apply the rules
Generations, sibling order and partner lines are placed for you. Free, no sign-up.