Describe what is meant by a genogram?
Like a family tree a genogram gives us family history. In family assessments, a genogram helps discover patterns that may have repeated over time. A genogram can include dates of marriages, divorces, remarriges and deaths for at least the last three generations. The history notes family death, illness, and abuse and includes names, ages and birth order of family members. A genogram is a map of family history and not meant to keep us stuck in the past but rather to keep us moving forward in the present. It is visited off and on through therapy sessions and linked to what is happening in the clients' life today.