Genogram: How a Family Map Reveals Hidden Patterns

Your family has a map you haven't seen yet

A genogram is an extended family tree that includes relationships, illnesses, behavioural patterns, and recurring themes across generations. Developed by Murray Bowen, it has been a standard diagnostic tool in family therapy since the 1980s.

What does a therapist see?

• Intergenerational repetitions: patterns of depression, addiction, or abandonment across generations
• Relational triangles: how a third person is drawn in to stabilise tension between two others
• Family loyalties: unconscious obligations that may sabotage individual growth

How is it used in therapy?

The genogram is usually created in one of the first sessions. The therapist draws it together with the patient, asking about each family member. Patients often describe this as an "aha" moment.

Understanding family history isn't about blaming the past. It's the courage to see where you come from and the freedom to choose where you're going.