Genogram Maker: Map Family Generations and Relationships on One Sheet
Build a working family genogram: list members across generations and the relationships between them, then map the system on one structured sheet to inform treatment.
Reviewed by Michael Callans, MSW 
About this tool
A genogram is a multigenerational map of a family that records not just who is related to whom, but the emotional and relational patterns running through the system: closeness and conflict, cutoffs and alliances, and repeating themes such as illness, addiction, loss, or caretaking roles. It is a core tool in family and systemic therapy, and it is useful in any modality for understanding the context a client lives within. Mapping three or more generations often reveals patterns a client has never connected before.
This tool helps you assemble the information a genogram captures. You record family members across generations, the structural relationships between them (partnerships, children, separations), and the quality of the emotional bonds. Building it collaboratively with the client is itself therapeutic: the act of mapping externalizes patterns, prompts reflection, and frequently surfaces strengths and resources alongside the difficulties.
When you translate this information into a drawn diagram, use the standard symbols so the chart is legible to other clinicians. Squares and circles represent individuals, structural lines connect partners and children, and distinct line styles capture close, distant, conflictual, cutoff, or enmeshed relationships. Our Genogram Symbols Reference is a printable key to that notation. Layering the emotional lines over the structure is where a genogram earns its clinical value.
Use the finished genogram to inform your case conceptualization and treatment plan. Intergenerational patterns often explain a presenting problem in ways a symptom list cannot, and they frequently point toward both the obstacles and the resources in a client's wider system. Revisit and revise the genogram as you learn more over the course of treatment.
Genograms grew out of family systems theory and were formalized into the notation clinicians use today by family therapists Monica McGoldrick and Randy Gerson. Their text, now in its fourth edition, remains the field's standard reference for symbol conventions and interviewing approach (McGoldrick, Gerson, and Petry, 2020). Most clinical genograms cover three generations, the client, their parents, and their grandparents, which is usually enough to surface repeating patterns; extend further back when a specific pattern, such as a hereditary illness, seems to trace to an earlier generation.
The most common mistake is stopping at the structural facts, names, ages, and family structure, without adding the emotional relationship lines. Structure alone produces a family tree; the emotional layer is what makes it a genogram and what generates clinical hypotheses. It also helps to note the date of each major event (a death, a diagnosis, a move) next to the person it belongs to, since timing often explains why a symptom appeared when it did. If you are mapping your own family for personal insight rather than as part of clinical work, patterns like repeated estrangement, addiction, or abuse can surface strong feelings; a licensed therapist can help you make sense of what the map shows, and the Psychology.com therapist directory is a place to find one.
References
- McGoldrick M, Gerson R, Petry S. Genograms: Assessment and Intervention. 4th ed. W.W. Norton; 2020.
- American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed, text revision (DSM-5-TR). American Psychiatric Association Publishing; 2022.
Cite this source
Psychology.com. (2026, September 14). Genogram Maker. Psychology.com. https://psychology.com/tools/genogram
Genogram Maker FAQ
What is a genogram used for in therapy?
It maps a family across generations along with the emotional patterns within it, revealing intergenerational themes such as conflict, cutoff, addiction, illness, and caretaking roles. It informs assessment, case conceptualization, and treatment, especially in family and systemic work.
How do I turn this into a drawn diagram?
Use the standard symbols. Draw squares for males and circles for females, connect partners and children with structural lines, then layer emotional relationship lines on top. Our Genogram Symbols Reference is a printable key to all the notation.
Should I build the genogram with the client?
Yes, where appropriate. Constructing it together is therapeutic in itself: it externalizes patterns, prompts reflection, and often surfaces strengths and resources alongside the difficulties.
Is anything I type stored here?
No. The tool runs entirely in your browser. Nothing is uploaded or saved, and the PDF is generated on your own device. Store completed records in a HIPAA-compliant system.
Is this genogram maker free to use?
Yes. The tool is free, runs in your browser, and lets you download a PDF of your notes with no account or sign-up required. Nothing you type is stored on our servers, so treat the exported PDF as your only saved copy, and store it in a HIPAA-compliant system if you use it in clinical practice.
What is the difference between a genogram and a family tree?
A family tree records who is related to whom and how: births, marriages, and descent. A genogram includes that same structure but adds the emotional and relational layer, closeness, conflict, cutoffs, and recurring patterns like addiction or caretaking roles across generations. That emotional layer is what makes a genogram useful in therapy.
How many generations should a genogram include?
Most clinical genograms cover three generations: the client, their parents, and their grandparents, which is usually enough to reveal repeating patterns. Extend further back if a specific pattern, such as a hereditary illness or a repeated event, seems to trace to an earlier generation.