Genogram Maker
Build a working family genogram by listing members across generations and the relationships between them, then download a structured PDF to map the system and inform treatment.
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.
- 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.
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.