Genogram Symbols Reference: Standard Symbols for Family Structure and Bonds
A printable reference to the standard genogram symbols for gender, family structure, relationships, and emotional bonds, based on the widely used McGoldrick conventions.
Reviewed by Michael Callans, MSW 
About this tool
A genogram is a graphic family tree that records far more than names and dates. It maps family structure across at least three generations and overlays the emotional and relational patterns that shape a client's life: closeness and conflict, cutoffs and enmeshment, repeating patterns of illness, addiction, or loss. Standardized symbols make a genogram a shared clinical language, so a colleague can read your diagram and grasp a family system at a glance.
The conventions most clinicians use come from the standardization led by Monica McGoldrick and colleagues. Structural symbols cover the basics: squares for males, circles for females, a diamond where gender is unspecified, with birth and death dates noted and an X marking a deceased member. Lines connect partners and descend to children, with specific notation for marriage, separation, divorce, cohabitation, pregnancy, miscarriage, and adoption.
Layered on top of structure are the emotional relationship lines, which are where a genogram earns its clinical value. Different line styles indicate close, distant, conflictual, cutoff, enmeshed, or fused relationships, and additional notation can flag substance use, mental health conditions, abuse, or other significant patterns. Reading these layers together often reveals intergenerational themes a client has never named out loud.
Use this reference to keep your notation consistent and legible. When you build a genogram with a client, the act of mapping the system is itself therapeutic: it externalizes patterns, prompts reflection, and frequently surfaces strengths and resources alongside the difficulties.
Many clinicians introduce a genogram in the first session or two of family, couples, or individual therapy whenever family history is relevant, since the diagram gives structure to intake conversations that might otherwise wander. If you are drawing your own family's genogram and patterns of conflict, cutoff, or repeated loss surface as you go, a therapist who specializes in family systems work can help you make sense of what you find. The psychology.com therapist directory lets you search for one by specialty and location.
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 Symbols Reference. Psychology.com. https://psychology.com/tools/genogram-symbols-key
Genogram Symbols Reference FAQ
What is a genogram?
A graphic family tree that maps family structure across at least three generations along with the emotional and relational patterns within it, such as closeness, conflict, cutoff, and repeating patterns of illness or addiction. It is widely used in family and systemic therapy.
Whose symbol conventions are these?
The most widely used standards were developed under Monica McGoldrick and colleagues. Some symbols vary across textbooks and software, so it helps to include a small legend on your own diagram.
How do I show a close versus a conflictual relationship?
Emotional relationship lines carry that meaning: two parallel lines indicate a close relationship, a jagged or zigzag line indicates conflict, three lines indicate enmeshment, and a line broken by a perpendicular bar indicates a cutoff.
Can I draw a genogram digitally?
Yes. See our companion Genogram Maker to record family members and relationships and produce a clean PDF. This reference key explains what each symbol means.
What does a triangle mean on a genogram?
A triangle represents a pregnancy, miscarriage, or abortion, with additional notation showing which one applies and, where known, the date. Triangles sit on the child line in birth order, the same way square and circle symbols do for other children in the family.
How many generations should a genogram include?
Most clinical genograms map at least three generations: the client, their parents, and their grandparents, since three generations is usually enough to reveal repeating patterns in relationships, health, or substance use. Some clinicians extend further back when a family history of a specific condition or event is relevant to the work.