Describe the usage of genogram

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

? The genogram is an interviewing tool commonly employed in social work interventions with families (McGoldrick, Gerson, & Petry, 2008). In essence, a genogram is a pictorial representation of a family, resembling a family tree, which helps social workers and family members understand family traditions and family system structure across generations and over time. In therapeutic applications, genograms help family members understand how problems in living can be passed from generation to generation, identify problematic relationships that contribute to emotional and behavioral health problems, and point to family-based strategies to resolve presenting problems (Nichols, 2012). However, genograms can also be useful in nonclinical applications such as might be found in child welfare, health, educational, and forensic settings, among others. In these settings, genograms help the social worker and client quickly understand sources of stress that can exacerbate presenting problems and sources of support and resilient functioning that can serve as resources for problem solving.
In a genogram, by convention, circles are usually used to identify females, boxes for males, and solid lines to denote birth and marriage relationships among members. Dashed lines are usually used to denote close relationships among unmarried partners. Deaths are indicated by an X, adoption is denoted as a line with an A above, and divorces are denoted using hash marks. Key dates (e.g., births, deaths, and marriages) are often included.
The utility of genograms for other reasons should not be overlooked. For example, genograms can be a powerful tool to enhance engagement. As a genogram interview proceeds, the process of elaborating on family membership, relationships, and events often begs for family storytelling.