Therapy Resource

Three-Generation Family Map

A template for constructing your multigenerational genogram

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Three-Generation Family Map

A template for constructing your multigenerational genogram

This template provides a structured framework for building a three-generation genogram. Genograms help clinicians and clients identify intergenerational patterns in relationships, health, behavior, and emotional functioning (McGoldrick, Gerson, & Petry, 2020). Use standard genogram symbols to map family members, their connections, and key life events.

1
Generation One: Grandparents
Begin at the top of the page. Draw the maternal grandparents on the left and paternal grandparents on the right. Connect partners with a horizontal relationship line. Include birth and death dates, names, and any significant health or behavioral patterns.
2
Generation Two: Parents, Aunts, and Uncles
Draw the children of each grandparent couple below them, ordered from oldest on the left to youngest on the right. Connect siblings with a horizontal line descending from the parental couple line. Show your parents' relationship with the appropriate line type (married, separated, divorced, etc.).
3
Generation Three: You and Your Siblings
Draw yourself and your siblings below your parents, again ordered from oldest to youngest. Use a double border for the identified client. Include any partners or children of your generation if applicable.
4
Relationship Patterns
After placing all family members, add emotional relationship lines between relevant individuals. Use the standard notation: single line for normal, double for close, triple for enmeshed, zigzag for conflict, dotted for distant, and hash marks for cutoff.
5
Annotations and Patterns
Note recurring themes across generations such as substance use, mental health conditions, divorce, immigration, career patterns, or significant losses. These intergenerational patterns often reveal important clinical themes.
Work collaboratively with your therapist to identify patterns that span generations. Understanding these themes can illuminate current relational dynamics and inform treatment goals.

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