Genograms: Assessment and Intervention

by Monica McGoldrick, Randy Gerson, Sueli Petry

Widely used by both family therapists and all health care professionals, the genogram is a graphic way of organizing the mass of information gathered during a family assessment and finding patterns in the family system for more targeted treatment. Now updated and expanded in its third edition, and featuring revised genograms for easier reading, reflecting the growing and widespread use of genograms for clinical intervention, this best-selling text provides a standard method for constructing a genogram, doing a genogram interview, and interpreting the results. Genograms of famous families―Sigmund Freud, Woody Allen and Mia Farrow, the Kennedys, Jane Fonda and Ted Turner, Bill Clinton, Princess Diana, the Roosevelts, and Thomas Jefferson, to name a few―bring the text to life, and help to elucidate the principles of family systems theory and systemic interviewing, which form the basis of genogram work. Once these principles have been explained, the authors go on to present the important clinical applications of genograms in both family therapy and family medicine. These applications include the effective assessment of patients’ risk for emotional problems such as anxiety or depression; structural patterns among families such as divorce and remarriage; relationship patterns such as enmeshment, conflicts, and cut-offs; recent and chronic life stressors such as pregnancy, acute illness, poverty, and racism; and family life cycle transitions and developmental crises, among other uses. By providing a fascinating view into the richness of family dynamics, McGoldrick and her coauthors provide an invaluable guide to clinicians for accurately charting a family’s structure, making it easier to scan for potential problems and take proactive steps to utilize resources when necessary. 32-page color insert

Genres: Psychology, Counselling, Textbooks, Nonfiction, Grad School, School, Reference

416 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1999

Reviews

[The Badger]

I don't think this textbook would've made as much sense if I hadn't used it in conjunction with the genogram software and mapped out the different healthy/unhealthy bonds and connections within my own family. The completed genograms are NOT something you want to frame and bring to the next family event, unless you've got a "How-did-she-end-up-like-that?" family--in which case, go for it...

For those of you just starting your own genograms for your grad school programs: if you've got a huge Greek family with 36 first-cousins, you might want to "forget" a few branches of the family tree unless you're going to start your project a month earlier than the rest of the class. My completed genogram could wallpaper my entire house and could be confused with the Borgia genogram. My Midwestern classmates' genograms (we only had to go back to our great-grandparents) had adorable little genograms and most of their family had never tried to drown, stab, poison, or drive a bus over each other (and there are no specific "connections" for drowning, stabbing, poisoning, our auto-cide).

[Maricarmen]

this saved my ass when I had to do a genogram for class, thanks monica

[Melissa]

Putting this to good use on the software I have in my computer for my current classes and it is amazing to see the connections of issues, blessings, curses, and various aspects of my family dynamics.

[Marilis Loperena]

Looking forward to reading.

[Jeremy]

If you want to understand genograms, this is a one stop shop! Fascinating real-life examples.

[Josh L.]

Coulda, shoulda just read good blog articles on the topic.

[Erin Herzog]

Such an amazing book that details how genograms work and how to implement in social work practice

[Megan]

MFT 552

[Christin R.]

An excellent book to use in conjunction with my classes! A very easy to understand, practical book to introduce you to family Genograms.

[Cathy Martinez]

Solid read if you are wanting to learn about genograms and how to create them and the appropriate symbols.

[Sven Emmrich]

Lots of examples to this wonderful tool, the genogram. Kinda stands out in the literature on the topic

[Candace]

Read for graduate program Counseling and Art Therapy.

[Tiara Sosialita]

For every clinicians, knowledge about genograms is an important. Significantly. By means of knowing interconnection (our) clients position in family, how he/her family members relate each other, what the pip events he/her family passed by, and how the family history, we would know more about clients as an individual. This book gimme those qualities. It helps me to understand how I could design a genograms for enrich my personal information. It helps me to conduct assesment and (also) intervention based on family system case. Nice.

[Sammie]

There is a lot of information to take in when reading this book. I never would have thought there was so much to think about when going back through your families history. I didn't read every chapter, but what I read, and by putting together my very own genogram for my family stories class, I found out a lot about my family and the patterns throughout the multi generational theory. I definitely can see where clinicians would use genograms when working with clients.

[Mary Nelson]

I didn't finish the book, because after studying the charts and reading the first two chapters, it seemed pointless to finish. The technique was articulated well in the first few pages, and the examples brought the genogram to life. I felt no need to finish the book, especially with so many other books that I am more interested in.

[Emily Ellison]

Really interesting book on genograms. I never thought there was that much to know about genograms. I really liked how the authors used real life examples for the actual genograms. Famous people's genograms are shown along with just ordinary examples. All of the symbols are explained as well. Information on interviewing clients to put together a genogram is also given. Pretty good textbook.

[Claire]

Used for a genogram project. Useful information on family systems dynamics but without the theoretical terms attached. Anyone could pick this up and delve into their family. I believe it's the go to for this kind of work.

[Aimee]

Mehh. It is what it is. A genogram book. It helped in doing my genogram assignment and it will be helpful if I focus on using genograms for therapy.

[Rocky]

Good read - knowledge enhanced.

[Tami Groth]

Very useful for both learning how to create genograms and as an ongoing reference book on the subject. Great color examples.

[Thane Keller]

Clear concise portrayal of using genograms in counseling and their purpose