Standard Symbols for Genograms
Male
Female
Birth Date
Age
Death
‘82-
‘41-
59
23
Gay/Lesbian
an X through Symbol
Age at death in box
Death date on right
above symbol
written
inside
symbol
written on
left above
of symbol
Heterosexual
Family Secret
1943-2002
Bisexual
Person who
has lived in Immigration
2 + cultures
Significant
Location &
Annual Income Institutional
Connection
Boston
$100,000
‘72-
Transgender People
‘41-
‘41-
Pet
Man to
woman
Woman
to man
written above
birth & death date
AA
m 1970
Therapist
Therapist
Couple
Relationship
Marriage
Rel 95, LT 97
m 1970
Secret
Affair
Committed
Relationship
Affair ‘95
LT ‘95
LT = Living Together
Marital Separation
Divorce and Remarriage
Divorce
m ‘90 s ’95 d ‘97
met ‘88,, m ‘90 s ’95
m ‘03
m ‘90, s 95-96, s 96, d ‘97
remar ’00, rediv 02
m ‘05
Children: List in birth order beginning with the oldest on left
‘97-97
A ‘97
LW 98-99
‘92-
13
Biological
Child
‘94-
‘95-
11
10
Foster
Child
Adopted
Child
-‘99
-‘01
Abortion
Stillbirth
Miscarriage
‘03-
‘03-
Twins
‘04-
‘04-
Identical
Twins
‘05-
Pregnancy
Symbols Denoting Addiction, and Physical or Mental Illness
Physical or
Psychological illness
in remission
Physical or
Psychological illness
S
In Recovery from
alcohol or drug abuse
Alcohol or Drug abuse
In recovery from
substance abuse and
mental or Physical problems
Suspected alcohol
or drug abuse
Symbols Denoting Interactional
Patterns between People
Smoker
Obesity
O
Language Problem
L
Serious mental and
physical problems
and substance abuse
“spiritual” connection
Close
Distant
Close-Hostile
Focused On
Fused
Hostile
Fused-Hostile
Cutoff
Cutoff Repaired
Physical Abuse
Emotional Abuse
Sexual Abuse
Caretaker
Annual income is written
just above the
birth & death date.
$28,000
‘53-
$100,000
1943-2002
59
Typically you would include
the person’s occupation
and education near the
name and the person’s
whereabouts at the top
of the line connecting to
the symbol.
Symbol for Immigration =
John
C.P.A.
Highland Park, NJ
m. 1970
Arizona
London
35,000
$100,000
‘75-
‘73-
32
Alicia
P.h.D
History Prof
Sperm donor
$45,000
‘81-
24
Peter
M.B.A
Mark
B.A.
Computers
Gay Couple whose
daughter was
conceived
with sperm of
John and
an egg donor, and
carried by surrogate
mother till birth.
Jenny
H.S.+2
Secretary
San Francisco
30
Artificial Insemination
Lesbian couple
whose daughter
was conceived
with egg
of one partner
and
sperm donor.
52
Egg donor
Surrogate
Mother
Foster Children
Siblings of Primary
Genogram Members are written
smaller and higher. Spouses are
written smaller and lower:
38
62
39
58
‘01
‘01
s ‘01
31
28
26
31
26
0
Child Raised from
Birth by His
Granduncle and Aunt
‘01
0
Use an arrow to show
family into which child moved
Household
Household shown by encircling members living together
(Couple living with their dog after launching Children)
POLISH
Served in
Vietnam
JEWISH
Chicago
$60,000
1945-
Chicago
$40,000
1944-
62
Ed
Roman
Catholic
63
m. 1970
Judy
London
Buddhism
$100,000
Chicago
‘79
27
Sam
LH ’00
Dog-Muff
$28,000
‘82
24
Jolie
Therapist
Symbol for
Immigration
Siblings are written smaller
and higher than IP.
Spouses are written
smaller and lower.
Adopted Child
A=
1999
?94-
Use an arrow to show family
into which child moved
10
Adopted at 5
1
Husband, His Current Wife and his Ex-Wives (who are shown lower and smaller).
Husband’s wives may go on left to be closest to him. Indicators “1st,” “2nd” etc.
make clear the oader of his marriages.
1st
2nd
m ‘85 d ’89
2
2nd
m ‘83 d ’88
3th
m ‘89 d ’93
18
m ‘96
13
8
Couple with 3 year old, showing their previous spouses (smaller) and those spouses’
new partners (even smaller)
1st
m ‘94 d ’99
m ‘02
02-
97-
33
8
4
m ‘02
Wife, Her Current Husband and her Ex-Husbands (who are shown lower and smaller).
Wife’s previous relationships are shown on left to keep children in birth order, since
they remained in her custody.
1st
3
3th
m ‘90 d ’00
2nd
1st
m ‘94 d ’98
m ‘90 d ’92
96-
91-
14
9
Couple living with their joint child and her child from a previous relationship. The other
spouses of the partners are shown smaller and lower on either side of the present
household, indicated by a dotted line.
‘55-
‘65-
50
40
m ‘77 d ‘80
m ‘85 d ‘89
m ‘81 d ‘86
m‘ 90 d ‘93
m ‘87 d ‘90
m ‘95 d ‘97
m ‘92 d ‘97
‘82-
23
m ‘99 d ‘01
lo. m ‘02
‘84-
21
‘94-
11
‘03-
2
‘95-
10