Box 9-X
Developing a Community Genogram: Identifying Personal and Multicultural Strengths
The community genogram is a “free-form” activity in which we encourage people to develop
their own style of presenting their community of origin or present community. Through the
community genogram, we can better grasp the developmental history of our clients. And, if used
in a positive way, we can identify client strengths for later problem solving. Clients may construct
a genogram by themselves or be assisted by you through questioning and listening to the things
that they include.
Step 1: Develop a visual representation of the community
1. Consider a large piece of paper as representing your broad culture and community. It is
recommended that you select the community in which you were primarily raised, for the
community of origin is where you tended to learn the most about culture. But any other
community, past or present, may be used.
2. Place yourself or the client in that community, either at the center or at another appropriate
place. Represent yourself or the client by a circle, a star, or any other significant symbol. Two
visual examples of community genograms are presented here. Encourage the client to be
innovative and represent their communities in a format that appeals to them. This would
include maps, constructions, star diagrams such as Janet’s presented here.
3. It is important to place client’s family or families on the paper, again represented by the
symbol that is most relevant for you. The family can be nuclear or extended or both.
4. Place important and most influential groups on the community genogram, again representing
them by circles or other visual symbols. School, family, neighborhood, and spiritual groups
are most often selected. For teens, the peer group is often particularly important. For adults,
work groups and other special groups tend to become more central.
5. You may wish to suggest aspects of the RESPECTFUL model (page XX) that appear
relevant. In this way, diversity issues can be included in the genogram.
Step 2: Search for images and narratives of strengths
Many client issues relate to difficulties in their past or present communities and you may wish to
draw out stories from earlier periods that the client would like to discuss. But we suggest a
wellness focus and a search for positive assets. With the emphasis on wellness and strengths, we
like to post the community genogram on the wall during our counseling sessions. At any time we
may draw on the genogram for strengths to help the client with issues discussed in the session.
The specifics of the community positive asset search follow:
1.
Focus on one single dimension of the community or the family. The client may want to start
with a negative story or image. Please do not work with the negative until positive strengths
are solidly in mind. Start with positive stories.
2.
Help the client share one or more positive stories relating the community dimension
selected. If you are doing your own genogram, you may want to write it down in journal
form.
3.
Develop at least two more positive images and stories from different groups within the
community. It is often useful to have one positive family image, one spiritual image, and
one cultural image.