Deconstructing the Genogram: A Tentative Proposal

Abstract

Genograms are a key technology for family therapists, but in many respects they remain distinctly underexplored. This is especially the case when it comes to the basic structure of the genogram. Other authors have added other lenses on top (e.g., the cultural genogram, the spirituality genogram, and many others), but very few have explored in depth the core assumptions of the circles and squares which make up a genogram. In this article, I engage with the genogram literature to suggest that these shapes lead the genogram session to proceed in a way which privileges gender identity ahead of all other social graces, through the process of deconstruction. I then consider if a model of genogram creation which uses a universal symbol and then refers to gender later through symbology might allow for greater flexibility and curiosity in genogram sessions. This idea is offered with the intention that practitioners will engage with this deconstruction of the genogram in a variety of different ways.