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

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 persons occupation
and education near the
name and the persons
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

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

Husband, His Current Wife and his Ex-Wives (who are shown lower and smaller).
Husbands 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

2nd

m 83 d 88

3th

m 89 d 93

18

m 96

13

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

m 02

Wife, Her Current Husband and her Ex-Husbands (who are shown lower and smaller).
Wifes previous relationships are shown on left to keep children in birth order, since
they remained in her custody.
1st

3th

m 90 d 00

2nd

1st

m 94 d 98

m 90 d 92

96-

91-

14

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-

95-

10