
These relationship characteristics give you, the family of origin explorer, a quick way of seeing relational habits in your family, as well as any relational generational patterns. Relational dynamics are noted on your genogram with a variety of relationship lines that illustrate the type of relationship two parties have currently. It augments treatment planning, care provision, health promotion and prevention, as. Evidence leads to the conclusion that the genogram is an assessment tool that enhances intervention strategy and communication in the client's record.


#Genogram definition how to
How to Add Relational Dynamics to Your Genogram Geograms are useful for giving the family of origin "explorer" a great deal of information, but of course, any hypotheses developed via genogram information must be tested in conversation with family members. This would be a tentative hypothesis based solely on genogram information. Mary is the "common denominator" in these relationships, which suggests that she initiated the cut-off. In Bob's family system, his paternal grandmother, Mary, is cut-off from her ex-husband (Dan) as well as her son, Mark (Bob's father).

In fact, Bowen explains cut-off as a response to fusion it occurs when the extreme closeness of fusion has become unbearable. Cut-off is characterized by a lack of communication, usually due to ongoing conflict, or a conflictual event (Marlin, 1989).Īccording to Bowen (1985), both cut-off and fusion (another term for enmeshment) are responses to the anxiety generated within the family system. Cut-off is marked in Figure 3 with purple "T" lines between Mary and Dan, as well as Mary and Mark. Cut-off is noted on a genogram with two "T" lines placed between the members of a cut-off relationship.
