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Counseling Genogram Template
A three-generation genogram template with structural and emotional overlays for individual counseling, intake assessment, and CACREP coursework.
Counseling Genogram Template
What This Template Shows
Three generations with structural lines and an emotional layer focused on the primary person's key relationships. The paternal grandfather is deceased with an alcohol use marker. The father carries an anxiety marker. Emotional lines show the daughter (the primary person) in a close relationship with her mother, a distant one with her father, and the father in conflict with his own father and close to his mother.
The pattern that emerges is the one a counselor would typically be exploring in an individual session: what the client inherited, who shaped them, and where the relational tensions sit.
The symbol legend is displayed below the diagram. For full definitions and clinical usage, see Genogram Symbols Explained.
When to Use This Template
- Individual counseling intake: map the client's family context and key relationships before or during the first session.
- CACREP coursework and practicum documentation: meets standard three-generation requirements across school counseling, clinical mental health, and other CACREP-accredited tracks.
- Client self-exploration in session: use the genogram as a collaborative tool with the client to surface patterns and connections they may not have articulated before.
- Supervision and training portfolios: document a completed genogram as evidence of clinical competency for practicum or internship records.
How to Use This Template
1. Download as-is
Click the PDF or PNG button under the embed to download immediately. Use as a session reference, intake form supplement, or supervision aid.
2. Customize before downloading
Click "Use this genogram" to open the template in EasyGenogram. Replace the generic labels with real names, adjust the family structure, and reconfigure the emotional relationship lines and health markers to reflect the actual client.
Export as PDF or PNG when done, or share via link with a supervisor or colleague.
Counseling Genogram Template
Explore this genogram and adapt it to your needs.
FAQ
What is a counseling genogram template?
A counseling genogram template is a three-generation family diagram used in individual and group counseling to map the client's family structure, health history, and emotional relationships. It gives the counselor a visual record of who shaped the client, what patterns recur across generations, and where the relational tensions sit.
How is a counseling genogram different from a family therapy genogram?
The structure and notation are the same. The difference is in the clinical focus. A family therapy genogram maps the relational system between family members usually with the whole family present. A counseling genogram focuses on the individual client's context: their history, the relationships that influenced them, and the patterns that carry into their current situation. It is typically used in individual work rather than whole-family sessions.
What does a counseling genogram include?
At minimum, a counseling genogram covers three generations of family structure; grandparents, parents, and the client, with structural relationship lines and a symbol legend. Clinical counseling genograms add emotional relationship overlays and health or mental health markers to show the relational quality and health history alongside the structure.
Is this template free for counseling students?
Yes. Open and customize it in EasyGenogram at no cost. Students with a valid school email can export free when a professor registers a classroom account; other users export from $9/mo/seat.
Does this meet CACREP requirements?
The template follows McGoldrick-Gerson-Petry standard notation, which is the format recognized across CACREP-accredited counseling programs. Open it in EasyGenogram, adjust the structure to match your assignment or client, and export as PDF for submission or documentation.