Appearance
Family Therapy Genogram Template
A three-generation genogram template with emotional relationship overlays for clinical sessions, case conceptualization, and therapy training.
Family Therapy Genogram Template
What This Template Shows
Three generations with a full emotional layer on top of the structural lines.
The parents are in conflict with each other. The mother is fused with the son, the primary person, and in a close relationship with her own mother. The father is cut off from his father and in conflict with his son.
The triangle between father, mother, and son is visible in the diagram; fusion on one side, conflict on the other, which is the pattern a family therapist would typically be mapping in an early session.
The symbol legend is displayed below the diagram. For full definitions and clinical usage, see Genogram Symbols Explained.
When to Use This Template
- First-session family assessment: map the presenting family's structure and emotional dynamics before the first session or during intake.
- Multigenerational pattern mapping: use across Bowen, structural, narrative, or emotionally focused frameworks to track how relational patterns transmit across generations.
- Case conceptualization and supervision: present a completed genogram as the structural basis for a treatment plan or supervision discussion.
- MFT and counseling coursework: meets standard three-generation requirements for CACREP-accredited and MFT training programs, with emotional overlays already in place.
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, supervision aid, or teaching example.
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 to reflect the actual family. Add health markers, household boundaries, or additional generations as the clinical picture develops.
Export as PDF or PNG when done, or share via link with a supervisor or colleague.
Family Therapy Genogram Template
Explore this genogram and adapt it to your needs.
FAQ
What genogram template is used in family therapy?
Family therapists use a three-generation genogram template based on McGoldrick-Gerson-Petry standard notation. The specific patterns annotated depend on the clinical framework: Bowen family systems therapy focuses on triangles and anxiety transmission; structural family therapy maps subsystems, boundaries, and hierarchies; narrative and emotionally focused approaches use the same structure with different annotation priorities.
What emotional relationship lines does a family therapy genogram include?
EasyGenogram includes close, very close, fused, distant, conflict, hostile, cutoff, and abuse lines, among others. A family therapy genogram uses the full emotional overlay set rather than structural lines alone, since the relational quality between members is as clinically significant as the structural connections.
How is a family therapy genogram different from a standard family genogram?
The structure is the same. The difference is in what gets mapped on top of it. A standard family genogram may show structural lines and health markers. A family therapy genogram prioritizes emotional relationship overlays and uses the diagram to make relational patterns visible across generations rather than simply documenting who belongs to the family.
Is this template free?
Yes. Open and customize it in EasyGenogram at no cost. Export requires a subscription for most users; students with a valid school email can export free.
Can I use this for an MFT or counseling assignment?
Yes. The template follows McGoldrick-Gerson-Petry standard notation, which is the format required by most MFT and CACREP-accredited counseling programs. Open it in EasyGenogram, adjust the structure and emotional lines to match your assignment, and export as PDF for submission.