Appearance
Single Parent Family Genogram Template
A genogram template mapping a single parent household; one primary caregiver, children, and the extended support network around them.
Single Parent Family Genogram Template
What This Template Shows
Three generations centered on a mother as the sole caregiver.
The parents are separated; the father is present in the structure but has a distant relationship with the daughter, the primary person.
The paternal grandfather is deceased. The maternal grandmother has a close relationship with both the mother and the daughter, and sits as the main support figure in the diagram.
The single parent picture is visible in the structure: one caregiver holding the household, an absent/disengaged father still technically in the family map, and the extended family, specifically the maternal grandmother, filling the support gap.
This is the family configuration a clinician, school counselor, or caseworker documents when the presenting family is a solo parent household.
The symbol legend is displayed below the diagram. For full definitions and clinical usage, see Genogram Symbols Explained.
When to Use This Template
- Family therapy intake for single parent households: map the household configuration, the absent parent's level of involvement, and who in the extended family provides support before or during the first session.
- Social work and child welfare assessment: establish who is in the household, who provides care, and what the extended support network looks like for a family headed by a single caregiver.
- School counseling student family context mapping: document the student's household composition and key relationships, particularly where a parent is absent or minimally involved.
- Counseling and MFT coursework: meets standard requirements for assignments involving single parent and non-traditional family configurations.
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 document, or teaching example.
2. Customize before downloading
Click "Use this genogram" to open the template in EasyGenogram. Replace the generic labels with real or fictional names, adjust the household configuration, and update the relationship lines to reflect the actual single parent family structure.
Export as PDF or PNG when done, or share via link with a supervisor or colleague.
Single Parent Family Genogram Template
Explore this genogram and adapt it to your needs.
FAQ
What is a single parent family genogram template?
A single parent family genogram template maps a household where one parent is the primary caregiver. It shows the household composition, the other parent's presence or absence in the family system, the children's relationships with each parent, and the extended support network such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, or other family members who fill caregiving or support roles alongside the primary caregiver.
How do you show a single parent in a genogram?
A single parent appears in the diagram as one of the two adults in the parenting generation, connected to the children by biological child lines. The other parent is also shown in the diagram with the appropriate relationship notation and their level of involvement is reflected in the emotional relationship lines between them and the children.
How do you show an absent parent in a genogram?
An absent parent is still placed in the diagram with the correct structural notation; a separation or divorce line connecting them to the other parent, or a deceased marker if they have died. Their emotional relationship with the children is shown through the appropriate relationship line: distant, cutoff, or no emotional line if there is no active relationship. Placing the absent parent in the diagram even when they are not present in the household keeps the family picture accurate and clinically complete.
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 a social work or counseling assignment?
Yes. The template follows McGoldrick-Gerson-Petry standard notation. Open it in EasyGenogram, adjust the household configuration to match your assignment or case, and export as PDF for submission.