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1 Genograms in Counseling Brittany M. Hill Walden University COUN 6726: Couples and Family Counseling Dr. Margaret Zappitello April 2, 2023

2 Genograms in Counseling A genogram is a “graphic interactive assessment and treatment device used by counselors and clients” (RiGazio-DeGilio & Kang, 2021, p. 23). Genograms can be used to explore the background of any factors that contribute to difficulties that are prompting the treatment (RiGazio-DeGilio & Kang, 2021). This paper will outline some patterns that I saw when completing my personal family genogram. After outlining the patterns, I will discuss the importance of genograms in couples and family counseling. Finally, I will explain how this activity might impact me when I start my career as a counselor. Family Genogram In completing my family genogram, I noticed multiple patterns on both sides of my family. As shown in the appendix of this paper, there is conflict on both sides of my genogram. I believe the conflict shows that my immediate family, i.e. my mother and father, have a high differentiation of self (Kim-Appel & Appel, 2021). In the conflict on both sides of my family, the person that initiated the absence of contact was my mother and father (see Appendix). Because they were the ones that initiated the contact, it shows they were preserving their own mental health and they were able to hold their own emotional boundaries (Kim-Appel & Appel, 2021). Another pattern that I saw while making my family genogram was the numerous divorces that mostly occur on my father’s side of the family (see Appendix). My father has been married and divorced two times, which is similar in quantity to his siblings and parents (see Appendix). Based on the multiple generations that have fallen into this pattern, it is possible that this pattern can continue through more generations, also called multigenerational transmission process (Kim-Appel & Appel, 2021). Genograms in Couples and Family Counseling Genograms can be useful in couples and family counseling for many reasons. Genograms can show patterns of behaviors that go through multiple generations in a family (RiGazio-DeGilio & Kang, 2021). I believe this could be useful for couples counseling so it can show the stem of any behaviors or

3 conflicts within the couple that could span over generations. Genograms can also be helpful to show how different issues have evolved over a period of time (RiGazio-DeGilio & Kang, 2021). If a client were to use a genogram to explore family dynamics, they could work with their counselor to attempt to break any negative patterns they find out about. In couples counseling specifically, a genogram can help both members of the couple see the family dynamics of the other member. Being able to see the dynamics of a family can provide insight for both people that could lead to understanding of why some issues are the way they are. For example, if one member of the couple has had multiple members of the family die relatively young, talking about death at a young age could trigger them. Understanding My Own Genogram After completing my personal family genogram and noticing the patterns that are on both sides of my family, I realized how this might impact my work as a professional counselor. I realized how some topics might be exceptionally triggering to me, like intimate partner violence. I know as a professional counselor, I won’t be able to completely stay away from topics like this that might be triggering for me. After doing this activity, I realized that I will need to ensure that I stay on top of my own personal self- care and counseling for myself to work through any emotions that come up as a result of some of these topics. If I do not take care of myself as a counselor, I will not be able to effectively help my clients work through their difficulties. Personally, this assignment was very difficult for me to complete. I knew that this would be a harder assignment for me to do as I would be able to see on paper all of the conflict in my family. Now that I have been in that spot, I will be able to show empathy and grace to my clients who might feel the same way if they were to complete a genogram of their own family. After this experience, I believe I would be able to use appropriate self-disclosure with my clients and explain that I completed a genogram and felt the same things they may be feeling if they were to complete one for their family.

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4 Conclusion After completing my own family genogram, I realized that self-care will be extremely important for me once I start my career as a professional counselor. While genograms can be useful for couples and family counseling, I realize they can bring up a lot of different emotions. Completing a genogram can help the client see different patterns that go back through many generations. In conclusion, genograms can be very useful for collaborating on a treatment plan with clients to work through difficulties that may stem from a family perspective.

5 Resources Kim-Appel, D., & Appel, J. K. (2021). Bowenian family systems theory: Approaches and applications. In D. Capuzzi & M.D. Stauffer (Eds.). Foundations of couples, marriage, and family counseling (2 nd ed., pp. 149-168). Wiley & Sons. RiGazio-DeGilio, S., & Kang, H. (2021). Using community genograms to position culture and context in family therapy. In D. Capuzzi & M. D. Stauffer (Eds.). Foundations of couples, marriage, and family counseling (2 nd ed., pp. 23-44). Wiley & Sons.

6 Appendix

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7 My Family Genogram

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