Genogram
In the Healing Room
Module Nineteen - Two Hours
What is a Genogram?
Relationship conflicts, physical/emotional/sexual abuse, domestic violence, emotional enmeshment and other factors can be traced generationally with a genogram.
Genograms are used in medicine to evaluate health risks by tracking diseases and other medical issues, such as diabetes, Alzheimers, cancer, or depression, generationally.
In IFS and other healing modalities, we consider intergenerational issues in terms of legacy burdens. Genograms can also help identify these.
Instructions for the Genogram
Use some scratch paper first and make a basic genogram of your nuclear family of origin.
Start with making a male & female symbol for your birth parents and indicate whether they were married or otherwise, then use the appropriate connecting lines. From there draw yourself and any siblings from that union, starting with first born and go from left to right in brith order using circles or squares for appropriate gender. Put names and current ages for all living members, mark an X for any deceased. Put date of death and age at death for deceased members.
Use another scratch paper for your family of procreation, using the same instructions.
Use additional symbols to fill out other facts & details, for both genograms.
Add any additional details in the form of notes on the page.
Notice Your Parts
Second Time Around in Genogram
Look for important details regarding substance use, divorce, abuse, and interactional patterns. Consider specific burdens you have discovered in your work with parts, or patterns related to those burdens. Indicate these on the Genogram. Consider obtaining additional information from family members if you feel comfortable doing that.
Focus on Each Relative
Take your time to reflect on everything you know about them; what you've been told, how you have experienced them yourself, and what your parts tell you as you do this reflecting.
Intergenerational Trauma: Legacy Burdens
Read pages 16-21, 97-100, and review Appendix A: List of Family History Questions in It Didn't Start with You. This will prepare you for relooking attention your genogram with new eyes. Make notes in the venogram itself or elsewhere to record your insights.
Examples of Genograms
Take Your Time
Journal and/or Draw What You Discover
Keep scratch paper, writing pads, journals, and/or sketch pads to make drawings and write notes about your Healing Room experience. Take a moment at any time during your Modules, or at the end to do so.
Read On
Feel free to read more in any of the books referenced in your modules. Specific excerpts have been identified for quick reference and easy digestion within modules, but you are welcome to spend more time in these books to expand your knowledge and increase your understanding. Schedule additional time in your Healing Room to use the resources in whatever way makes sense to you.
Alternating Bilateral Stimulation
*Having the ABS playing at a volume loud enough to hear it, but low enough that it seems to fade into the background while you learn these skills, is optimal.
Approved Consultant in IFS & EMDR: individual and group consultation via Zoom.