Exercise family genogram psychological work with grandmother. Psychological examination of the family as a whole

A genogram is a graphic record of information about a family (classically and clinically - in three generations), its compilation and study is a method of family psychotherapy.

Family genogram - kind family tree, but with a slightly different system of records and other goals. Men are indicated by squares, women by circles. These circles and squares mark the dates of birth and death (if the person has died). The lines between the icons indicate the dates of entry into a registered or unregistered marriage, separation-gap-divorce. The nature of the relationship between certain members of the genus - close, conflicting, contradictory - can also be indicated by lines of different styles (double, broken, etc.). As, however, and the cause of the conflict - for example, if the spouses are in conflict because of their child.

With the help of a genogram, one can set a goal, investigate, for example, family diseases, reveal, at least approximately, a certain tendency of members of the genus to somatic pathologies. Then on the diagram it will be necessary to give descriptions of appearance, note allergies, serious illnesses, chronic ailments, congenital problems, features of pregnancies, causes of death. Such information, by the way, in other situations is vital. Noting, with a genogram, the presence of pathologies of the gastrointestinal tract in the family and correlating with family food traditions, you can help yourself and the family as a whole. Suppose you find out that women of the genus traditionally suffer from cholecystitis, men die from pancreatitis and pancreatic cancer. And at the same time on own experience you know how your family and friends love wide feasts with plentiful fatty and spicy food.

Compiling a genogram, you can find that the family curse - cholecystitis - pancreatitis - can be slightly moved away from relatives by adjusting the nutrition system not for a particular uncle who has just undergone surgery, but for the family as a whole. A genogram can explore relationships within a family. Having noted on the diagram the distribution of roles in the family from generation to generation (who is the head of the family, who is the breadwinner, who manages the budget, who is the dependent), the temperaments of members of the family, or phobias, a tendency to depression, ways of communicating, mutual sympathies or antipathies, you will reveal interesting patterns - for example, the tendency of younger children in the family to fall into seasonal depression. Good stuff for study and introduction to the genogram - family traditions. Genogram analysis itself will help identify critical nodes and outline ways to improve. problem situations, if any.

The goal of the genogram technique is to obtain a diagram reflecting the history of the extended family over at least three generations. The work can be carried out at any time after the start of regular meetings with the family and is a routine method of gathering information about the family in order to better understand the problem and find a way to solve it. It is usually held in the presence of all family members who are able to listen and perceive information, including children. It is assumed that family members are interested in this information, and they are curious to know the details about their close relatives.

The genogram contains a huge amount of information presented in a schematic form in a small space, which allows you to cover the entire family history with a single glance. In the process of working on the basis of this technique, family members get the opportunity to self-identify, learn about what is really happening in their family, about their historical roots and how these roots affect the current state of family relations. Working with the genogram, one can help the family to break down emotional breaks, dysfunctional triangles and alliances, reduce anxiety, i.e. make positive changes in the family system. In addition, the genogram is a powerful diagnostic tool that can be used from the point of view of specific theoretical orientations of a given professional.

Man is only a link in the chain of generations. You can pass on to your children and grandchildren not only any material values, but also invaluable experience and the strength of the family.

But if a person can earn material values ​​and experience himself during his life, then the strength of the family (a component of a person’s personal strength) is something that cannot be obtained anywhere else, except in his family, remembering and invaluably accepting each of his ancestors.

To honor and respect the ancestors, to keep the memory of them - before it was almost a sacred duty for everyone. “A man without family and tribe”, “rootless” - so they said in the recent past about people who did not know their ancestors, and these definitions contained a rather negative connotation. Now few people know about their distant relatives, although interest in family roots is beginning to grow. Gradually, the realization comes that one can save one's name in the history of the family only by paying tribute to the ancestors, to whom everyone owes life. This can help very useful and cognitive area knowledge - genealogy.

Genealogy - the science of family ties

Genealogy is a kind of knowledge of the world: by studying the history of the family, a person better understands the history of the country, learns cultural practices and traditions different eras. Moreover, on the basis of genealogical research, genetic research can be carried out, genotypes can be identified. Thus, it becomes possible to determine from whom this or that character trait is inherited, creative potential or a talent for something.

For this, a family tree or a genogram is a graphical record of information about a family. Graphic scheme can be ascending (from a common ancestor to all its descendants) and descending (from you to your ancestors).

You can make a genogram at least in order to determine the name of your ancestors, who they were and this will already be very useful, but I suggest you go further. The fact is that in the genogram, lurk huge opportunities knowing yourself. Yes exactly. By learning more about your ancestors, you will begin to understand yourself better, there is an opportunity to see the sources of your problems and, moreover, to correct the negative messages and attitudes of the past, which, it turns out, affect our lives and destiny. With this approach, the genogram, its compilation and research is a method of family psychotherapy.

How to make a genogram.

A genogram is a kind of family tree, but with a slightly different system of records and other purposes. Men are indicated by squares, women by circles.

These circles and squares mark the dates of birth and death (if the person has died). The lines between the icons indicate the dates of entry into a registered or unregistered marriage, separation-gap-divorce.

Children are shown in birth order from left to right.

In the family system, everyone belonging to it matters, even stillborn children or those who died in infancy, they are indicated on the genogram by a crossed out circle or square (depending on gender). They are also located on the diagram in chronological order.

breaks, divorces, remarriages and others conventions shown in the diagram as follows:

During the compilation of the genogram, you will learn a lot of new information. For the convenience of displaying and storing it, it is useful to have a genealogical card for each family member. You can enter the following information into it:

1. Surname (for married women indicate maiden).
2. First name patronymic (if changed, indicate which ones were).
3. Date and place of birth.
4. Date and place of death (if buried elsewhere, also indicate the location of the grave).
5. Nationality.
6. Father's name.
7. Mother's name.
8. Place or places of residence (with dates).
9. Names and dates of birth of siblings.
10. Education that I completed.
11. Place(s) of work, service, position.
12. Participation in wars (where, what).
13. Awards, titles.
14. Name of wife/husband.
15. Names of children, their dates of birth.
16. Religion, belonging to a class (until 1917).
17. Hobby.
18. Additional information: how the person was described, character, actions, relationships.
19. Sources of information: documents, letters, photographs, memoirs, interviews.
20. Date of completion.

This card can be constantly updated new information that will appear. In addition to family dates, you can include a description of the most important world events or events in a country, region, one way or another related to family history.

Seven dimensions of the genogram.

Genogram analysis can be carried out in seven different ways, each of which will be useful in its own way. Try to complete each part as much as possible.

1. Family Tree(who descended from whom).

Don't worry if you can't picture all the details. Just draw circles and squares for as many family members as you can count.

2. Medical information.

Tracing family history of illness and illness can be very helpful if you know what to look for. Diseases such as diabetes, alcoholism, disorders of the heart, pancreas, and liver are sometimes genetically transmitted. Arthritis, multiple sclerosis, stress reactions and emotional disturbances such as obsessions, depression, hostility, and an excessive guilt or sensitivity complex are likely to be more important than broken legs (unless, of course, your family has a prevalence of broken legs!). The point is to keep a recurring disease, condition, or ailment in your family tree under your radar.

3. Emotional patterns.

See how each person feels about themselves, about others, and about life. Some may be open, receptive, cheerful, lucky, or optimistic. Others may suffer from depression, various phobias, a harsh temper, disgust, jealousy or negativity. You can usually identify these patterns by asking questions like this: “What five words do you think best describe grandpa?” Then compare how you see your grandfather with how others see him.

One family member might say, “Grandpa was angry 90% of the time,” another joins in and adds, “Yes, and unhappy the other 10%!” Children can understand how the grandfather developed his negative emotional habits knowing that he was always angry. It can also help the present generation to overcome these "inherited" patterns.

4. Relationship dynamics (how your family members treat each other)

Now look at how your family members treat each other. For example, you might ask, “What kind of relationship did mom and dad have?” “How did Grandma deal with Grandpa’s anger?” See if family relationships are open or closed, judgmental or exploratory, manipulative or looking for a compromise. Discover how your family dealt with a relationship crisis, who held the upper hand, who decided more and who less.

Categorize any relationships between your family members or relationships between family groups with the quality that characterizes them (remote, hostile, close), and highlight special relationships. capital letters(A,B,C) so that you can describe them more fully on a separate page.

5. Family system.

You will also find it helpful to take a look at how different parts of your family system work together, or how they fail. Are there any coalitions special groups, which are kept together and do not give access to others) or special roles prescribed to certain members or parts of the family? Are there any violations (divorces, separations, family feuds), family degenerates, or "problem" people? Can you understand how your family system works and is passed down from generation to generation? You may want to use colored pencils to highlight specific parts of the family chart so that you can describe them in detail according to color.

6. Family beliefs, values.

Your family members pass on their beliefs to you in every area of ​​family life: how to raise children, how to deal with teenagers, when and whom to marry, how many children to have, how to make a living, what is the best job, how to measure success, how to cope with crisis, loss, trauma and tragedy, how to grow old and how to face death.

Pay Special attention on your family beliefs: they are most likely similar to what you believe, consciously or unconsciously, and dictate to you how to survive and how to live. If they are immature, broken, or dysfunctional, they can limit your thinking, block your development, and keep you from reaching your potential. Exploring such beliefs is the beginning of aligning them with your potential.

7. Society and your family.

On the final stage take a step back and see how your family sees themselves as part of society. How does your family as a whole present itself to society? What other systems does your family identify with? And how does society usually respond to your family?

What sources of information can you use in your work.

1. Relatives. One important warning. Information always comes to us not directly, but is passed through the filter of the narrator's interpretations. Always take the information in the form: "therefore and therefore the following was said," and not: "this is how it really happened." Be sure to connect with family members who are known to be outcasts. They usually have a very idiosyncratic and helpful perspective on family life and history.

2. Archival data: photographs, metrics, diplomas, letters, certificates, etc.

Your main focus should be on the next three generations of your own family, but as the years go by, your work can expand and allow you to become aware of your entire family system.

An extremely important indication exact dates. One of important features family life is the difference in dates that people will associate certain events with. They may be wrong in the dates by five or ten years and by this indicate some meaningful connections. Time turns out to be a very subjective experience when it is related to family history: for different family members it is permeated with different associative links. You need to insist on accuracy in dating events.

In addition, you must be clear about the work and activities that family members were involved in. For example, find out exactly what work your grandfather did on his father's side and what it included, how much time he spent outside the family, how his work influenced the family, your father. What events led to the departure of one or more family members? How different people looked at it? Who is never mentioned? Who is treated as if they never existed in the family? What caused such a situation?

These are all examples of questions that will help you figure out the impact of events on your family. They will also help you better understand what happened around the time you were born and what impact your birth had on the lives of people in your family.

What can be learned from the genogram.

You can set the goal of researching relationships within the family. Having noted on the diagram the distribution of roles in the family from generation to generation (who is the head of the family, who is the breadwinner, who manages the budget, who is the dependent), the temperaments of members of the family, or phobias, a tendency to depression, ways of communicating, mutual sympathies or antipathies, you will reveal interesting patterns - for example, the tendency of younger children in the family to fall into seasonal depression. Or the traditional taciturnity of older men in the family - "patriarchs". A good material for studying and introducing into the genogram is family traditions.

How to enter into marriages, how to feed and educate children, how to treat the sick, how to respect a husband-wife, to read grandfather-grandmother ... List family holidays, the habit of congratulating with postcards or the lack of it ... Professional preferences, skill-inability to make a career ...

The benefits of collecting such information are clear. Bringing together disparate data is the first step in analysis. And the analysis itself will help to identify critical nodes and outline ways to improve problem situations, if any.

Rituals.

Commemoration of our relatives about health, about repose.

It is useful to make a calendar of memorable family dates. The Calendar records the dates of birth of relatives, the dates of their weddings, the dates of commemoration of the dead. family calendar anniversaries created on whole year and for every month. The calendar records all the main dates, events for each relative. Such events include birthdays, weddings, deaths, christenings, dates of other important events for a person. But since this Calendar belongs to you personally, it is appropriate to note in it all other memorable dates for you: these are the birthdays of friends and acquaintances, the end dates educational institutions, but you never know what other dates, for example: Religious holidays and others important events. The constant commemoration of our relatives about health, about repose - the most in a positive way affect our life, our destiny. We need to look there more often and send wishes of good, happiness, health, well-being, success in good undertakings to all our relatives and friends. And such an exercise will gradually wean us from judging, and even more so from condemning our loved ones. Relations with loved ones will improve and our whole life will become calm and happy.

The genogram needs to be completed up to the seventh generation. In total, your family tree will have 126 people (your direct ancestors). Having drawn your family tree, you have the opportunity to touch each of your 126 ancestors with your thought, pray for them, ask for guidance, help and support.

What are the benefits of compiling a family genogram?

Most people live their lives rejoicing in successes and overcoming sorrows, not starting from the experience of their ancestors. Few people think about repeating the fate of any of their close relatives. Thus, for example, we are unlikely to draw parallels between problems in own family and the family of my late great-grandmother. But in fact, there is a connection between generations, and it is much stronger than we think.

What is a family genogram and why is it needed

To trace a certain pattern between diseases (mental and physical), life expectancy, relationships with children and spouses, character traits, level in society, religion, a schematic family genogram is compiled.

In terms of the type of compilation, the family genogram is similar to family tree, only more expanded and detailed. The purpose of such a family card is different.

A family genogram can help:

• Learn more about deceased relatives (or those with whom contact is lost);
• Have an idea about possible hereditary diseases;
• To identify the propensity of someone from the family to the use of alcohol (drugs);
• Track how strong the families of the ancestors were (how often there were divorces and separations, how many marriages the older generations had, how many children were born, etc.);
• Find in your character traits (including negative ones) that your ancestors had;
• Preserve data on long-dead relatives for future generations.

How to chart a family

Before proceeding to drawing and filling out the diagram, it is worth straining your memory well, and possibly contacting relatives. It is advisable to record all the information in a notebook (record it on a voice recorder) so as not to lose sight of anything.

So, if you are interested in the family genogram and how to compile it, follow these rules:

Rules for compiling a family genogram

1. Determine how many branches it will include.

   It is important that there is enough information about the relative you wish to include in the scheme. Therefore, if only the name of the great-great-grandfather is known, then it is better to start researching younger ancestors.

2. Think about where you can find a source of information about the deceased or relatives living far away.

3. Before compiling a genogram, indicate the purpose for which you will collect information about relatives.

   Let's say you decide to trace the relationship between those arising in the genus hereditary diseases. Then there is no need to find out what faith the deceased relative considered himself to be. Or, for example, you are worried about your quick temper. Accordingly, before compiling a genogram, try to find out the character traits of your ancestors. Information regarding ailments and the number of children among representatives of the older generations will be superfluous here.

4. Make a list of questions that will help you complete the cells in the genogram.

   Questions should be dictated by the reason why you decided to start collecting information about your lineage. For example, you want to create a genogram so that your children can know who their great-great-grandmother was. Consequently, questions can be about the family name and surname of a relative, date of birth (death), nationality, religion, profession, family (how many marriages, children, which of them died young, went missing), what kind of life the person led, what features character were inherent and so on. If you are interested in the family genogram and how to compile it, it would be useful to support your scheme with photographs (if available).

5. Do not exclude from the genogram those relatives who died at a young (childhood) age.

   Also, do not forget about unlucky relatives or those with whom you are in a quarrel. Whatever one may say, one blood flows in your veins, so the burrows of a cousin-buyan can be passed on to one of your children or grandchildren. It is advisable to include in the scheme information about people who are not related to you by blood (stepfather, stepmother, stepson, stepdaughter), if they have been family members for a long time.

6. If possible, consider the characters.

   In most cases, genogram data should contain not only dry facts (name, date of birth, place of work, serious illnesses, etc.), but also at least minimal data about a person’s character. It is advisable, at least in general terms, to indicate what the person was (or is) like (cheerful, open, withdrawn, gloomy). What was (or what is) the way of his life, how did he get along with family members (or is getting along now), what is the attitude of the representatives of society towards him. In this way, it will be possible to find the reason, for example, early death ancestor, if it is known about his addiction to alcohol or the desire to get into a fight in such a state.

7. Specify the information that you would like not to know.

   For example, how faithful were your ancestors, did they have children out of wedlock, were any of the children left in orphanage. Of course, you don't have to write down these facts, but in some cases they are important. Suppose you have been surprised for a long time that your cousin too loving. Is it not the fault of the long-dead grandfather, who was known as a womanizer?

8. If you wish, you can briefly record family legends and stories in the genogram.

   They, of course, may have more fiction, but there is certainly a part of the truth. If you wish, you can draw up the scheme to your liking, simplify it. Not of great importance in which geometric figure there will be data about you and your ancestors. For each family member, draw a cell large enough so that, if necessary, you can add the newly discovered information. Do not rush to make a family genogram in one day. Such painstaking work does not tolerate haste.

, chief psychologist Center for Virtual Synergetics

Necessary information for working with genosociogram

• Current age of all family members.
• Dates of birth and death, age and diagnosis of deceased relatives.
• Dates of marriage, duration of marriages. The age of the children at the time of the termination of the relationship (divorce).
• Myths and legends of the family, as well as those related to the cause of death of some relatives.
• Age difference between spouses.
• Change of surname, name.
• Number of children in families.
• Abortions, miscarriages.
• Professions.
• Diseases, alcoholism, drug addiction.
• Imprisonment in places of deprivation of liberty (prisons, correctional colonies).
• Suicide, rape, violent death, physical injury.
• Traffic accidents, accidents.
• Emigration, link.
• Incest (of the first type - forbidden relationships between blood relatives, The second type - between people who have become relatives as a result of marriage).

What questions can be clarified when working with the genogram of your family? What can this, at first glance, dry and impersonal scheme of a family tree talk about?

It turns out that very dramatic and lively situations of human destinies can be encrypted in it.
Here are just a few examples that sounded through the work with the genogram.

A middle-aged woman suffered greatly because of her husband's infidelity. The unbearable situation of scandals and showdowns lasted in the family for a year. When compiling a hemogram, it turned out that the woman's father died when she was 19 years old. And her son was also 19 years old when the drama happened in her family with her husband. So, sometimes, the family soul bizarrely manifests itself - in this family, children “lose” their fathers at the age of 19! And her husband's betrayal, perhaps, is needed not so much for him as for the family soul of the "suffered" woman.

A woman in her early 30s has never been married and has no long-term strong relationship with men. She talked about how she didn't seem to see the men around. They don't seem to exist in her world. And, even when, nevertheless, one of the men arose in her life, then she had "nothing to look at." Studying the history of her family and compiling a hemogram, the woman spoke about a long-standing story that suddenly surfaced: her maternal grandfather cheated on his wife. His betrayal became known to everyone, and the grandfather and the lovebird were condemned and accused by everyone. Grandfather was forced to cut off contact with this person, who by that time had become pregnant, and she had to have an abortion. Our heroine was connected with this woman and her unborn child, which already belonged to their family, because he was the child of his grandfather.

And she, as it were, took the side of the rejected woman and her child. Feeling the same as she did (offended by men, distrust of them), our heroine also excluded men from her life, reminding the whole family about this history that remained in the past with her fate.

Sometimes our failures and failure, and the heavy states of insecurity and depression associated with them, can also be rooted in our family history.

The male At the age of forty, he began his own business, in which he was associated with official organizations and their representatives. He constantly had inconsistencies, difficulties with agreements, premises, etc. This made him very depressed, he was very worried, there were moments when he was ready to give up everything. Very often he was accompanied by a feeling of heaviness and burden by some unpayable debt and guilt. Compiling the genogram, he lamented that it was difficult for him to get information now, his parents had died and there was no one to ask. And already working in a group on generic scenarios, he suddenly remembered that he had a brother who died when our hero was very young. It is important for the family soul that the memory of everyone is preserved, and everyone takes his place. People whose brothers or sisters died early try to live life as if for them and, very often, do not decide on their happiness, success and prosperity. They seem to say to the dead: I will also refuse to live. full life because your fate haunts me.

We will continue to publish family ties that are revealed when working with the family genogram.

See also articles by Alena Oleshko, chief psychologist of the Center for Virtual Synergetics

A genogram is a graphical map of a family or its history, where Special symbols for all family members, as well as for their relationships, significant dates, historical events. The genogram helps identify sources of recurring problems, physical illness, depression, genetic diseases etc. Usually genograms are used by various specialists in the field of medicine and psychology, but you can do it yourself.

To do this, you need to ask all family members, as well as those who are somehow involved in your family. Then, using special symbols, compose a genogram (see below), as a result of which you will get a real family (genealogical) tree.

1 step. family scheme

Take Blank sheet A3 size paper (later you can glue additional sheets as your tree expands).

There are several options for compiling a family tree:

1) Start with yourself, adding your spouse and children to it.

2) Start with parents

3) Make two trees from each of the parents, then glue them together, where you will be the center.

Choose the method that suits you the most.

Traditionally, men are represented by a square and women by a circle. Once you've drawn yourself or your parents, start expanding the chart by placing your grandparents, great-grandparents, and all their children (including those who are aborted, stillborn, and those who die in infancy) up to the 7th generation (126 direct relatives in total). Don't worry if you don't know much about your ancestors, just draw circles and squares for all your family members. In the place where you know the details, put the name, age, dates of birth and death, and dates of marriages and divorces.

2 step. Physiology of the family

Next, trace the history of diseases in the family, since most diseases are genetically transmitted, this information will be very useful to you.
Your main task is to find recurring diseases in your family.

3 step. Family psychology

Pay attention to the feelings that each person in your family had for themselves and for other people. You will notice that some family members are open, friendly, cheerful, optimistic, while others, on the contrary, are depressed, boring and dull people, suffering from fears and phobias, having a difficult character.
You can identify these traits by asking something like this: “What are the 5 words that best describe my/my…?” Then compare your responses with how you see your ancestor. This will help you see some of your hereditary character traits.

4 step. Family Relations

Now look at how your family members treated each other. Find out what kind of relationship dad had with mom, grandfather with grandmother, great-grandfather with great-grandmother. What kind of relationship did each couple have, open or closed, trusting or judgmental, manipulative or communicative? How did each family cope with the crisis in relationships, who dominated the couple? All this information is schematically depicted on the genogram.

5 step. family system

It is also important to look at how the various parts of your system interact with each other. Are there any special family groups? What are family disorders(divorces, betrayals, family feuds, etc.)? Are there "problem" people in the family? It is important to understand how your family system works and interacts from generation to generation.
You can use colored pencils for specific parts of your family system.

6 step. Family values

Determine what kind of experience family values and beliefs was given to you. This applies to any area of ​​​​life - raising children, communicating with teenagers, marriage, the number of children, vocation and destiny, the ability to cope with crises and losses, old age and facing death. Pay attention to what you believe consciously or unconsciously. If beliefs are false, then they can block your thinking, personal development and unlocking your potential.

7 step. Family interaction

In conclusion, look at how your family looks in relation to society. How does your family interact with society? How does society respond to your family? What heavy historical events befell your family and relatives (war, revolution, dispossession, repression, etc.)

Below are the symbols that are commonly used when compiling a genogram. But you can always show your creativity: get archival cards for each family member, or use special computer programs, come up with your own designations, highlight with color, etc.

This guide will help you create a genogram without any specific skills or special training. But if you want the process of compiling a genogram to become healing for you, then it is best to contact a specialist, or go through a special training “The Power of the Family”, and participate in it online without leaving your home.

PS: After your genogram is ready, you can do a special practice by placing your finger on each circle or square, and saying something like this: “My dear grandfather, I am very grateful and grateful to you for the life that you gave me, your destiny was very difficult, but I agree with her. It is very important to speak without thinking, but feeling with your heart, saying everything that lies in your soul. You can also practice bowing for each member in your family as a sign of gratitude and acceptance.