McGoldrick Ch. 1 Flashcards
Genogram
pictorial representation of a family and its functioning over several generations
family emotional system
Genogram allows us to make visual hypotheses about how family problems evolve over time (i.e.
discovering the family emotional system ). These allow us to go beyond questionnaires to
allow fresh perspectives for both counselor and clients. (What do we see when we look at it
together?)
Family
individuals tied together through common biological, legal, cultural, and emotional
history - and their implied future together. (But remember - lived sociocultural realities directly
determine the frame that these problems occupy!)
Let the Calendar Speak
Families repeat themselves - exploration of pattern repetition is a key part of our process.
These repeated patterns guide clinicians to the “problem hypothesis.”
Vertical issues (historical) directly influence horizontal issues (problems of current/future
functioning)
When constructing a genogram, pay attention to patterns of closeness (enmeshment) and
distance (rigid cut-offs). Also, remember that counseling hates triangles!
Even Dysfunctional Families “Work”
Remember: even dysfunctional families “work” somehow - consider how you might have seen
patterns of family members that “underfunction” and others that “overfunction” in order to
compensate
life cycle transitions
symptoms tend to cluster around these
Fundamental Question of Family Therapy
The genogram allows substitutes “identified patient” with “indexed person” - instead of “who is
behaving badly?” a systems approach would ask “who is the system ordered around?”
Vertical & Horizontal Issues
Vertical issues (historical) directly influence horizontal issues (problems of current/future functioning)
horizontal axis
describes fam as moves through time, coping w/ changes and transitions. includes developmental stresses and unpredicitable events. community connections or lack thereof. depicts consequences of society’s interhited vertical norms
