Free Genogram Maker for Therapists

Build a family genogram with McGoldrick symbols: parents, siblings, partners (remarriage, same-sex couples), twins, adoption and foster care, pregnancies and losses, gender-diverse family members, and 10 kinds of relationship line. Save a picture with its own symbol key.

AdultsFamiliesRelationships & connectionFamily therapy
15–30 minutesIn person and on videoFor clinicians
Free interactive tool
Designed by Michael Thompson, MSc

No sign-upNothing you type is stored
Use with care

Avoid entering real full names; family histories can contain sensitive information.

More

Ask before recording secrets such as adoption, paternity, affairs or abuse, and in a family session never reveal what one member told you privately. Mapping abuse can lead to a disclosure, so know your reporting duty.

For clinicians

For clinicians building a genogram with a client. Use initials or roles only. Nothing you type is saved; save the picture to the client record.

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About the technique

A genogram is a family diagram that maps at least three generations: who belongs to the family, how they are related, and patterns such as illness, loss, migration, conflict and cutoff. It grew out of Murray Bowen’s family systems theory, which looks at how emotional patterns are transmitted across generations (Kerr & Bowen, 1988). Monica McGoldrick and Randy Gerson standardized its symbols and interview in 1985, and the current edition of their guide remains the main reference for clinicians (McGoldrick et al., 2020).

Drawing a genogram does two jobs. As assessment, it gathers a lot of history quickly and shows patterns that are hard to see in a narrative, such as repeated losses at a particular age or the same conflict in each generation. As engagement, it gives a client something concrete to build with the therapist, and seeing a pattern across generations can shift the focus from blame toward understanding. It is used in family therapy, social work and medicine, but there is little research on its reliability or its effect on outcomes, so it is a practice-based tool.

It suits adults and teens, individually or with family members, at intake and whenever family history becomes relevant. Avoid entering full real names. Ask before recording sensitive facts such as adoption, paternity, affairs or abuse, and in a family session never reveal what one member told you privately. Mapping abuse can prompt a disclosure, so be clear about your reporting duties before you start.

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For therapists: how to run it

Goal

Map family structure, relationships, losses and repeating patterns to inform the case formulation.

In session

  1. Share your screen (or turn it toward the client) and build it together: you click, the client tells the story.
  2. Press Start a new genogram twice (the second tap clears the example family), then use the + buttons: parents, brothers or sisters, partners, children. Type initials or roles only.
  3. Ask about each person: age, losses (with cause of death), health or substance patterns, who is close and who is in conflict. Add relationship lines as you go; for one-way patterns (focused on, abuse) choose who toward whom.
  4. Press Make a picture of the genogram, then Save picture for the client record, or Copy for the text summary.

As homework

Not given as self-guided homework. Use it together in session.

Good to know

The example family is made up. Symbols follow McGoldrick, Gerson & Petry (Genograms, 4th ed.), with gender-inclusive symbols (circle in square, square in circle, diamond) labeled in the key. Relationship lines are drawn in their own layer and routed around people, so they never cross a symbol or a name. Nothing you enter leaves the browser.

Worksheets that pair with this tool

Coat of Arms / Family Crest Worksheet

Coat of Arms / Family Crest Worksheet

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Life Story Worksheet

Three pages covering earlier years, the present and the years ahead, with a title for each period.Adults and teensDepressionSelf esteemNarrativePositive psychologyPsychoeducational+3Free PDF 3 pagesActive Listening: Communication Skill | A Therapist’s Guide

Active Listening: Communication Skill | A Therapist’s Guide

Three steps to practice, showing you are listening, encouraging sharing, and striving to understand.Adults and teensCommunicationRelationshipsBehavioralPsychoeducationalSystemic relational+3Free PDF 1 page

Sources & credibility

Method
Genogram
Developed by
Murray Bowen (family systems); standardized by Monica McGoldrick and Randy Gerson
First described
1985
Approach
Family systems (Bowen)
Evidence
Practice-based (limited trials)A standard assessment and engagement tool in family therapy, social work and family medicine, with little research on its reliability or outcomes.

References

  1. McGoldrick M., Gerson R. & Petry S. (2020). Genograms: Assessment and Treatment (4th ed.). Norton.
  2. Kerr M. E. & Bowen M. (1988). Family Evaluation. Norton.

How it was made

Built by the Mentalyc team from the original method and the published sources listed here. Nothing you enter is stored.

Questions people ask

What is the best free genogram maker?

The best one is the one you can use quickly in session. This free genogram maker runs in the browser, uses standard symbols and lets you save a picture without creating an account.

What is the easiest way to create a genogram?

Start with the client, add parents and siblings, then partners and children, and finally mark relationships like conflict, closeness or cut-offs. A genogram builder handles the symbols and lines for you.

What is a genogram used for in therapy?

A genogram maps a family across generations, showing relationships, losses and patterns such as illness or conflict. Therapists use it to understand family context and recurring themes.

How do you use a genogram in family therapy?

Draw at least three generations with the client, then add relationship lines, losses, illnesses and repeated patterns. Building it together is the intervention: clients often notice patterns, such as cut-offs or repeated roles, that they had not linked before.

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Your game designer
Michael Thompson

Michael Thompson, MSc

Michael's background combines doctoral training in clinical psychology with research on motivation, learning, and emotional regulation.

More about Michael Thompson, MSc →

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Table Of Contents
  1. About the technique
  2. For therapists: how to run it
  3. Worksheets that pair with this tool
  4. Sources & credibility
  5. Questions people ask
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