Family Genogram Essay

Making a genogram can enhance one’s training as a helping professional by laying out points in a person’s life and family that have caused distress and could affect practice in the future. By self realizing the crisis points in one’s family it can help to identify triggers that could lead to countertransference as well as resurfacing of old traumas during counseling or leading a group. Plotting out one’s life is a way to organize a family especially if there are multiple marriages of parents and non-traditional family ties within a standard family tree. By knowing where you come from and the experiences that shape your family you can better

How you ever feel that we, as sons or daughter tend to repeat our parent mistakes? I have always asked myself why and I still have not have the right answer. For example my mother grew up in a very strict environment when she was a child, with my grandmother and my great grandmother coming from a Japanese Culture; my mother grew up to be a very quiet and reserve young adult. She is really kind, strict, helpful and with a very big heart. Although we had our differences when I was growing up, we get along pretty well. One of the things that stand out from her, it is her stubborn personality. Although she is a really good listener, I always feel that it has to be her way. I believe she is more like her way or the

Regarding the family unit, Friedman, Bowden and Jones (2003) states “This basic unit so strongly influences the development of an individual that it may determine the success or failure of that person’s life.” Due to the this influence it is vital to assess the family during the process of caring for a patient. Their environment, lifestyle and support system all have a tremendous effect on the healing process either good or bad. In this essay, the Hillard family from the movie Mrs. Doubtfire (1993) will be analyzed.

It also shows that not every family has the same strengths and how the every family’s strengths can differ from each other’s. Which allows the nurse to use this tool to identify their strengths as a family to help them to set a family goal to achieve together and formulate a problem solving plan. It’s an easy tool because the questions are straightforward and it is a child friendly tool, suitable for any age not just the adults. It is a family assessment therefore the children’s feelings shall not be neglected. External family members can take part in this assessment as well, not only will it improve the family members’ relationship with each other and as a family but also help build a trusting relationship with the nurse which will allow the family members to voice out or share anything without feeling uncomfortable. (Smith LM

A genogram is a type of family tree, but with more detailed information. It is often used as a diagnostic and assessment tool by physicians or counselors to obtain individual and family history in order to help in the establishment of a diagnosis and treatment plan.

A positive self image is conveyed to all family members. Even minor accomplishments such as good report card grades are praised and sometimes awarded. The family is currently dealing with change as far as the grandfather’s illness. Selective inattention and intellectualization are two of the defense mechanisms being used for avoiding this problem (Clark, 2003). Slowly, the use of talking with family members and expressing both positive and negative emotions are being used as coping strategies. The entire extended family comes together in a crisis which helps every member of the family to deal with the situation.

Read the course resource information on vertical and level communication. Answer the following questions based on that information.

When creating this diagram I was very confused in how I would represent the generations within my family since I constructed the diagram with my grandparents, my parents, my sisters and I, but also my nephew. It is awesome to see how our family is expanding, but the diagram also allowed me to think of my family in the lens of Family Systems Theory and Therapy.

Today genograms are used in psychology and medical settings to identify the connection between families and identify how members of the family communicate with one another. There are several types of genograms that created for many reasons such as ethical, career, and sexual. This genogram helps an individual map out the connection of their contextual history with their framework. My experience of creating a genogram was an amazing feeling and it helped me discover several factors that occur in life as an adult. The interview with mom helps me to identify a lot of unknown features that can be possible genetically transmitted to my children. During my genogram creation, a few explanations of conflicts were discussed according to family member’s characteristics and beliefs. Discovery of my genogram alerts me with the many personalities that I share with my family. While reading this book I was eager to finish the book because of the interested information that was listed to help me understand my developmental structures.

In this view, the healthcare provider may include the family in terms of socioeconomic and functional support, but really focus on the patient as an individual (p.36-37, 2003). Family as Sum of its Members sees each member of the family in the foreground and care is provided to all family members. (p.37, 2003). Family Subsystem looks at the significant relationships in the family; parent-child, marital interactions, caregiving issues, bonding-attachment concerns (p.37, 2003), where Family as Client looks further into family’s internal dynamics, relationships, structure and functions and its relationship with the outer environment (p.37, 2003).

The family composition comprises of a basic family structure including the father, mother, brother, and sister within the household. An example would be my mother, Ernaline Pabatao who was 13 years old in high school, and her siblings were in elementary including Bernadito who was 11 years old, Caroline who was 9 years old, and Ernest who was 7 years old. Her parents, Bernadita was 23 years old and Ernesto was 33 years old at the time. They had eloped when Bernadita was 18 years old and was not able to finish her college studies because Ernesto prevented her to achieve her academic ambitions.

Genograms are used to graphically represent a family tree and display detailed data on relationships among the individuals included in the family tree. In essence, families are complex systems that interact with kin groups in specific ways, and a genogram helps to show a diagram of a family tree, but also maps out interactions, relationships, traits, and characteristics that may otherwise not be noticed. The purpose of a genogram is to identify and understand patterns in family history which may influence an individual’s personal behavior and traits. Family Systems Theory, presented by Dr. Murray Bowen, suggests that an individual cannot be understood in isolation from their family members. According to Dr. Bowen, the family is an emotional

Most families are complicated but supportive. For example, a family could argue a lot, but still love one another. In Alice Walker’s “Everyday Use” mama still supports her daughters even though, they’re not around much. Their issues are not unique because my family has its issues, too. The family in “Everyday Use” and my family both have similarities and differences regarding siblings, bonds, and mothers.

A main key concept of NT is that the problem a client presents with is viewed separate from the client. The problem is not the person; it is something the person has. Therefore, the goal of NT is to change the effects resulting from the problem and not the person themselves. To do this, NT uses the technique of externalizing the problem. To externalize the problem, the problem is first given a name and then it is explored and applied to the clients believes, values, behaviors, and ideals that has formed the clients identity. The negative aspects of these areas get rewritten into the new story. The process of externalizing the problem allows the client to see their problem separate from themselves so they can better

The family that is being observed for this assignment is headed by a married couple who has been together for a little over 40th years. Cliff Barnes a 61 year old male is married to Amy Barnes 66 years old. Their immediate household composition includes Amy Barnes’s 44 year son from a previous relationship, her 22 year old grandson and the couple’s 15 year old adopted daughter. I have included the immediate family members in the attached genogram because they play a major role in the family dynamics.