Step 1: Research
Gather details about your generation, your parents’ generation, your grandparents’ generation (be sure to include all your parents’ and grandparents’ siblings and their families) and their parents (no detail necessary). You do not need to represent spouses or descendants of your aunts and uncles or of your grandparent’s siblings. You may interview as many people as you like for this assignment, however, you must interview at least two people about the details of your family’s developmental history and functioning to help you construct your genogram. Sample questions you could ask are:
What was it like growing up in your family?
What are some family stories, traditions, and/or rituals that were passed down?
What are some of the major events in your life and how did they shape you?
** YOU CAN MAKE THIS PART UP AS NEEDED BUT PLEASE INCLUDE THAT MY MOM IS HAWAIIAN AND FATHER’S SIDE LATIN. I HAVE 5 YOUNGER SIBLINGS AND MY PARENTS DID UP DIVORCING AND MARRYING NEW PEOPLE AFTER 20 YEARS TOGETHER WHICH IMPACTED ALL OF US GREATLY**
Step 2: Create the Genogram
Your genogram needs to include:
Symbol Key detailing the symbols you are using within your genogram. You may use the standardize symbols by McGoldrick or you may also create your own symbols that best describes your family.
Nodal events: Births, adoptions, miscarriages, deaths, marriages, cohabitations, divorces/separations, suicide, significant physical health issues, mental health, other life-changing/altering events.
Family dynamics: extensive conflict, fusion, enmeshment, disengagement, intentional cut-offs, complex relationships, family secrets.
Intrapersonal dynamics: significant accomplishments, addictions, mental health, religious conversions, employment.
Step 3: Reflect
Write a 3-4 page reflection paper of your experience. What things did you find in common with your own experiences? What things were different?
Include the following in your paper:
Description of family genogram: Here you will give a detailed written description (not bullet points) of your genogram. Please use Headings to help organize your paper. You can use some of the headings below as examples. This will include:
Description of significant family members: Give a minimum two sentence description of your parents/guardians and grandparents and their siblings. Also include 2 – 3 sentences about any other family members who are currently playing a major role in your life (they need not be alive). The emphasis here is on how you experience them.
Description of Family Dynamics: Write a narrative of your genogram that will include major family themes, processes, dynamics, nodal events, family and individual experiences.
Course Integration: As you were going through this experience and all that you learned, what specific events, stories, dynamics, processes specifically related to the class? You must discuss at least three specific concepts from the text, lectures, and/or additional readings.
Personal Experiential Reaction:
What it was like to do take part in this assignment?
What did you learn from this experience? For example, were there any family stories that stood out for you and their significance to your life
Step 4: Submit
Submit both your your genogram and your reflection paper.
Your genogram can be submitted as pdf, ppt, screenshot, or even a picture taken from your phone.
Your paper must be a Word document, written in 12 point Times New Roman font, double-spaced, and following APA formatting.
