Free Genogram Maker
Map family relationships, emotional bonds, and intergenerational patterns — no signup, no cost.
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A genogram is a structured diagram that maps family relationships across multiple generations, revealing patterns that a simple family tree cannot show. Unlike a standard genealogy chart, a genogram encodes emotional bonds, relationship conflicts, mental health history, and significant life events alongside the basic family structure. Clinicians use genograms to identify intergenerational trauma, recurring behavioral patterns, and systemic dynamics that influence a client today.
How to make a genogram
Describe your family structure
Type a brief description of the family you want to map — number of generations, key relationships, and any notable dynamics such as divorce, remarriage, or medical history.
Generate the diagram
FreeDiagram reads your description and produces a properly notated genogram using standard McGoldrick conventions: squares for males, circles for females, and standard relationship lines.
Refine and annotate
Edit the generated diagram to add emotional bond symbols (close, conflicted, or cutoff), indicate deceased members, or mark the index person with an arrow.
Export or share
Download your genogram as a PNG or SVG for use in case notes, clinical reports, or academic assignments — no account required.
About genograms
Genograms were formalized by Monica McGoldrick and Randy Gerson in the 1980s as a clinical tool for family therapists. The 2020 edition of their landmark guide updated the symbol set to reflect contemporary family structures including same-sex couples, non-binary individuals, and polyamorous relationships. The notation system is now widely adopted across social work, medicine, and counseling as a standard assessment tool.
In a genogram, each person is represented by a shape: a square for males, a circle for females, and an X inside the shape for deceased individuals. Relationship lines between couples indicate marriage (solid horizontal line), cohabitation (dashed line), separation, or divorce (one or two slashes). Vertical lines descend to children, and horizontal brackets indicate siblings.
Emotional relationship lines are a unique feature that sets genograms apart from pedigree charts or family trees. A double solid line indicates a very close bond; a jagged line indicates conflict; a dotted line indicates distance; and a combination line can show a fused-conflicted relationship. These symbols allow a clinician to map not just who is related to whom, but how those relationships feel and function.
Genograms are used across disciplines. Family therapists use them in intake sessions to orient to the family system quickly. Social workers use them during assessments to identify protective factors and stressors. Medical professionals use simplified genograms, sometimes called family health history diagrams, to trace hereditary conditions. Genealogists use them to visualize complex lineages that span many generations and geographic relocations.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between a genogram and a family tree?
A family tree shows biological and legal relationships — who is descended from whom. A genogram adds a clinical layer: emotional bond quality, mental health history, substance use patterns, and relationship conflicts. A genogram is a clinical assessment tool; a family tree is primarily a genealogical record.
What notation standard does FreeDiagram use for genograms?
FreeDiagram follows the McGoldrick 2020 notation standard, which is the most widely accepted convention in clinical social work and family therapy. Squares represent males, circles represent females, and relationship lines follow the standard set of symbols for marriage, divorce, emotional closeness, conflict, and cutoff.
Can I use this for a real clinical case?
FreeDiagram can produce an accurate draft genogram quickly, which you can then refine in your clinical documentation. Do not enter real client names or identifying information into any online tool. Use anonymized or fictional identifiers and complete your clinical documentation in your secure practice management system.
How many generations can a genogram show?
Most clinical genograms cover three generations — grandparents, parents, and the presenting client or index person. FreeDiagram can generate diagrams covering two to five generations depending on the complexity you describe in your prompt.
Is a genogram the same as a pedigree chart?
They overlap but serve different purposes. A pedigree chart is used in genetics to trace the inheritance of a specific trait or disease across generations, using NSGC notation to mark affected, carrier, and unaffected individuals. A genogram is used in clinical practice to map relational and emotional dynamics. FreeDiagram supports both formats separately.
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