The Impact of the Genogram on Couples: A Manualized Approach

Genograms are widely used in clinical practice but are seldom the focus of research. This report describes a beginning effort to operationalize the clinical application of the genogram with couples to improve the fidelity of the genogram’s use in future research. The five-session manualized method focuses on the genogram interview as a process-oriented intervention in which a couple collects family-of-origin data, identifies key relational patterns, and makes linkages between family-of-origin patterns and the current relationship. The approach uses homework tasks to set the stage for subsequent sessions and computer software to generate and update the genograms. The use of the manualized approach with a premarital couple is presented, and individual and relational changes in the couple are discussed. Applications of the method in research, clinical training, and intervention with couples are discussed.