MY APPROACH
Genogram work
A genogram represents family relationships over several generations. In a joint conversation, it can help to consider life events, relationships and resources in context.
FAMILY HISTORY
An overview that opens up questions.
In a graphical overview, important people, relationships, transitions and life events can find their place. The aim is not to explain a family completely or definitively. Together, we select what is relevant to your current concern.
This allows recurring patterns, roles and expectations to become visible. Equally important are resources: how did people in the family cope with difficult phases, and what forms of support were there?
THEN AND NOW
Examine possible connections together.
Sometimes it is worthwhile to ask whether experiences of previous generations are related to today’s views or expectations. Such transgenerational connections remain hypotheses that we compare with your own experience. Today’s difficulties are not automatically explained by family history.
A genogram is a tool for reflecting together: it can help you see familiar things in a different light and clarify what matters in your current situation.
Part of the therapeutic conversation.
Whether and how a genogram is used depends on your concern. It is jointly developed, discussed and supplemented as needed. Working on it does not replace your own decision about what meaning you want to give your story.