Genogram and Family Tree Explained: Key Differences and Uses

Updated on: 03 July 2025 | 6 min read
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Illustration of a creately's genograms and family tree shapes

Understanding your family’s history involves more than just names and dates, it’s about uncovering the stories and connections that define your lineage. This guide explains the differences between genograms and family tree diagrams, their importance, and how Creately can help you create them.

What Are Genograms?

A genogram is a detailed, graphic representation of a family tree that not only outlines family relationships but also highlights patterns and dynamics within the family. Unlike traditional family trees, which primarily display lineage, genograms provide a comprehensive view of family interactions, health histories, and behavioral patterns, offering valuable insights into the familial influences that shape individual behaviors and health outcomes.​

Free Genogram Templates

What Is a Family Tree?

A family tree is a diagram that represents the lineage and relationships among members of a family across multiple generations. It visually illustrates how individuals are connected, typically starting with a common ancestor at the base and branching out to show descendants. This tool is invaluable for understanding familial connections, tracing ancestry, and preserving family history.​

Free Family Tree Templates

Comparison of Genogram vs Family Tree Diagrams

While both genograms and family trees serve to document family connections, they differ in several key aspects. Here’s a breakdown of the key features, benefits, and usage of genogram vs family tree diagrams.

Genogram vs Family Tree

Genograms

Family Tree

Key Features

  • Detailed Family Relationship Mapping
  • Incorporation of Personal and Health Information
  • Use of Standardized Genogram Symbols
  • Generational Representation
  • Relationship Mapping
  • Historical Insight​

Benefits

  • Identifying Behavioral Patterns
  • Assessing Health Risks​
  • Enhancing Therapeutic Interventions
  • Preservation of Heritage
  • Identity and Belonging
  • Genealogical Research

When to Use

  • When you need to analyze familial patterns related to health, psychology, or social dynamics.
  • Useful for healthcare professionals, therapists, and social workers who require an in-depth understanding of family influences on an individual's well-being.
  • When your primary aim is to explore genealogical connections, trace lineage, or document family history, straightforwardly.

How to Create Genograms and Family Tree Diagrams for Free in Creately

Creately offers intuitive tools to design detailed genograms and family tree diagrams, facilitating the visualization of familial relationships and histories. Below are step-by-step guides to help you create each diagram effectively.​

Step 1. Access Creately

  • Navigate to Creately​ and log in if you already have an account or sign up if you are a new user.

Step 2. Start a New Workspace

  • Click on “Create New Workspace” to open a blank workspace.​

Step 3. Start Building Your Diagram

  • Use the shape library to drag-and-drop shapes onto the canvas.

Step 4. Select a Template (Optional)

  • Explore Creately’s genogram templates or family tree templates to find a suitable starting point for your diagram.​

Step 5. Collect Detailed Family Data

  • For family trees, collect essential details such as names, birthdates, and relationships of family members.
  • Gather comprehensive information, including medical histories, and the nature of relationships among family members for genograms.​

Step 6. Add Family Members Using Standard Symbols

  • Use the shape library to drag and drop shapes representing family members onto the canvas.
  • For genograms, add standardized shapes from the genogram shape library to represent individuals, ensuring consistency in symbol usage.​

Step 7. Depict Relationships and Dynamics

  • Use lines to link individuals, illustrating relationships like parent-child and marriages, and build the family tree hierarchy.
  • In genograms, use specific lines and symbols to illustrate various relationship types, such as close, conflicted, or distant relationships, as well as medical conditions or behavioral patterns.​

Step 8. Customize the Diagram

  • Personalize the family tree by adjusting colors, fonts, and adding images to represent family members visually.
  • Adjust the layout, colors, and fonts to enhance the clarity and visual appeal of the genogram.​

Step 9. Analyze and Interpret

  • Review the completed genogram to identify patterns, hereditary traits, or relational dynamics that may be significant for your analysis or records.​

Step 10. Save and Share

  • Save your diagram within Creately. Share it with relevant parties through a link or export it in various formats for documentation or presentation purposes.​

By following these steps, you can effectively utilize Creately’s features to create comprehensive and visually engaging genogram and family tree diagrams, aiding in the exploration and documentation of familial histories and relationships.

Helpful Resources

Discover everything you need to know about genograms, from what they are, how to create a genogram, to how to understand what they mean.

Explore our collection of genogram templates.

Start visualizing your family tree and to create a richer, more engaging family history.

Discover various types of family tree templates.

Learn how different types of genograms can help visualize important aspects of life.

Explore the essential symbols used in genograms to represent everything from basic family structures to complex emotional and medical relationships.

FAQs About Genogram and Family Tree

How many generations can I include in a genogram or family tree?

Typically, 3 generations are used, but you can add more if needed—especially in medical or cultural genograms.

How can creating a genogram or family tree benefit me?

Creating a family tree helps document your ancestry, preserving the names and relationships of your forebears. Building a genogram, however, offers deeper insights by highlighting patterns in relationships, behaviors, and health conditions within your family. This can be invaluable for personal development, therapeutic processes, and medical assessments, as it sheds light on recurring themes and potential hereditary health risks.

Are there tools available to help create genograms or family trees?

Yes, several tools are designed to assist in creating genograms and family trees. Platforms like Creately offer user-friendly interfaces with customizable templates and symbols tailored for these purposes. These tools simplify the process, allowing you to visually map out your family’s structure and dynamics effectively.

Resources:

Butler, J.F. (2008). The Family Diagram and Genogram: Comparisons and Contrasts. The American Journal of Family Therapy, 36(3), pp.169–180. doi:https://doi.org/10.1080/01926180701291055.

Shapiro, F., Kaslow, F.W. and Maxfield, L. (2007). Handbook of EMDR and Family Therapy Processes. Wiley eBooks. doi:https://doi.org/10.1002/9781118269985.

Stagoll, B. and Lang, M. (1980). Climbing the Family Tree: Working with Genograms. Australian Journal of Family Therapy, 1(4), pp.161–170. doi:https://doi.org/10.1002/j.1467-8438.1980.tb00022.x.

Author
Yashodhara Keerthisena
Yashodhara Keerthisena Content Writer

Yashodhara Keerthisena is a content writer at Creately, the online diagramming and collaboration tool. She enjoys reading and exploring new knowledge.

View all posts by Yashodhara Keerthisena →
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