Genogram
A simple method of illustrating a family in a constant and comprehensible manner is through the establishment of a genogram. It presents the members of the family or household, their gender, age, and corresponding relationships with one another. Moreover, it also depicts important life experiences including marriage, pregnancy, and even death. It is constituted of simple symbols that portray descriptions with regards to an individual, and such symbols are joined with connectors that give details to the associations of each person (“Genogram Explained”, 2013). It also plays the role of a multigenerational evaluation for comprehending family processes and family functioning (Chavis, 2004).
Genograms appear to be like a genealogy chart or a family tree, which can be utilized in different manners. Included in the uses of genograms are: (1) to recognize distinctly who are present in the “family” complex in order to ascertain who is or possibly be accessible to offer social assistance to a certain individual; (2) to recognize the medical history and trends of attitudes that may be significant to an individual’s actual or thought medical or psychologicalcondition; and (3) to conceptualize propositions regarding family functioning that can be used during family therapy (“Family and Social Assessment Tools”, n.d.). For the purpose of this paper, a genogram of an individual was established using the GenoPro 2016 Software, as presented in Figure 1.
Ecomap
A paper-and-pencil figure of an ecological network where a client or family belongs, along with the major structures, and the associations that influence and are influenced by the client or family, is termed as an ecomap. It is used to: (1) determine other people and networks in the client’s or family’s social setting and the means traded among them; (2) distinguish the client’s or family’s associations with the community networks; and (3) determine networks from which further means might be accessible(“Family and Social Assessment Tools”, n.d.; “Eco-maps”, n.d.).For the purpose of this paper, an ecomap of the ecological network of an individual and his family was established using the GenoPro 2016 Software, as presented in Figure 2.
Discussion
The client is a 23-year old male who is suspected of suffering from alcohol or drug abuse. He is residing with his sister who recently got married and is reported to be undergoing depression and is jealous of her brother. They are living with their mother who is currently being treated for diabetes, and became a widow since 2014 after her husband died due to nasopharyngeal cancer. The client’s mother was reported to be more focused on the client due to his condition as compared to his sister, resulting to the jealousy.Included in the diseases that put risks to the client’s healthare obesity, hypertension, heart disease, and cancer, which are in addition to those that are evident with the immediate family members.
Cancer was also the cause of death of the client’s grandfather from the side of his father, living his grandmother widowed and being taken cared of by her eldest child. The client’s father has two other living siblings, the eldest is a 60-year old woman, married but failed to conceive a child. The youngest has migrated to another country and lives with his wife and their daughter who is recovering from a surgery for a heart disease.
Meanwhile, the client’s grandfather from the side of his mother died from stroke, living his wife who is on medications for the control of hypertension. She is being taken cared of by her youngest daughter, or the client’s aunt, who is fighting obesity which she acquired after giving birth to her only child. The client has a cousin who is diagnosed of having autism, but is being neglected by his mother or the client’s aunt.
A close relationship was described between the client’s father when he was still living and his youngest brother. However, conflict is portrayed between the client’s eldest aunt and youngest uncle from the side of his father. A distant relationship was noted between the client’s aunt from the side of his mother, and her husband. This compels the neglect being done by the client’s aunt to her son who has autism.
On the basis of the ecomap, the family is seen to be having some difficulties and concerns with a number of networks including transportation, religion, work, and health care. The family owns only one vehicle, and is frequently used by the client, making it difficult for his sister and her husband to travel. Moreover, work seems to be stressful for the couple since shifting and working on the graveyard shift is a part of their job. Culture and religion are not part of their priorities among their relationships. Health care services that are acquired by the family are those that are provided by the government.
On a positive note, the house that they are living in is owned and not rented or leased. Moreover, they are surrounded by friends that are supportive of their endeavors and join them in doing their recreational activities.
References
Chavis, A.M. (2004). Genograms and African American Families: Employing Family Strengths of Spirituality, Religion, and Extended Family Network. Michigan Family Review 9(1), 30-36.
Eco-maps. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://www.dhs.state.mn.us/main/groups/children/documents/pub/dhs16_178770.pdf
Family and Social Assessment Tools. (n.d.). Retrieved from http://ssw.unc.edu/cares/rk/AppendixB.pdf
Genogram Explained. (2013). Retrieved from http://www.leics.gov.uk/genogram_explained_mas.pdf
