[onhazier]

In my last thread, it was asked what a genogram and an ecogram are. I've decided to start a new thread for this topic to pull it out for more attention.

There is a great definition of genograms at The Genogram - GenoPro

In short, a genogram is a family tree that goes beyond just familial relations to help you see patterns hereditary and psychological patterns in the family. Typically a genogram looks at several generations of a family but not the entire family tree. In our case, our genograms started with the grandparents of DH and me and extended down to R.

An ecogram is a graphical representation of your current relationships and supports. Here is a sample ecogram. http://www.bhicares.org/pdf/manual/i...nt/ecogram.pdf

The ecograms are a slice in time evaluation that also allows you to see patterns and resources.

Some home studies will include one or both of these tools because they are very helpful in letting the CW and the individuals see reasons behind some of their life choices, some of their stressors, their support structures and the web of their relationships.

DH and I found our genograms and ecograms to be very revealing. We started the two ourselves and completed them with our CW. She filled in some of the connecting lines on the genogram and asked us to discuss each individual on it. So, for example, I had to discuss my grandparents, their children, grandchildren and so on. I needed to address the relationship each person had to the other. I was asked to identify who had mental illness, drug and/or alcohol issues, etc. I always had the information in my head. Seeing it on paper was quite revealing.

One thing we learned is that families who have faced many challenges tend to be better equipped to deal with the issues foster children have or are coming from. (This is my family.) Families that are in the Beaver Cleaver mode have no experience and tend to have a harder transition. (This is DH's family.)

If you've had one done and feel like sharing, what would you tell someone who hasn't had one and was interested? How did it help you? Or did it?

[Scrapsathome]

Well I'd never heard of this until you mentioned it, but this describes DH and I to a "T":

One thing we learned is that families who have faced many challenges tend to be better equipped to deal with the issues foster children have or are coming from. (This is my family.) Families that are in the Beaver Cleaver mode have no experience and tend to have a harder transition. (This is DH's family.)

Jess