Focused Genograms: Intergenerational Assessment... Apr 2026

This draft provides a comprehensive framework for a clinical assessment paper based on the methodologies in by Rita DeMaria, Gerald Weeks, and Markie Twist .

: Modern focused genograms heavily incorporate attachment theory to map patterns of secure or insecure bonding across generations.

: This approach integrates individual dynamics, couple interactions, and intergenerational legacies within a single assessment tool. 3. Methodology: Constructing the Focused Genogram

Focused genograms are specialized graphic representations of family interactions tailored to specific clinical themes like attachment, trauma, or gender. Unlike basic genograms that show simple family trees, focused genograms allow therapists to "re-story" narratives by externalizing problems and identifying intergenerational patterns of health and dysfunction. 2. Theoretical Framework: The Intersystem Approach