Genogram as an Assessment Tool

1
Genogram as an Assessment Tool

• Two major uses
• Identify role models that may have influenced
  occupational perceptions
• Identify sources of self-perceptions as a worker

2
Genograms development

• First used by marriage and family therapists to
  gain insight into perceptions and attitudes about
  family roles.
• Recently adopted in career counseling to help
  gain understanding about self-perceptions as
  workers and in other life roles.

3
Exploring the Genogram with the client

• What roles were modeled by each person?
• What behaviors, and attitudes were reinforced for
  males? Females?
• What was punished for males? Females?
• Were there models other than family members?
• What were the family values?
• Do the clients values fit with the family values?

4
Limitations of the Genogram

• Time consuming technique
• Client may not know a lot of family history.
• May evoke feelings and discussions unrelated to
  career counseling.
• Data could be obtained through usual interview
  strategies.
• Effective use of the genogram requires high level
  of clinical skill.

5
Learning to use the Genogram

• Construct your own career genogram
• What was modeled?
• Were people happy in their roles?
• What career boundaries were established?
• Construct a genogram for a fellow student
• Interpret without client comment?
• Then have him/her give you feedback
• With a client, first attempt to gain as much
  information on family influence as you can by
  asking direct questions. Then construct the
  genogram.

6
Class discussion

• How does Supers Career Maturity theory relate to
  the genogram discussion?
• More individuals are expected to seek career
  counseling for work adjustment problems the 21st
  century. Why?