Is it wise use genograms or not? Yildiz Sethi
Introduction
Many therapists, social workers and especially counsellors and psychotherapists who work with couples and family have been taught to work with genograms. This is also often a first step in the therapy process. It remains the case that the basis of many family therapies currently in use, is Bowen Family systems developed by Murray Bowen 1974. The use of genograms came in later,
‘first developed in clinical psychology and family therapy settings by Monica McGoldrick and Randy Gerson and popularized through the publication of a book titled Genograms: Assessment and Intervention in 1985.14 Sept 201’
In working with the present day problems that people face, whether this is a personal or relational problem, it is frequently not simply, communication, behaviour, feeling or beliefs. These are symptoms of underlying deeper issues, not the cause. While these are often out of alignment and part of the problem, they are often underpinned by subconscious personal or systemic causes.
We don’t know if a problem is a personal or a systemic (generational). In terms of systemic, In looking at the mind-body connection, the brain, nervous system of an individual, we can’t know if its cause is a personal experience or has family or generational dynamics.
If I were to draw up a genogram, I would find it highly confusing and diverting. I can’t know what elements of a genogram are relevant to the problems that are experienced by the client. If I think I do I am coming from my own experience. I can’t know what it’s like to be the client. For example in terms of a genogram, we don’t know if the murder of their grandfather, exclusion of an aunt with mental illness or having a baby out of wedlock, the secret affairs our parent had is the causal dynamic of their issue. Or if it is the emotional disconnection the client experience with one or both of their parents or whether it is family secret or trauma that is what is at cause. These are governed by deep entanglements and loyalties that are subconsciou. Not in the awareness of the client. They are only aware of the problem or pattern.
In terms of Individual subconscious I know that many therapists using processes such as EMDR, take a history of major events in life that may have been problematic. While recording genogram and events in life experience may bring awareness to the individual, if these events are traumatic, it frequently retraumatises them in putting them back into the problematic situation, simply by listing it. Recently I have had several clients who are highly relieved that I don’t do this, as they said they found it highly disturbing to remember intense experiences as they have often been suppressed in the subconscious mind.
Sub conscious is the operative word here, as in my experience, it is what is operating subconsciously that is most frequently the cause of present thoughts, feelings and behaviours. What is conscious, has awareness. Awareness is often not a cure. However, while people are frequently aware of a problem, they most often don’t know where it originates or how to change it.
We often guess and create stories about it, but often, when we go to the core of it, it frequently has a quite different origin and requires its own unique treatment.
If we are using a genogram or a list of events we are then faced with the task of attempting to deal with each one or picking the most likely ones to work with from our or the clients perspective. Sessions may go for weeks or months and may or may not be effective in resolving the issue.
Family Constellations training informed me about the power of working with phenomenology, with not knowing or needing to know. In working with body-sensed feeling and knowing and working with morphogenic fields. Details These are called the ‘Knowing field’ in Family Constellations terms. Since learning Family Constellations, I prefer to work with ‘not knowing’. Prefer to allow the client’s mind-body connection to go to the core of the issue directly. The issue is embedded in the brain, nervous system and body organs or tissues. This may go to the event/s in life, or go deeper to the family system field.
The founder of Family Constellations Bert Hellinger, didn’t use genograms. Instead he trusted the inner connections of the person concerned to tap into the field and be guided to the cause. In these processes, constellation knowledge also allows the best solutions to arise in brief, solution-focused interventions.
In terms of the personal unconscious mind, I use Rapid Core Healing or Emotional Mind Integration (EMI) to connect with the presenting problem psycho-dynamically. To allow the client’s mind-body connection to go to the core of the issue directly. If it is a situation that occurred in the life experience of the client, it will land there. Again a specific EMI healing pathway that completes with integration is followed in collaboration with the client in a brief, solution-focused intervention.
In moving forward to more effective and precise methodologies I have found that it is unnecessary and diverting to use genograms to map out problematic issues or to list problematic event is life, if we have ways of working that can ‘cut to the quick’ sensitively and safely, in targeting the causes and providing solutions.
How do I know this works? My clients let me know constantly if their issue is now resolved or reduced significantly.
I operate on results.
This way of working is available to you in Rapid Core Healing.