a circle to denote a female and a square to indicate a male. This is shown as a diagram using particular symbols, e.g. Genograms (sometimes called family trees) are an effective way of mapping out family structures over several generations. Then practise helping someone like a trusted friend or colleague to construct theirs before you use this with a service user or carer. First construct your own ecomap so you gain a sense of its power. figures in a sandtray, or buttons of different size, shape and colour.ĭo practise this method before using it with someone in your work. Some people might prefer using 3D imagery instead of pens and paper, e.g. Pictures, images or photos could be used as symbols. Colours could be chosen to convey positive or negative feelings. Distance from the centre might represent emotional distance. You can also encourage people to develop their own system. On page 30 of The Assessing children in need and their families: Practice guidance is an example of an ecomap. Use different types of lines to indicate the nature of the link or relationship: Draw lines between circles where connections exist.Identify important people or organisations and draw circles as needed.Department of Health Guidance (2000: 30) suggests the following: They can then use a variety of ways to convey the relationships between themselves and other people, groups or communities. Ask the adult or child to place themselves in a circle at the centre of the page.

They can be constructed in a very basic way, just using paper and pens. Ecomaps are a simple and visual way of helping people convey their own view/subjective impression of their networks and supports.

Genograms social work