The Sexual Genogram

Abstract

The sexual genogram combines aspects of the sex history with the genograml family journey to examine the impact of the partners' family loyalties, secrets and “scripts” on their sexual functioning. The exploration process and the resulting family journey, which includes specific sexual material, offers an opportunity for major change to occur. Technique for this method is discussed, along with relevant case illustrations. The integration of family therapy theories and techniques, with those of sex therapy, provides increased richness to both therapies.

Revisiting the Sexual Genogram

“…While the original article on constructing a sexual genogram is comprehensive (Hof & Berman, 1986), not much has been written about it since that time. On the 25th anniversary of the sexual genogram, we wanted to revisit it with an eye on contemporary sexual issues.…”

“…McGoldrick and colleagues have since updated this text twice, adding additional information and symbols to account for the complexities of contemporary families (McGoldrick, Gerson, & Shellenberger, 1999;McGoldrick, Gerson, & Petry, 2008). Over time, variations of the standard genogram were developed, including colorcoded (Lewis, 1989), spiritual (Frame, 2000), cultural (Hardy & Laszloffy, 1995), solution-focused (Kuehl, 1995), and the focus of this paper-the sexual genogram (Hof & Berman, 1986;Berman & Hof, 1987). THE SEXUAL GENOGRAM Hof and Berman (1986) were the first to write about the sexual genogram.…”

“…Over time, variations of the standard genogram were developed, including colorcoded (Lewis, 1989), spiritual (Frame, 2000), cultural (Hardy & Laszloffy, 1995), solution-focused (Kuehl, 1995), and the focus of this paper-the sexual genogram (Hof & Berman, 1986;Berman & Hof, 1987). THE SEXUAL GENOGRAM Hof and Berman (1986) were the first to write about the sexual genogram. The original sexual genogram is not structurally different from a traditional genogram-both look at individual data, transgenerational issues and relationships.…”

Using Spiritual Genograms in Family Therapies

“…In many cases, such connections with the family history enable clients to retrieve vital information from the past and renegotiate current relationships (Bowen, 1978;Williamson, 1981). Clients are asked to obtain information from family members (parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and siblings) face to face in order to understand the family's religious/spiritual experiences (Hof & Berman, 1986).…”

“…Some of these genograms are cultural genograms (Hardy & Laszloffy, 1995), color-coded genograms (Lewis, 1989), sexual genograms (Hof & Berman, 1986), solution-oriented genograms (Kuehl, 1995), socially constructed genograms (Milewski-Hertlein, 2001), time-line genograms (Friedman, Rohrbaugh, & Krakauer, 1988), career genograms (Gibson, 2005), and spiritual genograms (Dunn & Dawes, 1999;Frame, 2001;Hodge, 2001;Willow, Tobin, & Toner, 2009). This study deals with the spiritual genogram approach, which therapeutically uses the spiritual dynamics in the family history during family therapy.…”