Assignment Prompt & Instructions
**files (1)**
– ## MiFamiliaHowitallStartedFamily-of-OriginPaper35offinal.pdf
**## MiFamiliaHowitallStartedFamily-of-OriginPaper35offinal.pdf**
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Mi Familia: How it all Started” (Family-of-Origin Paper) (35% of final grade)
We are all products of our families. To learn how to work with individuals and their
families it is useful to examine the family you know best: your own family of origin,
whether adopted or biological. A good place to start this investigative process is to
complete a three-generation genogram. Following that, you will do a complete case
study on your family as if you were a counselor conducting an initial assessment. The
final section will involve those interventions that would be most useful in working
with the family you describe. If this assignment poses a special problem for you and
you wish to use a substitute family, please see me ASAP. Be sure to use language
consistent with what you have learned this semester throughout the paper to
describe your family.
This Paper will include (but is not limited to) the following:
A genogram of your family of origin, to include an exploration of the Five Rules
(details below);
A complete case study. This will include an overview of your family life cycle, ethnic
influences, celebrations and rituals, rules, values, stories, and philosophy of life
(details below);
An intervention section: As a family therapist, what interventions would you
recommend to treat or strengthen your family-of-origin? (details below)
Each of the above sections should appear as different headers in your paper, using
appropriate sub-headers as needed (APA style). Be sure to include
an introduction and conclusion. This assignment will be due on May 5, 2025 by
midnight, and will be graded based on originality and insight. The final product
should be no less than 8 pages, typed, doubled-spaced.
More information on Part A – Emotional Relationships – Don't just create a "family
tree"! (see also Gladding pp 232-234, & 240).
In the first part of your paper, you will complete and analyze a three-generation
genogram beginning with you and your siblings as the first generation. If you are, or
have been, in a significant relationship (married or other arrangement), include this
information and indicate children if present. Part A will have two parts: the actual
genogram itself (with all the accompanying information, as well as a “key” that
describes the symbols that you used) and the discussion (where you will analyze the
patterns found in the genogram).
The genogram
Include immediate and extended family members on your genogram. This will include
your parents, siblings (and their partners if applicable), nieces/nephews, aunt/
uncles, cousins (1st cousins only), and grandparents. If you are married/life-
partnered, include your partner but not his/her family of origin. If you have children,
include them below you.
You should include important identifying information for each individual on the
genogram (i.e. written/printed next to each individual). This information will include
his/her name, age, relation to you (e.g., mother, grandfather, etc.), and relationship
status (e.g., married, divorced, single, separated, etc.).
Off to the side of each individual’s name, include his/her (a) primary occupation and
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(b) the presence of any known psychological and/or physical distress (addictions,
mental illnesses, etc.). These may be hand-written.
Emotional Relationships – Don't just create a "family tree"! Using the symbols in the
"Genograms" link #4 describe the emotional relationships of your family.
Discussion/Exploration of the genogram – Explore and discuss the significance of the
“Five Clues” that can be determined through your genogram:
Significant dates – identify all important dates (e.g., historical, familial, and
relationship dates), discuss what information exists about these events, and what
this information adds to your understanding of the patterns in your genogram.
Gender beliefs and values – discuss how these beliefs/values have thread through
your genogram (or not) and what impact this may have had on your development.
Secrets – identify where secrets exist in the make-up of the genogram. If there are
no clear secrets, identify where (if anywhere) unknown or unspoken facets of
people’s lives exist. Discuss what impact these secrets (or lack thereof) have had on
the boundaries and communication patterns in your genogram.
Losses – discuss how the experience(s) of loss (remember how broad that term can
be) has impacted the relationship patterns in your genogram. Explore how these
events may have been perceived differently by different individuals.
Themes – identify the themes that run through your genogram that answer the
questions "Who are we?” and “How do we behave?" What do these themes reveal
about your family’s belief structure and how have they guided the family in making
decisions about their current and future behaviors?
Free software is available from http://www.smartdraw.com/specials/
ecomap.htm or http://www.genopro.com/genogram that you can use to create and
print your genogram. Be aware that these are time-limited downloads (i.e. you
should create your genogram soon after downloading and not wait until a month has
passed to begin your work).
More information on Part B
In this section, you will complete a case study where you thoroughly explore some of
this course’s main concepts as they apply to your Family of Origin.
Family life cycle: Compare and contrast your current life cycle stage with how your
parents (or grandparents) experienced it. What issues are pertinent to you that
were/were not pertinent to your parents? How do you account for these differences?
Ethnic influences: What is your ethnic identity? (Define what you mean by "ethnic").
What is the nature of your current family relationships, habits, attitudes, values, and
life style that are a reflection of your ethnic background? How are these the same or
different than when you were growing up in your family of origin? How did your
family of origin interact with other ethnic/racial groups? How does this differ in your
current family situation? How do you account for the changes?
African American
Relationship with dad’s family is different. Don’t spend much time with them but
everything is normal if I make the effort to come around.
Mom’s side of the family is great, however I feel everyone hasn’t grieved the correct way
[http://www.smartdraw.com/specials/ecomap.htm](http://www.smartdraw.com/specials/ecomap.htm)
[http://www.smartdraw.com/specials/ecomap.htm](http://www.smartdraw.com/specials/ecomap.htm)
[http://www.genopro.com/genogram](http://www.genopro.com/genogram)
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from the family deaths.
Celebrations & rituals: How are special occasions (e.g., birthdays, anniversaries, and
holidays) celebrated in your family? What daily/weekly rituals are important to your
family? How do your current traditions compare with those of your family of origin?
How do you account for the changes?
birthday were not really a big deal in my family. I celebrate birthdays and take them very
seriously now.
Holiday are always spent with mom’s side. Christmas is our favorite holiday
Rules & values: What were some of the common rules found in your family? Which of
these rules have you incorporated into your current family situation? Which rules
have you discarded? What overt and covert values were played out within your family
system? Which of these values have you incorporated/discarded?
“what happens in my house, stay in my house” not allowed to discuss our household with
outsiders. (Discarded)
No such thing as a mental health day or sick day from school (discarded)
The adult is not always right (open communication but in a respectful way) (incorporated)
“It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it” (incorporated)
Stories: What are some of your family’s stories that are told? What are the
underlying messages? What influence do these stories have?
Philosophy of life: How did your family “make meaning” of the world in which it
lived? How have you implemented/discarded this philosophy as it applies to your
current situation?
More information on Part C
In this last section, you will explore those interventions that would be most useful in
working with a family like the one you’ve described. These interventions can be
directed at treating any deficits noted and/or to strengthen positive attributes. Be
sure to answer such things as:
What are some of the needs of this family?
What are the strengths of this family?
Which theory or blend of theories would be most beneficial to this family (and why)?
What goals would you set if you were to work with this family?
What would success “look like” if the goals are reached?
Dads side of the family: formally close knit with them, things changed when I moved away for
college in 2021)
Grandparents:
Grandfather Freddie (deceased 2020, diabetic)
Grandmother: Delois (back complications)
Children:
Uncle: Jeffery
Aunt: Angela
Dad: Derryl (diabetic and back complications)
Grandchildren:
Cousin: Jeffery Jr (Jeffery son)
Cousin: Renita (Jeffery’s daughter)
Cousin: Genesis (Angela’s daughter)
Delrion (me, diabetic)
Cousin: Horne (Angela’s son)
Brother:Derryl jr (dad’s first wife child)
Cousin: Donnie (Angela’s son)
Brother: Delmarion (dads last wife child)
Sister: Ladelriona (dads last wife child)
Mom’s side of the family: very close knit, talk to each other every single day. Biggest support
system.
Grandparents
Grandad: Wesley
Grandmother: Lelia (deceased)
Children
Uncle: Kerry (deceased)
Mom: Wesonya
Aunt: Bertina (deceased)
Grandchildren
Cousin: Darrel (Kerry son, distant)
Cousin: Buba (Kerry son)
Cousin: Kenardre (Kerry son
Sister: Jamia (Wesonya daughter)
Cousin: keondra (Kerry daughter)
Me: Delrion (Wesonya son)
Cousin: curniya (bertina daughter)
Brother: Kerron (Wesonya son)
**## MiFamiliaHowitallStartedFamily-of-OriginPaper35offinal.pdf**
●
●
●
1.
2.
3.
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
Mi Familia: How it all Started” (Family-of-Origin Paper) (35% of final grade)
We are all products of our families. To learn how to work with individuals and their
families it is useful to examine the family you know best: your own family of origin,
whether adopted or biological. A good place to start this investigative process is to
complete a three-generation genogram. Following that, you will do a complete case
study on your family as if you were a counselor conducting an initial assessment. The
final section will involve those interventions that would be most useful in working
with the family you describe. If this assignment poses a special problem for you and
you wish to use a substitute family, please see me ASAP. Be sure to use language
consistent with what you have learned this semester throughout the paper to
describe your family.
This Paper will include (but is not limited to) the following:
A genogram of your family of origin, to include an exploration of the Five Rules
(details below);
A complete case study. This will include an overview of your family life cycle, ethnic
influences, celebrations and rituals, rules, values, stories, and philosophy of life
(details below);
An intervention section: As a family therapist, what interventions would you
recommend to treat or strengthen your family-of-origin? (details below)
Each of the above sections should appear as different headers in your paper, using
appropriate sub-headers as needed (APA style). Be sure to include
an introduction and conclusion. This assignment will be due on May 5, 2025 by
midnight, and will be graded based on originality and insight. The final product
should be no less than 8 pages, typed, doubled-spaced.
More information on Part A – Emotional Relationships – Don't just create a "family
tree"! (see also Gladding pp 232-234, & 240).
In the first part of your paper, you will complete and analyze a three-generation
genogram beginning with you and your siblings as the first generation. If you are, or
have been, in a significant relationship (married or other arrangement), include this
information and indicate children if present. Part A will have two parts: the actual
genogram itself (with all the accompanying information, as well as a “key” that
describes the symbols that you used) and the discussion (where you will analyze the
patterns found in the genogram).
The genogram
Include immediate and extended family members on your genogram. This will include
your parents, siblings (and their partners if applicable), nieces/nephews, aunt/
uncles, cousins (1st cousins only), and grandparents. If you are married/life-
partnered, include your partner but not his/her family of origin. If you have children,
include them below you.
You should include important identifying information for each individual on the
genogram (i.e. written/printed next to each individual). This information will include
his/her name, age, relation to you (e.g., mother, grandfather, etc.), and relationship
status (e.g., married, divorced, single, separated, etc.).
Off to the side of each individual’s name, include his/her (a) primary occupation and
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
–
–
–
(b) the presence of any known psychological and/or physical distress (addictions,
mental illnesses, etc.). These may be hand-written.
Emotional Relationships – Don't just create a "family tree"! Using the symbols in the
"Genograms" link #4 describe the emotional relationships of your family.
Discussion/Exploration of the genogram – Explore and discuss the significance of the
“Five Clues” that can be determined through your genogram:
Significant dates – identify all important dates (e.g., historical, familial, and
relationship dates), discuss what information exists about these events, and what
this information adds to your understanding of the patterns in your genogram.
Gender beliefs and values – discuss how these beliefs/values have thread through
your genogram (or not) and what impact this may have had on your development.
Secrets – identify where secrets exist in the make-up of the genogram. If there are
no clear secrets, identify where (if anywhere) unknown or unspoken facets of
people’s lives exist. Discuss what impact these secrets (or lack thereof) have had on
the boundaries and communication patterns in your genogram.
Losses – discuss how the experience(s) of loss (remember how broad that term can
be) has impacted the relationship patterns in your genogram. Explore how these
events may have been perceived differently by different individuals.
Themes – identify the themes that run through your genogram that answer the
questions "Who are we?” and “How do we behave?" What do these themes reveal
about your family’s belief structure and how have they guided the family in making
decisions about their current and future behaviors?
Free software is available from http://www.smartdraw.com/specials/
ecomap.htm or http://www.genopro.com/genogram that you can use to create and
print your genogram. Be aware that these are time-limited downloads (i.e. you
should create your genogram soon after downloading and not wait until a month has
passed to begin your work).
More information on Part B
In this section, you will complete a case study where you thoroughly explore some of
this course’s main concepts as they apply to your Family of Origin.
Family life cycle: Compare and contrast your current life cycle stage with how your
parents (or grandparents) experienced it. What issues are pertinent to you that
were/were not pertinent to your parents? How do you account for these differences?
Ethnic influences: What is your ethnic identity? (Define what you mean by "ethnic").
What is the nature of your current family relationships, habits, attitudes, values, and
life style that are a reflection of your ethnic background? How are these the same or
different than when you were growing up in your family of origin? How did your
family of origin interact with other ethnic/racial groups? How does this differ in your
current family situation? How do you account for the changes?
African American
Relationship with dad’s family is different. Don’t spend much time with them but
everything is normal if I make the effort to come around.
Mom’s side of the family is great, however I feel everyone hasn’t grieved the correct way
[http://www.smartdraw.com/specials/ecomap.htm](http://www.smartdraw.com/specials/ecomap.htm)
[http://www.smartdraw.com/specials/ecomap.htm](http://www.smartdraw.com/specials/ecomap.htm)
[http://www.genopro.com/genogram](http://www.genopro.com/genogram)
–
●
–
–
–
●
–
–
–
–
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
●
from the family deaths.
Celebrations & rituals: How are special occasions (e.g., birthdays, anniversaries, and
holidays) celebrated in your family? What daily/weekly rituals are important to your
family? How do your current traditions compare with those of your family of origin?
How do you account for the changes?
birthday were not really a big deal in my family. I celebrate birthdays and take them very
seriously now.
Holiday are always spent with mom’s side. Christmas is our favorite holiday
Rules & values: What were some of the common rules found in your family? Which of
these rules have you incorporated into your current family situation? Which rules
have you discarded? What overt and covert values were played out within your family
system? Which of these values have you incorporated/discarded?
“what happens in my house, stay in my house” not allowed to discuss our household with
outsiders. (Discarded)
No such thing as a mental health day or sick day from school (discarded)
The adult is not always right (open communication but in a respectful way) (incorporated)
“It’s not what you say, it’s how you say it” (incorporated)
Stories: What are some of your family’s stories that are told? What are the
underlying messages? What influence do these stories have?
Philosophy of life: How did your family “make meaning” of the world in which it
lived? How have you implemented/discarded this philosophy as it applies to your
current situation?
More information on Part C
In this last section, you will explore those interventions that would be most useful in
working with a family like the one you’ve described. These interventions can be
directed at treating any deficits noted and/or to strengthen positive attributes. Be
sure to answer such things as:
What are some of the needs of this family?
What are the strengths of this family?
Which theory or blend of theories would be most beneficial to this family (and why)?
What goals would you set if you were to work with this family?
What would success “look like” if the goals are reached?
Dads side of the family: formally close knit with them, things changed when I moved away for
college in 2021)
Grandparents:
Grandfather Freddie (deceased 2020, diabetic)
Grandmother: Delois (back complications)
Children:
Uncle: Jeffery
Aunt: Angela
Dad: Derryl (diabetic and back complications)
Grandchildren:
Cousin: Jeffery Jr (Jeffery son)
Cousin: Renita (Jeffery’s daughter)
Cousin: Genesis (Angela’s daughter)
Delrion (me, diabetic)
Cousin: Horne (Angela’s son)
Brother:Derryl jr (dad’s first wife child)
Cousin: Donnie (Angela’s son)
Brother: Delmarion (dads last wife child)
Sister: Ladelriona (dads last wife child)
Mom’s side of the family: very close knit, talk to each other every single day. Biggest support
system.
Grandparents
Grandad: Wesley
Grandmother: Lelia (deceased)
Children
Uncle: Kerry (deceased)
Mom: Wesonya
Aunt: Bertina (deceased)
Grandchildren
Cousin: Darrel (Kerry son, distant)
Cousin: Buba (Kerry son)
Cousin: Kenardre (Kerry son
Sister: Jamia (Wesonya daughter)
Cousin: keondra (Kerry daughter)
Me: Delrion (Wesonya son)
Cousin: curniya (bertina daughter)
Brother: Kerron (Wesonya son)