The Critical Genogram: A Tool for Promoting Critical Consciousness

Abstract

In this article, we present the Critical Genogram (CritG) and illustrate its use in helping therapists move toward deeper understanding of the influence of social and institutional systems on individual and familial dynamics. We present the results of a qualitative study that evaluated the exercise of constructing and presenting the CritG in a family therapy graduate course. Using feminist-informed critical multicultural lens, we examined the use of the CritG exercise in helping family therapy students move toward critical consciousness. Our findings indicate that the CritG exercise provides valuable insight into the impact of social, political, and economic systems on individual and family life. Furthermore, it opens up space for creating new meanings and ways of conceptualizing familial and individual processes. Implications for therapist training and clinical practice are discussed.