Which instrument uses a genogram to depict family relationships across generations and identify cross-generational patterns?

• A. DAS
• B. Genogram
• C. MSI-R
• D. MMPI

Answer: (B)

A genogram is a family diagram that maps relationships across generations and adds details about health, behavior, and life events to reveal patterns that recur in a family. In counseling, this tool helps you see how issues may traverse generations—such as inherited health concerns, substance use, or relational dynamics—so you can understand a client’s presenting concerns in a broader family context. The diagram uses symbols and annotations to show genders, marriages, divorces, adoptions, and important life events, often including health and psychological information, which makes cross-generational patterns visible. The other options are standardized tests or inventories that assess individual attributes or couple functioning, not a diagram of family structure across generations, so they don’t serve the purpose of depicting intergenerational patterns in a family.