Use of the family genogram technique with spinal cord injured patients

Abstract

Previous studies have investigated the relationship between premorbid and postinjury copying styles of the spinal cord injured person. Although it is common to find reference to the family genogram in family therapy literature, a review of the literature dealing with spinal cord injury does not show that the genogram has been used. The purpose of this paper is to demonstrate how the family genogram technique may be used in the rehabilitation setting. Through the illustration of three family genograms, this paper will show how the genogram technique may be a useful adjunctive psychological technique to demonstrate how postinjury coping styles are linked to preinjury styles. Psychological interventions used with each family situation will be briefly discussed to illustrate how the team may work with the family coping styles to facilitate current coping in the rehabilitation process.