Frequently Asked Questions

Getting started is easy:

1. Go to the Web App
2. Click anywhere on the canvas to add your first person
3. Fill in their details (name, gender, birth date, etc.)
4. Add more people by clicking on empty areas
5. Select two people, right-click, and choose a relationship type

New users will see an interactive tutorial that guides you through building your first family diagram.

No! You can use all free features without an account. Your work is saved locally in your browser.

Creating a free account lets you:

• Upgrade to Professional for cloud sync and exports
• Apply for the free Student Professional program
• Start a 7-day free trial of Professional

Note: Cloud sync requires a Professional subscription.

WebGeno supports standard keyboard shortcuts:

For canvas navigation:

• Pan (move the view): Click and drag any empty area (or middle-mouse drag). On a Mac trackpad, just click and drag.
• Zoom: Scroll wheel, pinch, or the zoom toolbar
• Add a person: Single click on an empty spot
• Select several at once: Hold Ctrl/Cmd and drag a box around them
• Multi-select: Ctrl/Cmd + click each person

The Free tier includes everything you need for professional genograms:

• 64 predefined health conditions with visual quadrants and optional ICD-10 hints
• All relationship types (couple, parent-child, emotional)
• Parent-child types: biological, adopted, foster, guardian
• Dynamic legend that updates automatically
• Local file save/load (.wgeno format)
• Unlimited undo/redo
• Clinical annotations on people and relationships
• Person photographs
• Visual groups

Yes! You can attach private annotations to any person, relationship, or the genogram as a whole. Features include:

• Categories: Tag notes as observations, hypotheses, interventions, or follow-ups
• Session dates: Link annotations to specific therapy sessions
• Search and filter: Find notes by text, category, or entity type
• Click to locate: Click an annotation group to select that person or relationship on the canvas
• PDF export: Export with numbered badges and a full notes appendix
• Privacy: Annotations are never shown to clients in shared views, never sent to AI, and are encrypted in cloud storage

Add annotations via right-click context menu or the Annotations panel in the toolbar.

Professional ($4.99/month or $47.88/year) adds:

• Cloud Sync: Access genograms from any device
• Folder Organization: Organize cases into folders
• PDF/PNG/SVG Export: Publication-ready output
• Custom Health Conditions: Create your own conditions and share them as condition libraries
• Custom Relationship Types: Define your own relationship lines
• AI Genogram Builder: Generate from text descriptions
• AI Life Timeline: Build a life timeline from your session notes
• AI Pattern Flags (Beta): Surface possible intergenerational patterns to review
• Presentation Mode (Beta): Turn a genogram into a guided slide deck for supervision and client sessions
• Client, Peer & Supervisor Sharing: Share genograms securely with encrypted links
• GenoPro Import: Import existing .gno files

The AI Genogram Builder (Professional feature) lets you describe a family in natural language, and AI creates the genogram for you.

Example input:

"My grandparents John (deceased, heart disease) and Mary (82). My father Tom (55) and uncle Mike (52) are their sons. I'm Sarah (28), an only child. Uncle Mike has two kids: Emma (25) and Jake (22)."

The AI extracts people, relationships, health conditions, and automatically positions them in generations.

🔒 Privacy-First: Names are automatically anonymized before AI processing. When you type "João Silva", our system sends "Person_1" to the AI, then restores the original names in your genogram. No identifiable patient names ever reach third-party AI services.

Yes, generous monthly quotas:

• 7-day free trial: 20 AI generations
• Professional: 100 AI generations per month

Quotas reset on the 1st of each month. Failed generations don't count against your quota. If you reach the limit, the AI command bar will show your reset date.

Note: AI features are not included in the free Student Professional plan due to API costs.

AI Pattern Flags (Professional, Beta) reads the genogram you have already built and surfaces possible intergenerational patterns for you to consider, such as a condition recurring across generations, an emotional cutoff or triangle that repeats, or life events clustering around an age or date.

It is grounded in the Bowen and McGoldrick family-systems approach. Every flag is a hypothesis to verify against the real family, never a conclusion or a diagnosis. You keep the useful flags as clinical notes and dismiss the rest.

Privacy-first: names and note text are anonymized on your device before anything reaches the AI. Each run uses 2 of your monthly AI credits.

Yes. The Life Timeline turns the notes you attach to a person into a chronological view of their significant life events, losses, transitions, diagnoses, relationship changes.

• Manual (Free): Add events yourself, or click "Add to timeline" on any note card
• AI-assisted (Professional): Use "Suggest events from notes" to have AI propose dated events for you to accept or dismiss
• Flexible dates: Approximate dates (year, month, or day) or spans, with optional developmental-stage overlays (Piaget, Erikson)

🔒 Privacy-First: Names are anonymized before any text reaches the AI, exactly like the AI Genogram Builder. Like all clinical notes, life events are removed from client shares.

Presentation Mode (Professional, Beta) turns your genogram into a guided slide deck for supervision, peer consultation, teaching, or walking a client through their family map.

You build slides that frame part of the genogram, spotlight specific people, and can reveal session notes as on-canvas callouts and an audience caption. Then you present full-screen with smooth animated transitions between slides.

AI first draft: on Professional, AI can draft a first-pass deck from your case to save you time. Privacy-first: names never leave your device.

WebGeno follows the modern clinical notation (McGoldrick, Gerson & Petry, 4th ed.):

• Non-binary: Choose "Non-binary" in the gender selector and the person is drawn with McGoldrick's modified gender symbol, a dome combining the square and the circle. Unknown gender uses a diamond with a "?" inside.
• Transgender: Set the person's gender to their lived identity (square or circle). If clinically relevant, open "Identity (optional)" in the edit dialog and record their gender history, which adds the standard inner shape (circle inside square for a trans man, square inside circle for a trans woman).
• Identity label: Add a free-text label in the client's own words (for example "genderfluid"), shown under their name.

Like everything else in a genogram, this information is part of the clinical record and covered by the confidentiality of the therapeutic relationship.

Yes! Professional users can import .gno files from GenoPro (Beta feature).

The importer converts:

• All people with their details
• Couple relationships
• Parent-child relationships
• Embedded photographs

Note: Some advanced GenoPro features may not transfer perfectly. Review your imported genogram and adjust as needed.

WebGeno supports four parent-child relationship types using standard genogram notation:

• Biological: Solid line (default)
• Adopted: Dashed line
• Foster: Dotted line with "F" label
• Guardian: Dotted line with "G" label

To change the type, right-click on any parent-child connection line and select the appropriate type from the "Child Type" menu. The legend automatically updates to show which types are used in your genogram.

Yes, in two ways:

• Hover highlight (while editing): Hover over any health condition in the legend and every family member with that condition is highlighted on the canvas, while everyone else is dimmed. This makes similar-looking colors and patterns easy to tell apart in complex families.
• Names beside conditions (for documentation): Enable "Names Beside Conditions" in Settings > Legend Settings to list the family members under each condition directly in the legend. When exporting to PDF, PNG, or SVG, the "List family members beside each condition" option lets you include or exclude the breakdown without changing your on-canvas setting.

Yes. WebGeno ships 30 built-in emotional relationship types, including the complete set of interactional patterns from McGoldrick's 4th edition. If you need something beyond that (specific attachment styles, for example), Professional users can define custom types: select two people, right-click, choose Emotional Relationships, and click "+ New Custom Type" in the Custom section.

You give it a name and a color, then build the line from a set of options: one to three parallel lines, solid/dashed/dotted styles, an optional zigzag or wave, arrowheads pointing one way or both ways, and midpoint symbols, with a live preview. Custom types behave exactly like built-in ones afterwards: they appear in the legend under your name for them, save with the genogram file, and can be edited or deleted from the same menu. The builder also warns you if a combination would look identical to a standard notation, so your custom lines stay unambiguous in clinical documentation.

Yes (Professional). Custom conditions live inside each genogram file, and condition libraries let you move them around: open Settings > Health Conditions and use Export Library to save your custom conditions as a small .wgcl file, then Import Library in any other genogram to add them there.

The same file can be shared with colleagues, so a practice or supervision group documents with one consistent condition set. Imports skip duplicates automatically, and every condition (built-in or custom) can carry an optional ICD-10 code that shows in the condition picker and person tooltips.

All of them stay visible. By default, extra conditions automatically use quadrants that are free on that person's symbol, the same approach genetic pedigree charts use: the position is flexible, and the legend identifies each condition by its color and pattern.

Prefer a different behavior? In Settings > Health Conditions you can switch to strict category placement (each condition always stays in its category's quadrant) and choose whether a crowded quadrant shows its first condition or splits into up to four slices. Whatever the display, every condition remains listed in the person's tooltip and in the legend.

WebGeno supports standard genogram notation for pregnancy outcomes. When editing a person, use the "Life Status" dropdown to select:

• Living: Normal appearance (default)
• Deceased: Shape with X overlay
• Pregnancy: Shape with ? symbol (current pregnancy)
• Miscarriage: Small shape (spontaneous loss)
• Stillbirth: Small shape with X and "SB" label
• Abortion: Small shape with X (induced termination)

Pregnancy outcomes (miscarriage, stillbirth, abortion) appear as smaller symbols. You can also select "Unknown" gender, which displays as a diamond shape - useful when the gender wasn't determined.

WebGeno supports seven couple relationship types, divided into formal and informal categories:

Formal relationships (displayed with thicker lines):

• Marriage: Solid line (supports separation, divorce, widowed modifiers)
• Engagement: Dashed line
• Union in Fact: Dotted line (cohabitation/common law)

Informal relationships (displayed with thinner lines):

• Dating: Thin solid line (supports separation modifier)
• Casual: Thin dotted line
• One-Night Stand: Thin short-dashed line
• Love Affair: Thin dashed line

This visual hierarchy helps distinguish formal committed relationships from informal ones at a glance. To create a couple relationship, select two people, right-click, and choose from the Couple submenu.

Yes! You get a 7-day free trial of Professional on either the monthly or annual plan. No charge until the trial ends, and you can cancel anytime.

Plus, all core features are free forever - no trial needed for basic genogram creation.

Yes! Students in mental health programs get free Professional access for 1 year.

How to apply:

1. Create a free account
2. Go to Settings > Student Discount
3. Verify with your .edu email, or upload your Student ID

We support ~500 universities worldwide with automatic verification.

Note: AI Genogram Builder is not included in Student Professional due to API costs.

Absolutely. Cancel anytime from your account settings. You'll keep Professional access until the end of your billing period.

Your genograms remain accessible - you just won't be able to use Professional features like cloud sync or exports after your subscription ends.

Same features, different pricing:

• Monthly: $4.99/month (includes 7-day free trial)
• Annual: $47.88/year ($3.99/month - save 20%)

Annual is best value for long-term use. Monthly is great if you want flexibility or just need it for a specific project.

WebGeno works best on modern desktop browsers:

• Google Chrome (recommended)
• Mozilla Firefox
• Microsoft Edge
• Safari

Mobile: We have basic mobile support (still in development). Touch gestures work for panning, zooming, and basic editing. For the best experience, we recommend using a desktop browser. If you encounter issues on mobile, please use the Feedback form in the File menu to report them.

Without an account: Your genograms are saved locally in your browser's storage. They stay on your device and are never sent to our servers.

With a Professional account: You have the choice to save locally (like free users) or use cloud storage. Cloud-saved genograms are protected with end-to-end encryption - your data is encrypted on your device before being sent to our servers. Only you can decrypt your genograms; not even WebGeno administrators can access your data.

You can always export your genograms as .wgeno files for local backup, regardless of your account type.

Yes, we use Privacy-First AI. Before any text is sent to our AI provider (Anthropic), we automatically anonymize all personal names:

• What you type: "João Silva (45) is married to Maria Santos (42)"
• What the AI sees: "Person_1 (45) is married to Person_2 (42)"
• What you get: A complete genogram with "João Silva" and "Maria Santos"

This happens automatically, no extra steps required. No identifiable patient names ever reach third-party AI services.

Additionally, Anthropic (our AI provider) does not train models on API data. Combined with our end-to-end encryption for cloud storage, WebGeno provides clinical-grade privacy protection.

Read more in our Privacy Policy.

Yes. Professional users can share genograms three ways from the File menu > Share:

• Client sharing: Your client sees the genogram in a read-only viewer. Clinical notes and annotations are automatically removed. Clients can submit encrypted feedback that only you can read.
• Peer consultation: Share with a colleague for case consultation. Names are replaced with role labels (e.g. "Mother", "Sibling 1") and ages are converted to ranges. You control exactly which fields are anonymized.
• Supervisor review: Your supervisor can view the genogram and add annotations anchored to specific people or relationships. You can accept annotations into your own notes or dismiss them.

All share types use end-to-end encryption, expiring links (1–30 days), and optional password protection. No account is needed to view a shared genogram.

WebGeno requires an internet connection to load. However, once loaded, you can work without a connection for basic editing.

Cloud sync, exports, and AI features require an active connection.

Save/Load (Free):

• .wgeno - WebGeno native format (JSON-based)

Export (Professional):

• .pdf - For printing and sharing
• .png - Image format for presentations
• .svg - Vector format for publications

Import (Professional):

• .gno - GenoPro files (Beta)

A genogram is a visual representation of a family tree that includes additional information about relationships and medical history. Think of it as a "family tree plus."

Developed by Murray Bowen in the 1970s and standardized by McGoldrick, Gerson & Petry (1985, 2008), genograms are widely used across family therapy, social work, nursing, and medical genetics. They use approximately 100 standardized symbols (Piasecka et al., 2018): squares for males, circles for females, and various line types to show relationship quality.

Unlike basic family trees, genograms show:

• Emotional relationships (close, conflictual, distant, etc.)
• Health conditions across generations
• Relationship statuses (married, divorced, separated)
• Patterns that repeat across generations

Learn more: History of Genograms | Glossary of Terms

Genograms are widely used across mental health and medical professions for assessment, treatment planning, and identifying multigenerational patterns.

Professionals who commonly use genograms include:

• Family Therapists: To understand family dynamics and patterns
• Social Workers: For case assessment and documentation
• Counselors: To explore client backgrounds
• Medical Professionals: To track hereditary health conditions
• Researchers: For family systems studies
• Students: Learning family therapy techniques

Genograms use standardized symbols established by Bowen (1978) and McGoldrick et al. (2008):

• Square: Male
• Circle: Female
• Diamond: Unknown/Other gender
• X through shape: Deceased
• Filled sections: Health conditions (quadrants)
• Line types: Relationship quality (solid, dashed, zigzag)

See our resources: Symbol Reference Chart | Full Symbol Guide

Research by McGoldrick et al. (2008) recommends including at least 3 generations to identify multigenerational patterns:

1. Grandparents
2. Parents (and aunts/uncles)
3. The identified patient/client (and siblings/cousins)

However, you can include more or fewer generations depending on your clinical needs. Some patterns - such as intergenerational trauma or family triangulation - only become visible across 4+ generations.

Genograms are grounded in Bowen Family Systems Theory, one of the foundational approaches in family therapy. However, a 2023 literature review (Joseph et al.) noted that while genograms are widely used, there are "minimal studies on their effectiveness as a therapeutic tool."

What the research does show:

• Genograms are a standard assessment tool in family therapy, nursing, social work, and medical genetics
• A systematic review identified approximately 100 standardized symbols across clinical practice (Piasecka et al., 2018)
• Genograms help identify transgenerational trauma patterns and family resilience factors (Goodman, 2013; Jordan, 2006)
• They are included in COAMFTE-accredited MFT training programs as part of family systems coursework

The primary reference text, Genograms: Assessment and Intervention by McGoldrick, Gerson, & Petry (2008), is now in its 3rd edition and remains the standard for clinical training.