An ecomap family is an invaluable tool for assessing the social circle and the relationships of a family. In this article, we will give you more details on this graph and how to create a family ecomap on your own. Let’s dive in!
What Is a Family Ecomap
Before learning how to analyze an ecomap example of a family, you must understand what this tool is. An ecomap family is, in essence, a visual representation of all the relationships that the family has with their community and environment.
To create an ecomap for your family, you must place the family at the centre. Then, you write down all the interactions and relationships that family members are nurturing. These relationships are visually indicated by lines and arrows. Depending on the way that the arrows are pointing and the way that the line is drawn, you can highlight how the influence goes and what type of relationship this is. For instance, in an ecomap example for a family, the strong relationships will be indicated by bold lines, while stressful relationships will be represented by curvy lines.
How Does the Ecomap Help with Family Assessment
One of the main reasons why you will find a family ecomap invaluable is because it is the right tool for family assessment. In fact, many marriage counsellors and mental health professionals are using a family ecomap for this particular purpose.
The reason why this tool is so successful is because a family ecomap is a visual representation of all the relationships that the family has. By writing down any possible interaction, you will be able to determine which are the family’s strengths and which are its weaknesses. Moreover, you will identify potential deficits and areas that might affect the relationship between family members. In reality, the ecomap family is the perfect tool to evaluate the general context in which the family exists.
What Should Be Included in a Family Ecomap
The truth is that a family ecomap example might take different forms, depending on the case. Every family is unique and has varied dynamics, which will directly affect what should be included in the graph. This means that an ecomap might include some interactions, while another graph might include others. Therefore, you need to carefully examine all elements to create an ecomap for your family that effectively reflects all characteristics.
In more detail, some of the interactions that you might need to add to your family ecomap are the following:
- Close family members,
- Extended family members,
- School staff and teachers,
- Classmates,
- Friends,
- Hobbies,
- Community services,
- Religious places,
- Workspace,
- Neighbours,
- Medical services.
5 Ecomap Examples of Family
Family Ecomap Example – 01
In the first ecomap example family, we will examine the family as a single entity. That’s why we are placing a single circle at the center of the graph. Therefore, all other relationships represent the interactions that the family has as a unit. As you can see, the family has created relationships with the extended family members, the family friends, the church, the social services, the medical services, the utility services, and the community services. By studying this ecomap family, we can see that the family needs to work more on nurturing relationships with the extended family members.
Family Ecomap Example – 02
The other ecomap family example takes the parents and the kids as individuals. This is the reason why we are putting them in separate circles. However, since they are all a part of the family, they are placed within a bigger circle at the center. In this scenario, we have all the relationships from the previous example, plus some that apply to each individual member. For instance, this family ecomap now includes the kids’ school and hobbies, the parents’ workplaces, and each individual member’s friends. With it, we are aiming to uncover which member of the family faces an issue.
Family Ecomap Example – 03
In the next ecomap family example, we are only analyzing the relationships of a single member of the family. In this case, we take the individual and place it at the center of the visual tool. You can see that we have written the kid’s name in this example. Then, we added all the interactions in their life, which include family members, school, classmates, friends, bullies, teachers, hobbies, and sports clubs. When assessing this graph, we see that bullies are the main stressful relationship that the kid faces, which also affects school.
Family Ecomap Example – 04
The following ecomap example of family showcases a family without kids, where the husband and wife are facing marital issues. In this instance, we are placing the names of the two partners in separate circles within a bigger one. Then, we have included their workspaces, friends, husband’s family, wife’s family, hobbies, work supervisors, pets, and neighbours. In this example, it is easy to see that the husband’s family is causing stress on the wife while the husband has a strained relationship in his workspace. By solving these issues, the couple can work on their marriage based on this ecomap designed for family.
Family Ecomap Example – 05
The final ecomap example of family focuses on a teen who goes through a rebellious phase. In this particular case, we have included the relationship with their mom, dad, siblings, extended family members, love interests, friends, school, and hobbies. From the lines of the example, we can understand that the teen has a difficult relationship with both their mom and dad but retains a close relationship with their siblings. Therefore, this example can work as a guide for these parents to approach their kids.
How to Create a Family Ecomap Using Boardmix
Now that you have seen plenty of examples, it is time to create your own family ecomap on Boardmix. This tool is an online whiteboard with numerous advanced features that allow you to create any type of diagram or graph you might need. The great thing about it is that it has a rich library of templates, where you can find numerous graphs, including a high-quality ecomap template with a family example.
In fact, it is so easy to create a family ecomap in Boardmix that you can have it ready in a matter of minutes. Here are the steps to create it:
Step 1 – Create your Boardmix account and go to your workspace.
Step 2 – Click Templates to view the template library and find the ecomap example.
Step 3 – Enter your data on the template to customize it.
Step 4 – Save and share your ecomap family with just one click.
Wrapping Up
A family ecomap is a tool that you need to explore to help your family and its vulnerable members. In Boardmix, you can find the right template to create this graph without much time or effort. Create your free account today to discover your numerous options and create an effective ecomap family.
