How to Write an Ecomap

An ecomap is a flow chart that maps your family and your relationship with the members of your family. Ecomaps are used in family counseling by social workers and nurses to detect if an intervention is needed. The ecomap was invented by Dr. Ann Hartman in 1975 to make sense of families and individuals. The concept was based on zoology. An ecological system helps an animal or a plant to survive; hence an ecomap refers to an individual's life's network.

Things You'll Need

• Paper
• Crayon

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Instructions

• 1

  Draw a circle in the middle of a paper and draw your name on it.

• 2

  Decide whom you want to include in your family. It could be just you and your dog or you and your extended family.

• 3

  Draw smaller circles around the middle circle and put the name of each person you want to include in each smaller circle.

• 4

  Make the circles with thick lines around family members who put a strong barrier between you and them and make the circles with thin lines around family members with whom you have a good relationship.

• 5

  Draw lines between you and each family member. Draw thick arrows or a double arrow between family members with whom you have a strong communication going on. Draw no arrow between you and the family member with whom there is no communication. Draw an arrow and a zigzag line between you and the family member with whom the communication is stormy.

• 6

  Draw arrows at the end of the lines. Arrows pointing from the family member towards you means this family member influences or helps you. Arrows pointing from you to the family member means you influence this person or helps him or her. A double-side arrow means you influence each other.