Drawing family circles belongs to the family diagnosis techniques has a therapeutic input Other similar tools: Genogramm – a graphic method DFC is a sculptural method The living sculpture The family board Two non - systemic questionaires WHO well-being-five Family APGAR Position in the field of family diagnosis, similar tools

Whenever the doctor gets the idea that the patient’s disease has to do with his/her family, he invites the patient to draw family circles The doctor draws a circle on a sheet of paper The patient is asked to draw in him/herself and members of his/her family as smaller or bigger circles inside or outside of the large circle (friends, enemies, work, god, hobbies, pets, etc.) Drawing should last just a few minutes The circles should be marked to identify the parts later The patient is encouraged to speak Reflecting questions: - Do you like this picture? - Is there anything surprising? - Would you like to change anything? The patient and the doctor talk about the patient’s resources and ideas How to do it

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Examples from everyday work are presented Each participant draws a family circle of his/her own We can focus on some cases The Workshop

DFC is semiotic based  because the patient uses signs and describes his family at a non-verbal level first DFC is narrative based  because the patient shifts into talking, he/she tells a story, gives sense to his drawing (“felt sense”) The impact of drawing family Circles

DFC is empathy based,  because the doctor goes for a walk with the patient’s world. DFC is systemic based  because it describes relationships DFC is constructivistic based,  because the patient tells his truth as he/she sees at The impact of drawing family Circles

DFC is process based,  because it offers an outlook for change. DFC could be evidence based if it is evaluated as a successful tool in our every-day-work The impact of drawing family Circles

Drawing family circles offers an easy-to-do systemic snap-shot, as if both the patient and the doctor fly like sharp-eyed eagles over the patient’s family-situation. There is no bad or wrong. The patient is the expert for him/herself. Conclusion

Dr. med. Bernhard Panhofer - family doctor - psychotherapist, - homoeopathy - assistant lecturer, Dep. of family medicine, Medical School of Vienna University A Ungenach 35 Austria phone: / , Fax: -18 mobile phone / Author

Thank you!