Family Counselors' Perceptions of Genogram Creation Using GenoPro: A Q Methodology Analysis

This research aims to understand how family counselors perceive the variables that influence their performance in the genogram creation process, to identify the prominent elements among these variables, and to relate the findings to recommendations for family counseling practices. The study was conducted with the participation of 33 family counselors who received family counseling training in Sivas province and graduated from psychology, psychological counseling and guidance, and social services departments. The research employed Q methodology, which combines the advantages of both qualitative and quantitative methods. Participants' opinions indicated that the variables that influenced genogram creation performance were collaboration, ease of use and speed, ease of updating, data storage capacity, ease of reporting, and symbol diversity. The findings revealed a common perception that these factors enhanced their performance in the genogram creation process. Furthermore, the use of GenoPro software was specifically highlighted as a tool that both expedited the process and enhanced it visually and technically. The program's collaborative structure, user-friendly interface, secure data storage, and practical report generation were highlighted as factors that increased counselors' work efficiency. These findings suggest that family counselors' effective use of technological tools in their professional practice supports the counseling process and facilitates both the assessment and intervention phases. Furthermore, integrating technological tools into training programs can strengthen counselor candidates' practical skills and make genogram use more functional.