An Eco-map is a graphical representation that shows all of the systems at play in an individual's life. Eco-maps are used in individual and family counseling within the social work and nursing profession. They are often a way of portraying Systems Theory in a simplistic way that both the social worker and the client can look at during the session. These ecological maps, or ecomaps, were developed by Hartman in 1975 as a means of depicting the ecological system that encompasses a family or individual (Hartman, 1995).
At the center of the eco-map is the client (this can either be a family or individual). They are depicted in the center of the circle. Family connections are shown. There are also connections from all of the relevant systems that are at play in the clients life. These systems are connected to either individuals or the entire circle by line:
- Thicker (darker) lines mean stronger relationship
- Curvy or red lines mean that the system is a stressful relationship
- Arrows pointing to the client mean that the system primarily influences the client
- Arrows pointing to the system mean that the client primarily influences the system
- Arrows pointing both direction depicts a two direction flow of influence
- Hartman, A. (1995). Diagrammatic assessment of family relationships. Families in Society, 76, 111-122.
- Hodge, David R. (2005) Spiritual assessment in marital and family therapy: A methodological framework for selecting from among six qualitative assessment tools. J of Marital and Family Therapy, 31, 341-356.
- Genogram & Eco-map assignment for SOWK 460, an example of an eco-map done in MS Word
- Genogram Analytics, software for ecomaps and genograms