By following this guide, you can learn what an ecomap is, its purpose, and the difference between an individual and a family ecomap. We also go through the commonly used ecomap symbols, and teach you how to create an ecomap. Finally, we will also share some examples of ecomapping used by professionals and how they can be used in different situations. By the end of this post, you will have a clear understanding of what ecomaps are and how to apply them in your chosen field.
What is an Ecomap?
An ecomap is a visual diagram that shows the personal and social relationships between a person or a family and their surroundings. They graphically represent various systems an individual interacts with, and the nature of these interactions. Ecomaps are commonly used by social workers, therapists, and educators to identify areas where additional support may be needed for their clients.
Dr Ann Hartmann developed ecomaps in the 1970s as a way to show the interactions between a client and their environment. They can help you identify the sources of support and stress in your clients' lives, as well as the gaps and opportunities for intervention.
What’s included in an Individual Ecomap
Typically, an ecomap for an individual shows the following information.
The client (represented by a circle in the center of the diagram).
The significant people, groups, organizations, or institutions in the client’s life (represented by circles or squares around the client). These could typically be family, friends, employers, religious groups, sports teams, social clubs (book clubs), various hobbies, as well as medical and mental health care providers.
The nature and quality of the relationships between the client and these entities (represented by different types of lines and symbols).
The energy flow between the client and these entities (represented by arrows).
What’s included in a Family Ecomap
A family ecomap illustrates the relationships between a family and the various systems in their environment.
- Family Unit (The central circle represents the family members living together. This could also be a set of circles grouped together in the center of the family ecomap).
- External Systems (Connections to extended family, friends, schools, workplaces, healthcare providers, religious groups, and community resources).
- Nature of Relationships (Lines and symbols indicate whether relationships are strong, supportive, stressful, or distant).
The external environment factors could be connected to more than one family member circle here since multiple family members could be attending the same church or school.
The Benefits of Using An Ecomap
Ecomaps can provide several benefits for both clients and professionals, such as:
Personalized insights
With the ability to customize per case, each ecomap becomes a tailored tool that reflects the unique context of the individual or family group.
Customized Interventions
The insights provided by ecomaps help professionals understand their clients better, identify where support is needed, find potential growth areas and tailor their interventions accordingly.
Identifying Support and Stress Sources
Both positive and negative influences in a person’s life can be identified along with the specific interactions and engagement with these links. This can help highlight the strengths of their community ties, resources as well as the areas that require improvement due to lack of support and stressful or challenging situations.
Helping Clients Understand
Helping clients understand their own situation can be an important first step towards providing better client-care. Ecomaps can present these details in an intuitive format that is easily accessible to even a non-professional and can be a great starting point of discussion with the client.
Enhanced Communication
Visual representation through an ecomap allows for clearer discussions and more effective problem-solving between clients and professionals, as well as among different service providers. This can help identify gaps in support services provided in the past.
Tracking Progress
The changes and progress of clients over time can be monitored to improve client-care in the long term.
Preventative care
Ecomaps can highlight potential health risks, leading to early intervention and better health outcomes.
Exploring Common Use Cases With Ecomap Examples
Ecomaps can be used by various professionals who work with individuals, families, groups, or communities. Here are some examples of how ecomaps can be applied in different fields:
Social work: Ecomaps can help social workers assess their clients' social functioning and identify their needs, goals, and resources. They can also help social workers plan and evaluate their interventions and coordinate with other agencies.
Counseling: Ecomaps can help counselors explore their clients' emotional issues and how they relate to their environment. They can also help counselors develop therapeutic strategies and enhance their rapport with their clients.
Education: Ecomaps can help educators understand their students' backgrounds and learning styles. They can help teachers understand the support systems available to a student, including family, friends, and community resources. By visualizing the student’s environment, educators can identify potential challenges or stressors that may impact learning, such as financial instability or health issues. Accordingly, ecomaps can help educators design curricula and activities that suit their students' needs and interests.
Ecomap Symbols
There are various symbols that can be used to create an ecomap, but here are some of the most common ones.
How to Create an Ecomap with Creately
Ecomapping is the process of making an ecomap and Creately is the intuitive diagramming and visual collaboration platform that allows you to do just that.
Step 1: Select Template
Start by selecting an ecomap template from the template section. Use the search function to quickly find specific ecomap templates. You can also opt to create one from scratch, using the dedicated genogram shape library.
Step 2: Customize Template
Once you’ve selected a template, you can customize it by adding or removing elements, changing colours or styling. With the infinite canvas, you are able to expand your ecomap easily and illustrate any amount of information.
Step 3: Add Context and Supporting Documents
You can add additional information as notes, links, docs and attachments via the notes panel.
Step 4: Invite Collaborators
Creately is effective for team collaboration. Share your ecomap with colleagues in real-time. Everyone can contribute simultaneously, ensuring a thorough and collective understanding of the ecomap’s insights.
Step 5: Finalize before Sharing with Clients
Export your ecomaps in PNG, JPEG, PDF and SVG formats or embed in site.
Integrating cloud storage in platforms like Creately improves the utility of ecomaps by making them easily accessible and collaborative. This means that healthcare professionals, patients, and support networks can work together seamlessly, regardless of location, to create and update ecomaps in real-time.
Differences Between an Ecomap and a Genogram
| Aspect | Ecomaps | Genograms |
|---|---|---|
| Focus |
|
|
| Content |
|
|
| Representation of Relationships |
|
|
| Dynamic Nature |
|
|
| Purpose |
|
|
| Visual Elements |
|
|
Free Ecomap Templates
Helpful Resources for Ecomapping
Learn how to make your own ecomaps in a few simple steps.
Use our free tool to start making your own ecomaps.
Browse the vast collection of ecomapping templates made by our community.
Conclusion
Ecomaps serve as a visual bridge that connects the dots within social ecosystems to promote a deeper understanding of individual and group dynamics. We hope this guide has given you a comprehensive overview of ecomaps and how to use them in your practice. If you have any questions or comments, feel free to leave them below. We would love to hear from you!
FAQs About Ecomaps
What is an Ecomap used for?
Who uses ecomaps?
What should be included in an Ecomap?
What is an Ecomap Key?
Resources
Bennett, J. and Grant, N.S. (2016). Using an Ecomap as a Tool for Qualitative Data Collection in Organizations. New Horizons in Adult Education and Human Resource Development, 28(2), pp.1–13. doi:https://doi.org/10.1002/nha3.20134.
McCormick, K.M., Stricklin, S., Nowak, T.M. and Rous, B. (2008). Using Eco-Mapping to Understand Family Strengths and Resources. Young Exceptional Children, [online] 11(2), pp.17–28. doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/1096250607311932.
Rempel, G.R., Neufeld, A. and Kushner, K.E. (2007). Interactive Use of Genograms and Ecomaps in Family Caregiving Research. Journal of Family Nursing, 13(4), pp.403–419. doi:https://doi.org/10.1177/1074840707307917.
