Understanding the relationships and support systems in a person’s life can make a big difference when you’re trying to help. Ecomaps are a simple but powerful tool that visually map out these connections — showing who supports someone, where stress comes from, and what resources are available. Whether you’re working in social work, healthcare, education, or counseling, ecomaps offer a clear way to see the bigger picture.
In this guide, we’ll explore ecomap examples across different life situations to help you use them more effectively.
Ecomap Examples for Visualizing Support Systems Across Life Domains
Understanding how people are connected to their family, friends, services, and communities can make a real difference when offering support. Ecomaps help bring these connections to life in a clear, visual way. In this section, we’ll walk through different ecomap examples across life areas like social work, family, healthcare, and education. You can use Creately’s ecomap maker to edit them right away.
1. Personal Ecomap Example
These types of ecomap examples focus on just one individual. It maps out their relationships with family, friends, services, and community groups, helping social workers get a clear view of where support is strong and where it’s missing.
2. Social Work Ecomap Example
A broader version of the ecomap used in social work practice. It highlights how individuals or families interact with social services, healthcare providers, schools, and other key parts of their world.
3. Selfcare Ecomap Example
A selfcare ecomap shows the resources and strategies an individual uses to take care of their physical, emotional, and mental well-being. It includes relationships with healthcare providers, therapists, support groups, hobbies, and personal routines that contribute to self-care.
4. Family Ecomap Example
A family ecomap paints a picture of the family unit — showing strong bonds, conflicts, and outside influences like extended family, community groups, and service providers. It helps to understand how a family works together and where they face challenges.
5. Adoption Ecomap Example
An adoption ecomap illustrates the connections and relationships in an adopted child’s life, including the adoptive family, birth family (if applicable), adoption agency, and any support networks like counselors or social workers.
6. Ecomap Example for Nursing
An ecomap for nursing focuses on a patient’s network of care. It includes relationships with nurses, doctors, family caregivers, and other healthcare professionals, along with support systems like community health organizations or home care services.
7. Bronfenbrenner Ecomap Example
Based on Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory, this ecomap illustrates how a person is affected by different layers of their environment, from immediate relationships (family, friends) to broader societal influences (community, culture, policy). It visually maps the various systems that influence a person’s development, highlighting how each level — from micro to macro — interacts and impacts their life.
8. Ecomap Family Assessment
Family assessment ecomaps are used during intake or evaluation. They offer a clear view of a family’s support system — showing strong bonds, stress points, and missing connections — to help plan the best interventions and support.
9. Organizational Ecomap Example
An organizational ecomap visualizes how a business, nonprofit, or agency connects internally (with staff and teams) and externally (with clients, partners, and the community). It helps spot strengths and areas for better collaboration.
10. Spiritual Ecomap Example
A spiritual ecomap maps out the connections between an individual and their spiritual or religious community. It highlights relationships with spiritual leaders, community members, faith-based organizations, and personal practices like prayer or meditation.
Conclusion: Ecomap Examples to Get Started Right Away
Ecomaps remind us that no one lives in isolation — we are all shaped by our relationships and environments. By using ecomaps, you can better understand the strengths, challenges, and opportunities in a person’s life. Whether you’re supporting a student, a family, a patient, or a community member, these visual tools can guide better conversations and stronger support plans.
We hope the ecomap examples in this guide help you start creating meaningful ecomaps that truly make a difference. If you’re ready to map out support systems visually, you can use Creately to easily create and customize ecomaps for any scenario.
References
Saragosa, M., Singh, H., Gray, C.S., Tang, T., Orchanian-Cheff, A. and Nelson, M.L.A. (2023). Use of eco-mapping in health services research: a scoping review protocol. BMJ Open, [online] 13(5), p.e072588. doi:https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2023-072588.
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.
FAQs About Ecomap Examples
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