In this article I look at a structured approach to analysing and solving those challenging problems that occur in our family history research. It comprises six principal steps, which any genealogist can follow.

‘Geneatherapy’ combines two of my greatest passions: I’m a former counsellor by profession and a genealogist and family historian by experience. So as a geneatherapist, I explore mental health, psychology, epigenetics, and neuroscience, to deepen my understanding of our ancestors.

Above Photo Courtsey of Stephanie Ray

A father’s name on a birth certificate, is that a fact? 

As enthusiastic genealogists and family storytellers we all have our preferred tools that we use on a regular basis for our research and story writing. Genealogists need tools to research family history – to scan databases for documentation (evidence of ancestors’ vital facts) and tools to store the results of our research. Family Historians need writing tools to prepare stories for sharing.

The Wescott family. I grew up with my mom's paternal side, the Wescotts. We heard many stories of my grandfather's father and his grandfather. My grandfather told stories of how his great-grandfather was at the first Wright Brothers' flight, but he did not witness it because he was taking a nap at the time. Oh, the lore of the family history!