Information Sheet

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Mapping Your Social Support Network
On a blank piece of paper, draw three circles. The largest one should almost fill up the paper and the next
two should get consecutively smaller – like a bulls-eye. Write your name in the center of the smallest circle
(see example below).

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Write the names of people that you consider part of your social support network in the circles surrounding
your name. Write the names of people you feel closest to in the circle with your name. This can be family,
friends, or neighbors. These are the most intimate and trusted members of your social support system.

In the second circle, write the names of people to whom you are close, may turn to for advice and support,
but are not quite as close to as your inner circle. This group may include extended family members, friends,
and neighbors.

Write the names of your more casual contacts in the outer circle. This can include professionals you turn to
for advice or people you have limited contact with, such as parents of your child’s peers or church
members.

Remember, everyone’s social support system is different. You may not have close relationships with your
extended family but get great amounts of support from your church congregation. What circle you place the
names in is entirely up to you.

Make it personal. Use people’s names instead of descriptions. For example: use names instead of group
titles like “soccer parents” to describe the parents of the children your child plays soccer with.

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 Information Sheet
! !
Think of members of your family, friends, parents of your child’s friends, neighbors, people who belong to
clubs or organizations you belong to, doctors, your child’s teachers, coaches, and therapists.

Next, identify the types of support you get from each member of your social support system. Doing this
allows you to recognize who you can go to when you are in need of any sort of support, help, or stress relief.

Support can come in the form of:

Emotional: Receiving mental support to help relieve stress and anxiety. For example, sharing your burdens
and fears; getting things “off your chest”; hearing words of hope, encouragement, and optimism; bolstering
your self-confidence.

Tangible: Receiving physical support that can help ease burdens and lower stress. For example, running
errands; providing childcare; picking up groceries; accompanying you to a specialist appointment.

Informational: Receiving support in the form of advice, references, connections to places for help.

Draw a symbol next to each person’s name to indicate what kind of support you get from that person. You
can draw more than one symbol next to each person’s name. For example, if you get emotional and tangible
support from your sister, draw a heart and a square next to her name. See the key below for what each
symbol stands for.

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9*2'-$#()'*#+!,5):%!
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-%2%-%*0%.!('!'(8%-.!
;%';+%3!

You now have a map of your social support network. Keep this worksheet as a reference when you need to
ask for help from someone. Need a reference for a support group? Look for people you have marked a circle
next to for informational support. Need someone to pick up your son from soccer practice one night? Look
for people you have marked with a square indicating they can provide tangible support.

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