Working with an Enneagram Therapist: How Type 8s Can Benefit from Therapy
Why Enneagram Type 8s Can Benefit from Therapy
You’re resilient, and it takes a lot to bring you down. Strength feels natural to you and has been a significant asset throughout your life. You genuinely care about the people around you and the work you do, always striving to help others succeed. Through the Enneagram, you may have learned that some people perceive you as intimidating or controlling—something far from your intention or how you view yourself. You know you’re not a bad person; you aim to support others, helping them recognize their strength and potential. Hearing that you might overpower others can feel surprising and frustrating, perhaps even leading you to question the Enneagram altogether.
You prefer straightforward advice and want to work with someone who is direct and experienced. If this resonates, you might be an Enneagram Type 8. Let’s explore what this means and how therapy for Enneagram Type 8s—especially through the lens of Enneagram therapy—can support you.
The Basics of Enneagram Type 8
Core Traits:
Core Emotion: Anger (Externalizing)
Energetics: Big, powerful, strong
Values: Directness, honesty, loyalty, meeting goals
Strengths: Motivator, protector, leader, gregarious, comfortable in the spotlight
Common Experiences:
Feeling highly motivated and energetic, with the ability to get things done
Frustration when others don’t match your level of action or commitment
Deep care for your inner circle, especially those who are vulnerable
Surprise or misunderstanding when others perceive you as intimidating
Avoiding vulnerability and seeing weakness as something to overcome
Childhood Patterns of Type 8s
Type 8s often learned early in life that weakness equals vulnerability. Many took on the role of protector, caring for a parent, sibling, friend, or pet. This reinforced the belief that they must stay strong—not just for themselves but for others perceived as less strong.
Challenges for Enneagram Type 8s
Struggling to be vulnerable or let go of control
Feeling responsible for protecting others
Overworking or living intensely without adequate rest
Focusing on external tasks or battles while avoiding personal emotional needs
Type 8’s Trauma Response: Seeking Safety Through Self-Reliance and Avoiding Vulnerability
Enneagram Type 8s often seek safety through self-reliance and avoiding vulnerability. Their trauma responses may include:
Dismissing or rolling their eyes at the suggestion that their behaviors are rooted in "seeking safety."
Believing they are the only ones capable of protecting themselves and others
Overworking or excessively advocating for others, often to the point of self-abandonment
Living in a constant state of intensity, avoiding rest or emotional reflection
Viewing vulnerability as unsafe or exposing
Isolating from relationships when demands feel overwhelming. This is what I call Type 8 burnout—a collapse into their "5 cave," where they may feel depressed and withdrawn during this time.
How Therapy Can Help Enneagram Type 8s
Therapy can provide a space to break these unhelpful patterns by offering direct feedback and focusing on your personal needs. Enneagram therapy helps you address the root causes of behaviors instead of continuing to push through life as if the past hasn’t affected you. Trauma cannot be outrun or overpowered—it must be faced and processed.
As an Enneagram therapist in North Carolina, I specialize in helping clients gain clarity, break unhelpful cycles, and grow into the healthiest version of themselves. For Type 8s, therapy can provide:
Clarity on Patterns: Identifying ways your strengths can sometimes create barriers to love, relationships, and fulfillment.
Integration of Body, Heart, and Mind: Tuning into your body’s wisdom and learning how physical sensations, emotions, and thoughts work together.
A Secure Space to Explore Vulnerability: Therapy gives you a space to show up as your full self—intensity and all. Type 8s often feel like others aren’t strong enough to support them, but that’s literally my job. I have no problem matching your strength and holding space for your intensity.
Direct and Actionable Feedback: I offer honest feedback to help you identify and address barriers to growth.
Therapy also provides a space to break these patterns by offering direct feedback and focusing on your individual needs. For some clients, this work uncovers their role as cycle breakers—individuals working to end generational patterns of trauma and dysfunction. Learn more about what it means to be a cycle breaker here.
What to Expect in Our Sessions
During our initial sessions, I’ll ask questions to understand your history, your experience as a Type 8, and the goals you want to achieve. Together, we’ll:
Pinpoint patterns that keep you stuck
Practice ways to engage with vulnerability to build this skill
Develop healthier approaches to managing conflict, relationships, and self-care
Using the Embodiment Tradition of the Enneagram, I’ll help you integrate all three intelligence centers—body, heart, and mind—so you can feel more grounded and aligned in your life.
Online Therapy for Type 8s in North Carolina
I offer online therapy for clients across North Carolina. Whether you’re in Asheville, Raleigh, Charlotte, or beyond, you can access Enneagram-based therapy tailored to your needs. If you’re outside North Carolina, I also provide Enneagram coaching for clients across the globe.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Enneagram therapy?
Enneagram therapy combines traditional therapeutic techniques with insights from the Enneagram framework, helping you explore how your type influences your coping mechanisms, relationships, and behaviors.
Can you help with trauma, anxiety, and depression for Type 8s?
Yes. I specialize in helping Type 8s address trauma, anxiety, and depression by focusing on core patterns and fostering healthier growth.
What if I’m unsure of my type?
That’s okay. I can help you discern your type and subtype using body energetics and direct feedback based on your experiences and behaviors.
What is a cycle breaker, and how do I know if I am one?
Cycle breakers are individuals working to interrupt generational patterns of trauma and dysfunction. Many clients realize they are cycle breakers after starting therapy and exploring their family dynamics. Learn more about cycle breakers here.
Take the Next Step Toward Growth
Therapy offers the space to explore your patterns, gain valuable insights, and create lasting change. If you’re ready to deepen your understanding of yourself and address the challenges holding you back, I’m here to guide you. My goal is to help you feel confident, empowered, and clear about your next steps. Together, we’ll work to uncover how you can live with more clarity and alignment.
If you're ready to explore how Enneagram therapy can support your growth, reach out to schedule a consultation.
About Me
I’m Hanna Woody, a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in Asheville, North Carolina, with over 12 years of experience. I specialize in childhood trauma, breaking intergenerational cycles, and working with the Enneagram. Certified in the Embodiment Tradition, I offer therapy and coaching to clients throughout North Carolina and beyond.
Services Offered
Therapy for Childhood Trauma
Anxiety Therapy
Enneagram Coaching
Enneagram Therapy for Cycle Breakers
Narcissistic Abuse Recovery
Online Therapy Locations
Asheville, Raleigh, Charlotte, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, and across North Carolina.