Enneagram Therapy

Counseling and Therapy integrated through the lens of the Enneagram. 

One of the most effective tools I've ever found for bringing about personal change is the Enneagram. When used with therapy, it has a significant effect. My area of expertise is using the Enneagram to help individuals dealing with anxiety, tense family situations, and traumatic childhood experiences. How you are affected by all of these things and how you attempt to deal with them depends on your Enneagram type.

We are born with our Enneagram types and every type exists on a spectrum of healthy vs unhealthy.  I like to use the terms expanded and fixated to describe this.  Experiencing stress and trauma will influence where you are on this spectrum.  We use our personalities to try and cope with stress and get our needs met.  But not all coping is healthy and every type has traits that end up not serving them well.  The things we do within our types to try and get love, autonomy, and personal power can create that exact opposite- disconnection, codependency, and disempowerment.  

As an Enneagram therapist, I can not only help you identify the areas where you are getting in your own way, I can help you do the hard work of challenging your type and growing into the healthier version of your type.  

What will our sessions be like?

When you first come to therapy, I will ask you a series of questions to better understand your history, your experience of your type, and to assess your strengths.  I want to understand the goals you have for yourself and help you identify what is working and what is not working in your life.  During our sessions, I will ask you questions specifically designed to challenge and support your growth. I will get you to dig deep so you can understand the root of your type’s patterns and how it is contributing to your anxiety and limiting your ability to move past trauma. 

This includes tuning into your body and learning to understand what it’s communicating to you.  While there are specific Enneagram types that are more disconnected from their bodies, every type has physical sensations and somatics that are sources of self-knowing and wisdom.  Learning to identify these sensations and what they mean will help you do the most challenging work of your type.  We will practice tuning into and integrating the three intelligence centers of the body, the heart, and the mind.  Integrating all three intelligence centers is core Enneagram work and core trauma healing work.  Therapy will help you grow into the healthiest version of your type and will also help you heal your trauma and reduce anxiety.  

What if I’m unsure of my type?

That’s okay.  I will help you discern between types so we can accurately type you.  I can also help you identify your subtype.  One of the benefits of working with an Enneagram therapist specialist is that I have a lot of experience and can offer you direct feedback about how you show up which will help accurately identify your type.  I’m trained in the Embodiment Tradition of the Enneagram which means I can also share with you how your body energetics align or don’t align with different types.  It’s very common for people to misidentify themselves on the Enneagram because they over identify with one aspect of a certain type.  Using body energetics (simply the way you show up in a room and hold your body) gives you a lot more clarity on your type. 

Common Reasons Each Enneagram Type Goes to Therapy

Type 9

Your whole life you felt like keeping the peace and avoiding conflict was the best thing to do.  It felt safer to hold back and not rock the boat.  Anger is dangerous and you never want to hurt anyone with it.  You feel overwhelmed by the weight of the world and your role within it.  Self-doubt and anxiety take over to the point where all you want to do is rest and numb-out.  This overwhelm makes you worry that you don’t have what it takes to do life well.  You worry about not showing up for the relationships that are important to you, but when you really think about it, you worry about not showing up for yourself.  It’s easier in some ways for others to not see you, but deep down it really hurts you.  Learning the traits of Enneagram type 9 felt validating and scary.  You want to know who you are and learn how to not avoid conflict, but the idea of leaning into intensity and anger feels really overwhelming.  You don’t want to feel overwhelmed anymore and you want to feel solid in yourself.

Type 8

You’re tough and it takes a lot to get you down.  It feels natural to be strong and it’s really served you your whole life.  You care a lot about the people in your life and the work that you do. You’re genuine and truly want to empower others.  It was shocking to learn through the Enneagram that people can find you intimidating and controlling.  That’s never what you want and it’s not how you see yourself.  You know that you are not a bad person.  You want to support others and you know that people don’t always see how strong and capable they are and that you can help them see it.  Suggestions that you overpower others makes you feel angry.  It may have even made you doubt the Enneagram all together.  You want direct advice and to work with someone who knows what they are doing and doesn’t beat around the bush.  

Type 7

You genuinely want yourself and others to be happy.  Having optimism and positivity has always felt like the best way to approach life.  You know that you’re a great problem solver and planner.  It’s challenging that not everyone can keep up with you or see your vision.  It’s frustrating and you don’t like to feel that way.  When you identified as a type 7, learning that you run away from negative emotions devastated you.  The idea of “sitting with emotions” and “feeling emotions” in your body is confusing.  You may have even said to yourself “What does that even mean to feel emotions in my body??”  The thing is though, when you allow yourself time and space to really think about, you know that you get scared of negative emotions because it feels like if you allow yourself to feel them fully, you’ll get trapped there.  This feeling is so deep and so intense you don’t even want to go there, but you know that you need to.  

Type 6

Learning about Enneagram type 6 has felt so validating!  It’s always felt strange to you that others don’t see or take things as seriously as you do.  You know that you worry and think about all of the “what if’s” and worst case scenarios, but now you understand why.  Understanding is highly helpful and you want to know more.  The anxiety and self-doubt really takes a toll on you.  You want to learn how to be more confident and how to not have to worry all of the time.  You want to learn how to lessen your anxiety and how to stop yourself from overthinking.  It’s exhausting. 

Type 5

You’ve already done a lot of research on the Enneagram.  Learning that you are a type 5 has been  illuminating and sparked curiosity about yourself.  A systematic way of understanding yourself and others feels like a welcomed relief.  You wish others understood you through this lens so they would know that your withdrawal and introversion is just something you need.  You want genuine connection with others, but you’re unsure of how to do that and not get depleted in the process.  Sometimes others' demands of you feel like too much.  You want to learn, but protect your boundaries at the same time.  You know that you need time and space to process doing the work of your type and that therapy will help you reflect on everything that is needed. 

Type 4

Learning that you are an Enneagram 4 felt validating and unfortunately triggered a lot of shame.  It’s hard to see all of the negative parts of yourself outlined in such a clear way.  It’s overwhelming to think about challenging the part of you that compares yourself to others and feels too deeply.  You like darkness and appreciate the more negative aspects of life because that is what feels most real.  The pain of being different runs deep.  You like it in some ways, but deep down you feel like everyone else has something that you don’t.  Like everyone is better than you somehow.  You don’t want anyone to see that because it feels true.  You mostly just want to be authentically connected to others and have a life full of rich experiences, deep relationships, and beauty- but it feels out of reach and you are unsure if you’ll ever truly get what you want.  You are hopeful though, that digging into your Enneagram work can help you.

Type 3

You know that you are a 3.  It was clear as day to you as soon as you learned the motivations of the type: achieving and performing to prove yourself and avoid feeling shame. Achieving to win status and approval because you don’t feel good enough on your own is a painful realization.  It’s a bit embarrassing imagining that others might be able to see this in you.  You work really hard to do your best and you genuinely want stimulating and authentic connection with others.  Practicing authenticity and following what you want to do opposed to what others expect of you sounds fantastic- but also really scary.  Allowing others to truly see who you are when you're not performing feels incredibly vulnerable, but you know deep down that it’s worth it.  You’re tired of feeling empty and having to be “on” all of the time.  It’s time for a change and you want the help of an expert.

Type 2

Learning that you are a type 2 has felt really painful.  You genuinely want to be helpful and support others.  Acknowledging that you don’t know how to help yourself and meet your own needs has brought you pain and triggered the shame that exists deep down.  In some ways, learning the Enneagram has made you feel weak.  It makes you really sad to think that you don’t fully know and prioritize yourself.  To feel loved, wanted, and trusted is really all you want.  That’s always felt out of reach and learning that you have some control in preventing yourself from having what you want  feels scary.  You’re intimidated and unsure of how to actually do the work of your type.  It’s hard to ask for help and to prioritize yourself.  Seeking out therapy may even make you worry that you’re being selfish, but you’re ready to work on yourself and you know you’ll be better off with some guidance.  Seeking help for yourself is not selfish.  

Type 1

You’ve always been drawn to self-improvement.  Being no stranger to working on yourself, you are intrigued by what the Enneagram has shown you about yourself and others.  You are intrigued by what it has to offer.  In many ways, learning that you are an Enneagram 1 has felt relieving.  You like things to make sense, and although it doesn’t feel good to be a 1, you are hopeful that you can find some reprieve.  Your inner critic is harsh, consistent, and demands a lot of you.  The idea of learning to be more playful and self-forgiving sounds wonderful, but it’s hard to imagine how you can accomplish that. You know that you need to be more compassionate towards yourself, but deep down you don’t really feel that you deserve that.

What Can I expect from Enneagram Therapy?

No matter where you are in your Enneagram journey, working with an Enneagram therapist will help you create the kind of change you desire in your life.  It will help you understand and remove the barriers that your type is creating to having the kind of love and relationships that you want.  My goal is for you to walk away from therapy with confidence and a feeling of empowerment.  Our Enneagram work and trauma work is never really fully complete, but Enneagram therapy can help you gain the clarity that you need to heal the impact of the past and move into the future knowing how to continue to help yourself heal and grow. Click here to learn more about my rate and FAQ.

The first step to working together is to schedule a free 20 minute consultation. Investing your time, money, and emotional energy into therapy or coaching is a big deal. It’s an investment in yourself, your health, and your well-being. It’s important that you make this investment with trust and confidence that working together is a good fit. This is why I offer a 20 minute consultation. During this time we can identify your needs and answer any questions that you have about working together. 

Hanna Woody is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in Asheville, North Carolina.  She has over 12 years of professional counseling experience and specializes in breaking cycles of generational trauma, childhood trauma, and the Enneagram.  Certified in the Embodiment Tradition, she has over 150 hours of training and teaching experience.  Hanna is in private practice and provides online mental health therapy, Enneagram coaching, and Enneagram training.