The Enneagram

The Enneagram is the most powerful tool I have come across to implement personal change. I've been teaching and working with the system for about ten years, and I've studied and used it for my own self-development for the last 17 years. The changes I've witnessed are substantial. I've seen people overcome their greatest fears and get the confidence to empower their voice and speak up for themselves. I've seen organizations improve their culture, morale, problem-solving abilities, and compassionate understanding of one another. It improves self-awareness, accountability, compassion, and communication. Whether you use the Enneagram in counseling, coaching, or professional training, Enneagram work is self-empowerment work.

Enneagram Symbol

What is the Enneagram and How is it Useful?

The Enneagram is a personality model that is rooted in psychology and spirituality.  We all have challenges and obstacles that get in the way of love, connection, and self-acceptance.  Do you believe deep down that you are no good and that other people have love and connection that you can’t fully access? Do you deeply fear making mistakes and exhaust yourself trying to be perfect so others don’t see? Do you pour yourself into relationships hoping to finally feel loved and end up resentful because you never get back what you put in? Your Enneagram type explains why.  The Enneagram helps you understand your own unique obstacles based on personality type AND how to grow out of the patterns that don’t serve you. I like to think of the Enneagram as a guidebook along the pathway to becoming the fullest most authentic version of yourself.

There are 9 Enneagram types and each has a specific pathway towards reaching their healthiest selves. Each personality type has a distinct set of emotional, thinking, and behavioral patterns that they must challenge to find deeper happiness and connection. Each type also has a unique energetic. The energetic is partly how you hold yourself, how others feel around you, and how your type shows up in your body. Helping my clients learn to discern between the physical sensations of the energetic showing up in their body is some of my favorite work. Imagine knowing that you are deep in your type’s fixation just by checking in with your body. Imagine being able to tap into your inner power and self-trust just by focusing on sensations in your body. It’s powerful.  

Working together, I will assist you in understanding your unique path of growth based on your personality type and sub-type. We'll look at how your personality type is manifesting itself in your life right now. There are numerous things you may work on with your Enneagram type. I will assist you in determining which areas will be most beneficial for you to work on depending on your goals and what is causing the most difficulty for you. If you're having trouble determining your personality type, I can help.

I specialize in working with people who have childhood trauma, especially when the trauma occurred in your family of origin. The Enneagram is a great tool to help you gain insight into how you cope with trauma. Challenging yourself to do the work of your Enneagram type, will help you heal trauma. Your Enneagram type will show you the pattens of your personality in how you try to cope and seek safety. It will show you how you get in your own way and what is preventing you from getting what you want: love, connection, belonging, acceptance, and healing.

The 9 Types

Click on each Enneagram type to learn more about that type’s characteristics, core traits, motivations and responses to trauma. 

Body/Instinctual Triad

Type 9: The Mediator
Type 8: The Challenger
Type 1: The Reformer

Heart/Feeling Triad

Type 3: The Achiever
Type 2: The Giver
Type 4: The Individualist

Head/Thinking Triad

Type 6: The Loyalist
Type 7: The Enthusiast
Type 5: The Investigator

How do I find my type?

I recommend reading about all 9 personalities and doing further research on the ones that seem most like you. Keep in mind that the type description might not match you perfectly. This is normally due to subtype differences, so be sure to check out subtypes if you strongly resonate with a type but feel there are some big traits that don't match you. Each of the nine personalities has three subtypes that are based on survival instincts. The instinct to self-preserve, the instinct to belong or have a role in a group, and the instinct to bond one-on-one. Subtypes are very important because two people who have the same basic personality type can look vastly different from one another if they have different subtypes. Pay attention to your internal reaction when reading about each personality type. This could be valuable information for identifying your correct type.

If you take an online typing test, process the results with caution and curiosity. Typing tests are frequently inaccurate. The Enneagram is a dynamic and complex system and tests do not account for vital aspects of your personality like subtypes, body energetics, or movement on the Enneagram. People will often hear me say "Don’t let a test tell you who you are". You know yourself and your inner experience better than anyone. Trust that. If you are unsure of your type, I can help you narrow it down and offer additional feedback that will help you accurately type yourself. Read my article for more information on signs you’ve typed yourself correctly or incorrectly:

How to Know Your Enneagram Type is Right

Putting the Enneagram to work

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. I will help you get clarity on what you need to do to grow into the healthiest version of your type. Our Enneagram work and trauma work is never really fully complete, but Enneagram therapy can help you gain clarity on what you need to heal.

Learn more about Enneagram Therapy

Learn more about Enneagram Coaching

Enneagram Resources

If you are ready to get started, 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 and your wellbeing. 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.