Enneagram…enneawhat??
I get this question a lot when I first mention this to clients.
The enneagram is a tool to which we can see ourselves a bit more clearly. I discovered the enneagram when my own therapist suggested I take a look at this in my own journey to self-discovery. I quickly learned that this tool is not only informative but uber complex and can get complicated very quickly.
Essentially, the enneagram helps us understand more about the way we see the world. Do you ever wonder why that person in your life just doesn’t get you, doesn’t understand why they don’t just know that you need help with that thing (I mean it’s obvious I needed help). Or why don’t they see that all I’m doing is helping them? The enneagram now gives us an explanation to all of these questions.
This tool utilizes ancient insights to describe 9 different types of personality. Type 1 is The Reformer, characterized by the need to be right, just, and moral. Type 2 is The Helper, their need is to be wanted and needed. Type 3 is The Achiever and they have a deep need to be successful. Type 4 is The Romantic which is characterized by a need to unique and special. Type 5 is The Investigator and their motivation is the need to understand. Type 6 is The Loyalist and their core need is to be supported, secure, and safe. Type 7 is The Enthusiast and they're driven by the need to be taken care of. Type 8 is The Challenger driven by the need to protect themselves or to determine their own course in life. Type 9 is The Peacemaker and their need is for inner and outer peace.
Determining your personality type is complex and you MUST look at the above-listed motivations for each type to really understand which type you lead with. Thus, taking a quiz online will not help, you must read about each number and start becoming aware of yourself enough to determine what motivates you to do the things you do. And this is why the Enneagram can be so helpful, it leads to a great deal of self-awareness. Once you stumble upon self-awareness change is not too far away, you’ve done 95% of the work. Having a framework like the Enneagram can also give you an outlined path to health in each personality type and once learned, you will soon begin to notice when you’re veering off that path. Those common fears and behaviors that each type is known for becoming the rumble strips on the path to warn you that you’re getting off course.
If you’re curious to know more or you already know your type and want to work with a counselor to integrate the Enneagram into traditional counseling interventions, contact us to schedule your first visit and mention this blog post.
Want to know more? Below are some recommended resources.
For more on the enneagram I recommend the following books:
The Road Back to You by Suzanne Stabile and Ian Morgan Cron
The Path Between Us by Suzanne Stabile
The Wisdom of the Enneagram by Don Richard Riso and Russ Hudson
The Complete Enneagram by Beatrice Chestnut
Becoming Us by Beth and Jeff McCord (this book is specifically for couples)
*All of these can be found on Amazon.
The following websites can also be helpful:
www.enneagraminstitute.com - This website has the only quiz (called RHETI) I recommend to people as it can identify your core type with more accuracy than others, however, I tell my clients to take the first three findings and research those types to identify which type resonates with you the most.
The following podcasts are also recommended:
The Enneagram Journey with Suzanne Stabile
Typology with Ian Morgan Cron
Enneagram and Coffee with Sarajane Case
Enneagram 2.0 with Beatrice Chestnut and Uranio Paes
Around the Circle: An Enneagram Podcast