Mental Health Minute

ing is illegal, and if someone knows about it, they should report it. Just please consider “The enneagram does your safety and your not put you in a box. porting dog fighting. I have been informed that It shows you the box you are already in, people who do these and how to get out of things are dangerous. it.” For your safety, there - Ian Cron

What I love most about be ties, and, yes, 911 is also ing a counselor is learning from my clients. Lately, I right thing always, and have been working with again I apologize for the roughness of this article. young people, especially millennials, who share I want everyone to stay their enneagram numbers alert and help make this with me. Initially, I knew nothing about ennea grams, but I have found that like other personality tests, a discussion of our “types” often opens doors for conversation and in sight. The enneagram can be a powerful gateway to self-awareness and under standing of others, by describing the structure and dynamics of nine personal ity types. Stemming from the Greek words ennea (nine) and grammos (a written symbol,) the ninepointed enneagram sym bol represents nine patterns of thinking, feeling, and acting that arise from a deeper inner motivation or worldview. The ennea gram describes three centers of intelligence and perception: head, heart, and body. While all of us have all three centers, our personality type has a par ticular strength and “home base” in one of them. The Instinctual Center (body) includes numbers 8 (the protector,) 9 (the media tor,) and 1 (the perfectionist.) The Emotional Center (heart) includes

The Enneagram

by Lisa Philippart, Licensed Professional Counselor

numbers 2 (the giver,) 3 (the performer,) and 4 (the romantic.) The Intellec tual Center (head) includes numbers 5 (the observer,) 6 (the loyal skeptic,) and 7 (the enthusiast.)

Body Types: 1, 8, and 9

Type 1: The Perfection ist’s attention goes toward seeing and correcting what is wrong, and doing the right thing. They are hon est, responsible and detailoriented while having high standards, ones can be critical, resentful, and nonadaptable. Type 8: The Protector tends to take charge of situ ations. They are energetic, intense, occasionally in timidating, impatient, and justice-seeking. The chal lenge for eights is to combine assertion and control with interdependency and cooperation. Type 9: The Mediator is balanced, accepting, and harmonious. Nines are willing to do what needs to be done while taking care of themselves in the pro cess. They see all points of view, but can also be stub born, ambivalent, and conflict avoidant.

Heart Types: 2, 3, and 4

Type 2: The Giver focuses on relationships, making connections, and empa thizing with the needs and feelings of others. They are caring, often popular, and excellent communica tors. Twos struggle with being naïve, dependent, and people-pleasing. Type 3: The Performer channels their emotional energy into getting things done. Threes are enthusiastic, successful high achievers. The struggles for threes include over working, impatience, and concentrating on external rewards to keep up their image. Type 4: The Romantic moves back and forth be tween seeking meaning and depth in relationships and being individualists needing their alone time. They are compassionate and idealistic, which cre ates problems with their ability to cooperate and avoid melancholy.

Head Types: 5, 6, and 7

Type 5: The Observer fo cuses on intellectual understanding and accumulating knowledge. Their strengths include their analytical abilities, percep tiveness, and self-reliance. While fives value their privacy, they may become isolated or spend too much time “up in their heads.” Type 6: The Loyal Skeptic uses perception and intel lect to understand others and the world. They are protectors, courageous, and strategic thinkers. Be cause of their loyalty to those in their circle, they often view outsiders with suspicion and pessimism. Type7: The Enthusiasts are the forward thinkers and movers. These optimists

love adventures, and are fun-loving, quick-thinking communicators. Sevens’ attention can shift quickly, so they are often seen as dispersed, uncommitted, and even self-absorbed. If you would like to learn more about the enneagram, go to: www.enneagraminstitute. com

Lisa Philippart is a Li censed Professional Counselor, who divides her time between her own private practice in Huntsville and providing personal counseling services at Athens State University.