E is for Enneagram - Clients in the Therapy Office
Disclaimer - I'm not an Ennea-expert. I'm not certified in the Enneagram, nor are my words some kind of diagnostic tool for identifying which Enneagram type your clients are. Honestly, this is just a fun little thought experiment of what certain Enneagram types might look like as clients (in super broad, stereotype-y terms).
I'm truly not trying to be offensive here, I just thought it would be fun to try and answer the question of how different Enneagram stereotypes might appear in a counseling session. :)
What would your changes / additions be?
Type One -
The client who shows up 15 minutes early with all the intake paperwork completed ahead of time. Points out to you one of your pictures is crooked in your waiting room when you meet them. As you go through the intake, they apologize every time there's "too long" of a pause in the conversation. They also apologize for not knowing exactly how to complete the paperwork correctly. They take notes during your session (either mental notes or otherwise).
Type Two -
Is the therapist.
Type Three -
Not likely to show up as a client, there's still too much cultural stigma attached to mental health and they probably won't risk it.
Type Four -
The client that answers "well, kind of, it's more like this..." every, single time you attempt to reflect / summarize their emotions / experiences. You can't really seem to "get" this client, and the worst thing you can do is say, "I know exactly what you're going through." This client may also spend part of the session trying to communicate to you how everyone keeps telling them their fine, and they want to be fine, but they don't know how to be. This client becomes immediately distant when you attempt to offer a skill / tool to "fix" their plight.
Type Five -
You spend several sessions trying to build trust with this client, and if you're not careful you end up talking the whole time and asking a million questions because the client will only give one or two word answers. When this client gets more comfortable, their one word answers will turn into intricate explanations and analyses. Ultimately, though, they still don't really trust you.
Type Six -
You practice mindfulness with this client pretty much every week. They usually have a new worst case scenario every session, and they desperately want you to give them advice / answers. The biggest victory for this client comes when they start to trust themselves and their own intuition, even a little.
Type Seven -
Usually comes for one or two session before trying out something else. Most likely to attend a therapy retreat / event.
Type Eight -
Comes for couples counseling, but isn't really sure they want to be there. Serves as the the person who takes on whatever perspective isn't getting enough attention in the dialogue. Slow to put down their defenses.
Type Nine -
Also comes for couples counseling and isn't really sure they want to be there, but they want to make their partner happy. You have a difficult time getting them to actually talk about how they truly feel and what they truly want.
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I'm truly not trying to be offensive here, I just thought it would be fun to try and answer the question of how different Enneagram stereotypes might appear in a counseling session. :)
What would your changes / additions be?
Type One -
The client who shows up 15 minutes early with all the intake paperwork completed ahead of time. Points out to you one of your pictures is crooked in your waiting room when you meet them. As you go through the intake, they apologize every time there's "too long" of a pause in the conversation. They also apologize for not knowing exactly how to complete the paperwork correctly. They take notes during your session (either mental notes or otherwise).
Type Two -
Is the therapist.
Type Three -
Not likely to show up as a client, there's still too much cultural stigma attached to mental health and they probably won't risk it.
Type Four -
The client that answers "well, kind of, it's more like this..." every, single time you attempt to reflect / summarize their emotions / experiences. You can't really seem to "get" this client, and the worst thing you can do is say, "I know exactly what you're going through." This client may also spend part of the session trying to communicate to you how everyone keeps telling them their fine, and they want to be fine, but they don't know how to be. This client becomes immediately distant when you attempt to offer a skill / tool to "fix" their plight.
Type Five -
You spend several sessions trying to build trust with this client, and if you're not careful you end up talking the whole time and asking a million questions because the client will only give one or two word answers. When this client gets more comfortable, their one word answers will turn into intricate explanations and analyses. Ultimately, though, they still don't really trust you.
Type Six -
You practice mindfulness with this client pretty much every week. They usually have a new worst case scenario every session, and they desperately want you to give them advice / answers. The biggest victory for this client comes when they start to trust themselves and their own intuition, even a little.
Type Seven -
Usually comes for one or two session before trying out something else. Most likely to attend a therapy retreat / event.
Type Eight -
Comes for couples counseling, but isn't really sure they want to be there. Serves as the the person who takes on whatever perspective isn't getting enough attention in the dialogue. Slow to put down their defenses.
Type Nine -
Also comes for couples counseling and isn't really sure they want to be there, but they want to make their partner happy. You have a difficult time getting them to actually talk about how they truly feel and what they truly want.
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