The Couples Therapist Couch 266: Enneagram & Relationships with Christa Hardin
Nov 3, 2025
In this engaging discussion, Christa Hardin, a therapist and author specializing in relationship dynamics, shares insights on the Enneagram's nine personality types. She explains how understanding these types can enhance therapeutic practices and improve relationship compatibility. Learn about the strengths and challenges of each type, from the perfectionist’s justice orientation to the peacemaker’s diplomatic tendencies. Christa also offers advice on helping children discover their types and emphasizes the importance of self-awareness for therapists in their practice.
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Enneagram As A Personality Map
- The Enneagram maps nine core personality strategies formed largely in childhood to cope with life.
- Each type centers on distinct motivations, fears, and desires that shape behavior and relationships.
Know Your Type First
- Start by identifying your own Enneagram type before typing clients to manage transference and countertransference.
- Use your self-knowledge to adapt interventions and reduce bias in therapy.
Perfectionism Fuels Justice And Critique
- Type Ones balance strong justice and refinement gifts with an inner critic that can direct anger inward or outward.
- Ones excel in roles needing precision but need body-based regulation to soften home interactions.
