Clarifying Enneagram Type Using Wings and Subtype
By deepening our understanding of a client’s Enneagram type, we can clarify an optimal direction in therapy that has the potential to not only meet the client’s goals of therapy, but also invite other changes that can yield growth and healing in their life, work, and relationships.
In my clinical practice, however, I’ve discovered not all Types present exactly the same. Oftentimes, it’s the influence of the dominant wing and the instinctual variant (or subtype) that can make settling on true type a bit more elusive or difficult.
Below is a short description of each Enneagram Type and Wing combination in health. For each type, there is also a description of each of the instinctual variants – Self-preservation, Social, and One-on-One. The instinctual variant indicates how each type seeks security and therefore influences the presentation of the core type in subtle, yet important, ways.
When working with clients, it can be useful to introduce topics, themes, and interventions that not only seek to address issues related to the core type, but also relate to the instinctual variant/subtype and speak to challenges common to each of the wing types, especially the dominant wing.
Type 1: The Reformer
Type Combinations
1w2: The Advocate: Often present as a teacher, counselor, or advocate with personal warmth and a drive to serve. They stand up for what’s right and roll up their sleeves to help. They tend to be outwardly-focused and idealistic individuals who want to make the world better place by not only upholding high standards, but also helping others in tangible ways.
1w9: The Idealist: Inwardly focused, calm, and idealistic reformer that can offer patience and detachment. They often present as someone with a gentle moral compass as well as with clear principles and strong ideals, but who generally express them with even-temperedness and quiet determination, rather than confrontation or a dogged pursuit towards betterment.
Instinctual Variants or Subtype
Self-Preservation (sp): Seek security through structure, responsibility, correctness, and being prepared for what’s next. They can appear as friendly and benevolent perfectionists who are hardworking, orderly, reliable, and cautious, yet also irritable, critical, and anxious at times.
Social (so): Seek security by living up to high ideals and embodying moral and ethical standards not only for themselves, but for others as part of a group, organization, society, or community. They can appear as model citizens who are intelligent, principled, reform-orientated, and disciplined, yet occasionally inflexible, controlling, and judgmental of others.
One-on-One (1:1): Seek intensity, improvement of close others, and show a passion for intimate bonds as a way to get their wants and needs met. They can appear more as reformers than perfectionists and present as fiery, intense, and outspoken, yet occasionally impatient, entitled, and demanding of others.
Type 2: The Helper
Type Combinations
2w1: The Servant: Caring, conscientious, and having a desire to be loving and good to others, these individuals often present as quiet, dependable, dutiful, self-sacrificing, and morally-driven helpers who want to make the world a kinder, better, and more ethical place by caring for and supporting others, but with less of a focus on recognition than a 2w3.
2w3: The Host/Hostess: Warm, helpful, and highly people-oriented, these individuals often present as polished, socially skillful, and strongly motivated to succeed. They often appear energetic, image-aware, ambitious, outgoing, inspiring, confident, and charming individuals who are eager to be admired and appreciated for their helpfulness and support.
Instinctual Variants or Subtype
Self-Preservation (sp): Seek security by ensuring their own needs are met before helping others and can present as more fearful about connecting with others that other Twos. They often appear a practical, youthful, playful, and openly assertive about their needs and desires while also being helpful to others.
Social (so): Seek security to becoming indispensable to the groups, communities, or causes they support. They are often viewed as leaders, networkers, and influencers and appear to be outgoing, well-connected, and generous, but also image-conscious and strategic in how they express their generosity with others.
One-on-One (1:1): Seek security through closeness, charm, and intensity with specific individuals. They can often appear as warm, attentive, magnetic, and emotionally expressive to their partner and others as a way to get their wants and needs met.
Type 3: The Achiever
Type Combinations
3w2: The Charmer or The Star: Ambitious, energetic, well-liked, polished, competitive, and socially magnetic, these individuals want to be the best and be liked. They typically thrive on connection and value success first, relationships second. If they choose a relationship, it is often one that can help them achieve or enhance their reputation or work. They naturally shine in leadership, sales, and politics or show up as high-achieving performers in their fields.
3w4: The Professional: Driven, intense, image-conscious, and introspective, these individuals balance their ambition with a drive for uniqueness and depth through creativity. They want to not only succeed but do it in a way that feels deeply personal, authentic, and original. They tend to be visionary professionals who seek to appear successful and special.
Instinctual Variants or Subtype
Self-Preservation (sp): Seek security through hard work, efficiency, productivity, and material success. They can often appear as “workaholics” who are pragmatic, industrious, and modest about their achievements while striving to look good and be a good person.
Social (so): Seek security through recognition, image, or achievement in the eyes of others. They frequently appear as charismatic, polished, and image-conscious as well as competitive, attention-seeking, and ambitious to look good and get things done.
One-on-One (1:1): Seek security through charm, attractiveness, and an intense focus on others they want to promote. They often appear as engaging, emotionally-expressive, and attentive to others while garnering their validation and worth through their relationships.
Type 4: The Individualist
Type Combinations
4w3: The Aristocrat: Outward-facing, passionate, creative, ambitious, and emotionally expressive while also introspective and image-conscious, these individuals want to stand out as unique and successful. They often channel their creativity, self-expression, and personal truth into something visible and pleasing. They are the passionate performers, artists, or entrepreneurs who shine by birthing beauty and originality in impactful ways.
4w5: The Bohemian: Inward-facing, introspective, intellectually curious, independent, non-conforming, and creative, these individuals often appear as artists, philosophers, or seekers of hidden truths who want their uniqueness to be understood. They are more withdrawn, private, and complex than 4w3s and prefer depth over recognition. Valuing truth, authenticity, and deep understanding, they can bring brilliant originality, passion, and profundity to their creations and inspire others to express their own originality.
Instinctual Variants or Subtype
Self-Preservation (sp): Seek security through endurance, practicality, and appearing “fine” or even a bit stoic despite their inner pain and ever-present melancholy. They often appear as resilient, practical, and passionate individuals who are less willing to share their struggle while demanding much of themselves to get what others have and they feel they lack.
Social (so): Seek security through recognition, visibility, and standing out as unique or different by seducing others into meeting their wants and needs through an amplification of their pain and suffering. They can appear as overly self-conscious, self-critical, sensitive, melancholic, expressive, ambitious, and negatively comparing themselves to others.
One-on-One (1:1): Seek security through passion, fusion, and emotional intensity with others or an imagined ideal. They deny their suffering and unconsciously contribute to the suffering of others as a way to rid themselves of their feelings of lack and deficiency. They can appear as intense, moody, demanding, emotionally expressive, and competitive.
Type 5: The Observer
Type Combinations
5w4: The Iconoclast: Imaginative, individualistic, independent, emotionally intense, creative, withdrawn, introspective, and unconventional, these Fives want to understand the world and express their unique place in it. Often drawn to philosophy, art, or niche intellectual pursuits, they are passionate and private seekers of knowledge and understanding. They bring depth, originality, meaning, and their identity to their work, service, or creativity.
5w6: The Problem Solver: Practical, dutiful, security-orientated, loyal, and logical, these individuals present with a curiosity coupled with a deep need for trust and safety. They are outwardly-focused, cautious, strategic, and reliable thinkers who not only value accuracy, knowledge, and preparedness, but also want to understand how the world works while ensuring that they and their inner circle are protected from uncertainty. They typically lean towards careers in science, systems, or applied problem-solving and seek alliances with groups or authorities for validation, reassurance, and belonging.
Instinctual Variants or Subtype
Self-Preservation (sp): Seek security through withdrawal, conserving energy, and minimizing their needs and desires. They present with a strong need to build a sanctuary where they can be free from intrusion and the demands of others. They appear as private, minimalist, emotionally detached, and protective of their time, space, and resources.
Social (so): Seek security through knowledge-gathering, idealizing experts, and belonging to groups who share their interests and values, rather than an emotional connection. They present as intellectual and principled and are often respected for their expertise. They are also more group-orientated than other subtypes although still distant from others.
One-on-One (1:1): Seek intensity and fusion with a chosen other who can meet their need for love and trust. They have a lively inner life and can present as passionate, more openly expressive about their wants and needs, emotional, and magnetic in one-on-one settings, yet mostly mysterious to those outside their inner circle and still cut-off from others.
Type 6: The Loyalist
Type Combinations
6w5: The Defender: The “thoughtful guardian” — loyal, cautious, and deeply analytical as well as introspective, analytical, and independent. They blend skepticism with curiosity, standing watch with both heart and mind, seeking safety through knowledge and trusted alliances. Safety comes from understanding: “If I know enough, I’ll be safe.”
6w7: The Buddy: The “loyal optimist” — active, loyal, fun-loving, supportive, dependable, friendly, and upbeat. They bring both caution and cheer to those around them, like to keep their options open, and value social bonds. Safety comes from connection plus having choices as in “If I’m surrounded by people and possibilities, I’ll be safe.”
Instinctual Variants or Subtype
Self-Preservation (sp): Seek security by creating strong, reliable support systems, banding together with others for belonging and relationships, being loyal to others, and settling into routines. These Sixes often appear as warm, friendly, trustworthy, dependable, and cooperative, yet also find it difficult to express their anger and can be seen as engaging in reassurance-seeking behaviors to assuage their fear, insecurity, and self-doubt.
Social (so): Seek safety by fulfilling obligations, following the rules, and being loyal to ideologies, authorities, or community. They often appear as model citizens and are dutiful, responsible, and rule-orientated, but can also present as overly sure of things as a way to assuage their anxiety and skepticism, especially if they are prone to distrust authority.
One-on-One (1:1): Seek safety by going against fear by acting strong, being prepared, and taking on a powerful stance – both in their appearance and what they do – as a way to keep threats at a distance. They present as intense, well-prepared, and emboldened individuals who oscillate between trust and suspicion in relationships and test others’ trustworthiness.
Type 7: The Enthusiast
Type Combinations
7w6: The Entertainer: The “cheerful loyalist” — optimistic, lighthearted, and fun-loving, but with a stronger sense of community, duty, and responsibility than the self-reliant 7w8. They typically present as loyal, friendly, and adventurous individuals who tend to also be anxious given their concern for security, planning, and relationships.
7w8: The Realist: The “adventurous powerhouse” — bold, energetic, strong, and independent, these assertive individuals are an unstoppable force of vitality and optimism who not only inspire others with their drive, leadership, resilience, and zest for life, but also have the confidence, strength, and courage to follow through on their visions.
Instinctual Variants or Subtype
Self-Preservation (sp): Seek security by building a comfortable “nest”, creating alliances, seeking opportunities for advancement, and enjoying life’s pleasures. They often appear as cheerful, amicable, and pragmatic, value home and family, and tend to get what they want.
Social (so): Seek security through service and belonging, responsibility, and loyalty to the group or community. They often present as dutiful, responsible, idealistic, conscientious, and enthusiastic, yet also more serious than other Sevens given their desire to be seen as self-sacrificing for the greater good.
One-on-One (1:1): Seek security through imagining something better than ordinary reality, focusing on exciting experiences, possibilities, and relationships, and avoiding boredom and restlessness by pursuing their passions. They may appear as adventurous, energetic, enthusiastic, fiery, and optimistic as well as naïve in believing they can do everything.
Type 8: The Challenger
Type Combinations
8w7: The Maverick: Bold, intense, and adventurous, these individuals are a powerhouse of energy and authority. They are trailblazers who want to live life on their own terms, leading the charge, and savoring every bit of freedom and excitement along the way. They combine power, intensity, courage, and protectiveness with a sense of adventure, optimism, and spontaneity to create opportunities for themselves as well as others.
8w9: The Bear: Strong, solid, and protective, these individuals are usually calm, steady, and peace-seeking, but can be fierce and formidable if needed. Their presence feels safe and commanding and they often show up as grounded and reliable individuals who foster peace and stability in their space and use their influence to protect and empower others.
Instinctual Variants or Subtype
Self-Preservation (sp): Seek security by focusing on getting what they need for survival through control of resources, comfort-seeking, and independence. They appear as strong, practical, earthy, and protective and may appear as security-orientated, emotionally-guarded, and pleasure-seeking. They also tend to be intolerant of frustration given a strong desire for their material needs to be met in a timely and satisfying manner.
Social (so): Seek security and express their strength and intensity by servicing others, protecting the group, advocating for justice, and being loyal to allies. They are often larger-than-life types who present as charismatic, commanding, and passionate champions of the causes they believe in and unhesitatingly help others when they need protection.
One-on-One (1:1): Seek security through rebellion, attention-seeking, and getting power, control, or influence over people, relationships, or the environment. They often present as fiery, magnetic, engaging, and passionate, yet can be demanding and overwhelming to others.
Type 9: The Peacemaker
Type Combinations
9w8: The Comfort Seeker: Peaceful, strong, grounded, protective, steady, solid, and reassuring, these individuals present as laid-back with an earthy strength and a grounded confidence. They tend to be practical, direct, assertive, and more comfort-seeking than 9w1 and avoid conflict by controlling, standing firm, or “digging in their heels”.
9w1: The Dreamer: Peaceful, principled, gentle, idealistic, orderly, and serene, these individuals typically present as calm, kind, and restrained (compared to 9w8) as well as with a quiet moral backbone. They seek comfort, strive for harmony rooted in integrity, and try to avoid conflict by people-pleasing or withdrawing from it altogether.
Instinctual Variants or Subtype
Self-Preservation (sp): Seek security through physical comfort, routine activities, and steady rhythms to avoid inner or outer disturbances. They can appear as practical, placid, easygoing, grounded, and home-orientated people who focus on everyday things.
Social (so): Seek security by blending with and belonging to groups and fulfilling roles within the group. They often appear as fun-loving, social, dutiful, community-minded, but also accommodating and potentially overly-agreeable to others’ agendas.
One-on-One (1:1): Seek security by merging with the important people in their life as a way to establish their identity and feel connected to others. They often appear as gentle, kind, and non-assertive individuals who also tend to overly focus on relationships and find it difficult to stand on their own.
Conclusion
These descriptions of Type and Wing combinations along with the Instinctual Variant (or Subtype) can be very useful in identifying a client’s true type. I mention other attributes to consider during assessment in Typing Tips for Counselors Using the Enneagram in Therapy – Part 1 and Typing Tips for Counselors Using the Enneagram in Therapy – Part 2. Of course, you can also ask the client to take a typing test or ask them to review the type descriptions to see what resonates with them.
While not always accurate, the client’s chosen type could illuminate things you may have missed about them or suggest new themes/topics for inquiry. Such exploration in sessions can contribute to insights into what matters most to the client as well as progress towards positive outcomes in therapy.
Have fun with it!
Trainings
Enneagram for Counselors with Leslie Bley, LPC-S
Online
The Enneagram Institute
The Narrative Enneagram
Books
The Complete Enneagram: 27 Paths to Greater Self-Knowledge by Beatrice Chestnut, Ph.D.
The Wisdom of the Enneagram: The Complete Guide to Psychological and Spiritual Growth for the Nine Personality Types by Don Richard Riso and Russ Hudson
Personality Types: Using the Enneagram for Self-Discovery by Don Richard Riso and Russ Hudson
Posted: by Teresa
Category: Enneagram for Counselors
Tags: counselors, enneagram, instinctual variant, personality, subtype, typing, wings