Enneagram Type 5
The Enneagram is such a powerful tool to use in therapy or Enneagram coaching. When my clients find their correct type and resonate with the work of that type, it accelerates their self-awareness and self-growth. The Enneagram acts like a mirror and a compass. My clients can see the good, the bad, and the ugly AND understand what’s keeping them stuck. They learn how to break the cycles that are keeping them stuck and preventing them from thriving. If you study the Enneagram, you know that it goes SO MUCH deeper than what a small blog or social media post can describe. The Enneagram is just as complex as the humans it represents. Keep that in mind, and here are some basics about Enneagram Type 5.
Type 5
Core Emotion: Fear (Internalizing)
Filter: I will be intruded upon and not safe, I don’t have enough stores to last
Energetics: Drawn back, observing, quiet, sensitive
Traits: Heady, withdrawn, isolated, shares mostly about areas of interest
Values: Privacy, boundaries, gathering information and data, submerging in interests and gaining expertise
Childhood: Learned early on that their privacy would not be respected and they must make themselves unneeded
Not afraid to: Dive into interests for hours and hours, tell you no, gather data
Hard for them to: Feel their emotions and yours, be too social for too long, feel that that they have enough of what it takes to do all of life, reach out to others and feel needy or needed
Common Experiences for 5’s
Fearing getting engulfed by others, being intruded upon
Retreating to a space that is all their own (a physical space or in their minds- 5’s often have vivid fantasy worlds)
Feeling connected to others through sharing detailed information about what they are working on or interested in
Feeling that there is only so much energy to do life and one experience may take away from capacity for other experiences (ex: too much emotion at work may take away from being able to spend time with family at home)
Struggle to be in touch with their emotions due to thinking their emotions
Having a desire to minimize their needs (including physical) and others dependence on them
Putting off taking action because they feel they don’t have enough information yet (meanwhile, everyone else feels that there’s sufficient information to move forward)
Enneagram 5 Trauma Response
Seeks Safety Through Escaping Into The Mind
Withdraws and chooses quiet observation rather than participation
Deep fear of getting overtaken, depleted, or engulfed by others' needs
Fear being the core emotion for 5’s, traumatized 5’s lean on withdrawal and escape into the mind to protect themselves
Minimizes needs and tries to get by with less (food, water, material needs, connection)
Escapes into the mind into a vivid fantasy world
Embraces scarcity and may hoard resources
Embraces boundaries as a way to keep others out and maintain a sense of security by taking refuge into the mind
Invests in ideas, research, and intellectual pursuits instead of human relationships because it feels safer and more controlled
Hoarding of knowledge, hoarding of self, hoarding of resources to conserve
Neglect of basic needs and self-care
Disconnection from the body and emotions. Traumatized 5’s may experience extreme fear and distress when they feel feelings in their bodies. The lack of control can feel very unsafe
Moving into emotion and connection with others may create a deep fear of being depleted and feel vastly unsafe
Holding a core belief that they aren’t sufficiently resourced to handle life. Life and connection to others takes and depletes. It does not give back and they fear their resources will not be replenished.
No matter where you are in your Enneagram journey, working with an Enneagram therapist will help you create the kind of change you desire in your life. It will help you understand and remove the barriers that your type is creating to having the kind of love and relationships that you want. My goal is for you to walk away from therapy with confidence and a feeling of empowerment. I will help you get clarity on what you need to do to grow into the healthiest version of your type. Our Enneagram work and trauma work is never really fully complete, but Enneagram therapy can help you gain clarity on what you need to heal.
Learn more about Enneagram Therapy
If you are ready to get started, the first step to working together is to schedule a free 20 minute phone consultation. Investing your time, money, and emotional energy into therapy or coaching is a big deal. It’s an investment in yourself and your wellbeing. It’s important that you make this investment with trust and confidence that working together is a good fit. This is why I offer a 20 minute phone consultation. During this time we can identify your needs and answer any questions that you have about working together.
Hanna Woody is a Licensed Clinical Mental Health Counselor in Asheville, North Carolina. She has over 12 years of professional counseling experience and specializes in breaking cycles of intergenerational trauma, childhood trauma, and the Enneagram. Certified in the Embodiment Tradition, she has over 150 hours of training and teaching experience. Hanna is in private practice and provides online mental health therapy, Enneagram coaching, and Enneagram training.