Episode 104: The Enneagram for Deep Healing — Dissolving Othering, Trauma Patterns & Inner Barriers

Episode 104: The Enneagram for Deep Healing — Dissolving Othering, Trauma Patterns & Inner Barriers

In This Episode

Hosted by Kara Lovehart, Mind-Body Psychic Medium & Executive Intuitive Coach, this episode explores how the Enneagram reveals hidden patterns, trauma responses, and the roots of “othering.” Kara is joined by psychotherapist and bestselling author Dr. Deborah Threadgill Egerton, Hay House Author & President of the International Enneagram Association, for a grounded conversation on self-awareness, nervous system insight, and reclaiming our shared humanity.

Meet Our Guest

Dr. Deborah Threadgill Egerton is a psychotherapist, cultural inclusion strategist, and Hay House bestselling author of The Enneagram Made Easy. Her work focuses on healing division, expanding compassion, and helping people use the Enneagram for personal growth and belonging.

Who Should Tune In

• Curious about the Enneagram
 • On a trauma-healing or personal growth journey
 • Leaders, therapists, healers, and coaches
 • Seeking emotional clarity, deeper compassion, or inner peace

Connect

Dr. Deborah Threadgill Egerton
Website: https://drdeborahthreadgillegerton.com

Instagram: https://instagram.com/drdeborahthreadgillegerton

Books: https://www.amazon.com/s?k=Deborah+Threadgill+Egerton

Connect with Kara:
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Transcript

[00:00:00] — Opening: Why Self-Awareness Matters
HOST (Kara Lovehart): Welcome back to the Mind Body Detox Podcast. I’m your host, Kara Lovehart, Mind-Body Psychic Medium & Executive Intuitive Coach. Today we’re exploring a system that supports emotional clarity, trauma healing, and deeper self-awareness — the Enneagram.

It’s a powerful tool I first became curious about as a teenager in the early 90s, long before it gained the huge momentum it has today. And now, we’re lucky enough to explore it with one of the leading voices in the field: Dr. Deborah Threadgill Egerton.

[00:02:12] — Introducing Dr. Deborah Threadgill Egerton
HOST: Dr. E is a psychotherapist, bestselling author, cultural inclusion specialist, and President of the International Enneagram Association. She has spent decades helping individuals and communities heal, grow, and reconnect to their shared humanity.

GUEST (Dr. E): Thank you so much, Kara. It’s a joy to be here.

SELF-AWARENESS & INNER WORK

[00:03:28] — How the Enneagram “Finds You”
GUEST: The Enneagram finds you when you need it. Back in the late 90s, I was a therapist at SUNY New Paltz. Students often came in with challenges, but therapy slots were short. I felt frustrated — I wanted to give them a roadmap to continue their growth.

When I discovered Personality Types by Don Riso, something clicked. Then The Wisdom of the Enneagram came into my life, and I thought, “This is the work. This is the map.”

[00:05:48] — The Enneagram as a Mirror
GUEST: When we talk about “inner work,” people aren’t always sure what that means. The Enneagram gives language to the parts of ourselves we don’t see clearly. It reveals motivations, patterns, and the behaviors we fall into when we’re stressed or disconnected.

ORIGINS OF THE ENNEAGRAM

[00:07:14] — A System Rooted in Ancient Symbolism
GUEST: The symbol is ancient. The modern psychological model came into the U.S. in the 70s. Interestingly, the Jesuits used it for self-awareness but told their communities, “Don’t talk about this.” Which of course made everyone want to talk about it.

DISCOVERING YOUR TYPE

[00:08:18] — Dr. E’s Type One Awakening
HOST: What was it like discovering your own point?
GUEST: I realized I was a One — the Idealist. I resisted it. When I finally accepted it, I went to my room, curled up, and cried. Seeing your type clearly can be emotional. It shows both your gifts and your blind spots.

[00:10:26] — Understanding Type One (The Idealist)
GUEST: Ones strive to do things right. The inner critic is harsh and constant. We lead with intuition — a sense of “this is the right thing.” But the challenge is realizing that not everyone sees “right” the way we do.

PATTERNS, PROJECTION & AWARENESS

[00:12:48] — How Others Experience Us
HOST: One of the hardest parts of self-awareness is understanding how we impact others.
GUEST: Exactly. We don’t always recognize that the energy we project can be different from our intention.

THE NINE ENNEAGRAM TYPES

[00:14:42] — Overview of All Nine Points
GUEST:

Type One — The Idealist: Integrity, doing things right, strong inner critic.
Type Two — The Helper: Connection-oriented, generous, trouble with boundaries.
Type Three — The Achiever: Success-driven, image-focused, feeling suppressed.
Type Four — The Creative: Deeply emotional, sensitive, longing for meaning.
Type Five — The Investigator: Knowledge-driven, private, needs space.
Type Six — The Guardian: Loyal, vigilant, anxiety-aware, prepared.
Type Seven — The Enthusiast: Optimistic, adventurous, avoids discomfort.
Type Eight — The Challenger: Direct, protective, strong presence.
Type Nine — The Peacemaker: Harmony-seeking, calm, avoids conflict.

HEALING THROUGH THE ENNEAGRAM

[00:32:18] — How the Enneagram Supports Healing
HOST: The practical applications of this system are so wide — leadership, relationships, parenting.
GUEST: Absolutely. It helps us understand our reactivity and relational patterns. With awareness, compassion grows. Conflict softens.

EVOLUTION & GROWTH

[00:39:02] — Does Your Type Change?
GUEST: No. Your core type doesn’t change. But your level of self-awareness absolutely does. The Enneagram isn’t a box — it’s a path toward integration.

HOW TO START YOUR ENNEAGRAM JOURNEY

[00:44:10] — How to Use “The Enneagram Made Easy”
GUEST: Hold your type lightly in the beginning. Tests can mislead you. Let your curiosity guide you. Notice what resonates — and what stings a little.

COMMUNITY, BELONGING & UNITY

[00:48:02] — Sacred Sisterhood & Global Work
GUEST: I’ve created the Sacred Sisterhood — a cross-cultural space for women and femmes to come together in unity and compassion. We also hold weekly Prayer Cycle meditations to anchor peace into the world.

SELF-CARE INTEGRATION

[00:54:26] — Dr. E’s Self-Care Practices
GUEST: Storytelling, traveling, connecting with people around the world — that nourishes me. And hibiscus tea from Egypt is one of my small daily rituals.

FINAL QUESTION

[00:57:32] — What Does the World Need to Detox?
HOST: If you could detox one thing from the world, what would it be?
GUEST: Othering. The idea that “those people over there” aren’t like us. It’s the root of so much harm.