About Childhood and the Enneagram : The Stories that Shape Us
Childhood and the Enneagram: Stories That Shape Us is a podcast for parents, educators, therapists, and anyone ready to heal their story and help others do the same.
Hosted by licensed therapist, Enneagram practitioner, and author Susan Parker Jones, this series explores how our earliest experiences shape the way we see ourselves, relate to others, and show up for the next generation.
Grounded in attachment theory, trauma-informed care, and the Harmony Model of the Enneagram, each episode unpacks the unconscious narratives we carry from childhood — and how those stories show up in our parenting, leadership, and self-talk.
Through real-life reflections, practical tools, and compassionate insight, you’ll learn how to:
Recognize and rewrite your Inner Childhood Narrative (ICN)
Understand children’s behavior through the lens of connection and nervous system safety
Use Enneagram wisdom to foster emotional growth and secure relationships
Break generational patterns with clarity, presence, and grace
Because healing your story is where generational change begins — and every small shift has the power to create lasting transformation.
Send a text In this episode of Childhood and the Enneagram: Stories That Shape Us, we step into the vibrant inner world of the Type Seven child—the Enthusiast, or what I often call the child who learns to stay safe by staying happy. Emerging Type Seven children are energetic, imaginative, and full of possibility. They bring light, laughter, and creativity wherever they go. Yet beneath their optimism often lives a quiet fear of being trapped in pain, boredom, or hard emotions. Their unspoken q...
27 Feb 2026
Type 6: Supporting the Child Who Lives on High Alert
Send a text In this episode of Childhood and the Enneagram: Stories That Shape Us, we explore the emotional landscape of the Type Six child—the Loyalist, or what I often call the watchful child who is always scanning for safety. Emerging Type Six children are deeply perceptive, loyal, and attuned to the emotional climate around them. They long for security, trust, and belonging, and often wrestle with persistent questions like: Who can I trust? and Am I safe? Beneath their questions and worri...
23 Feb 2026
Type Five: Supporting Curiosity and Safe Connection
In this episode of Childhood and the Enneagram: Stories That Shape Us, we step into the inner world of the Emerging Type Five child—the Observer, or what I often call the child who learns to stay safe by needing less. Emerging Type Five children are thoughtful, curious, and wise beyond their years. They watch closely, think deeply, and often retreat inward when the world feels overwhelming. Beneath their independence, many Fives wrestle with a quiet fear of depletion and an unspoken belief th...
9 Jan 2026
Type Four - Understanding the Deep-Feeling Child
In this episode of Childhood and the Enneagram: Stories That Shape Us, we step into the emotional world of the Type Four child—the Individualist, or as I like to call them, the deep-feeling child. Fours long to be seen for who they truly are and often wrestle with the haunting question: “What’s wrong with me?” We’ll explore how childhood messages shape their longing for authenticity, the gifts of their creativity and sensitivity, and the struggles they face with shame, comparison, and feeling...
21 Jul 2025
Type Three - Why Does My Child Take Losing So Hard?
In this heartfelt episode, we step into the inner world of the Enneagram Type Three child—confident, motivated, and often praised for their performance. But beneath the gold stars and success stories lies a deeper question: Am I still loved if I stop achieving? Join Susan Parker Jones, licensed therapist and author of The Wholehearted Child, as she explores how emerging Type Threes develop the belief that love must be earned through doing and impressing. Learn how to support your Three child ...
14 Jul 2025
Type Two - Is My Child Becoming Co-dependent?
In this heartfelt episode, we explore the world of Enneagram Type Two—children who long to be loved and needed, and who often learn early on to earn connection through helping others. Known as the Helper, this type shines with warmth, empathy, and generosity—but underneath may carry the heavy burden of shame, believing their worth depends on what they do for others. Join Susan Parker Jones, licensed therapist and author of The Wholehearted Child, as she unpacks how the Type Two child forms th...
7 Jul 2025
Type One - Why Is My Child So Hard on Themselves?
This episode explores the characteristics of Type One children, also known as Improvers or Reformers, and examines their high standards and inner critic.
26 Jun 2025
"Will You Still Love Me If I Speak Up?" Raising an Emerging Type 9
Licensed therapist Susan Parker Jones discusses how Type 9 children suppress their voice to avoid conflict, potentially merging with others, in this interview episode.
16 Jun 2025
Can I Trust You or Do I Need to Take Charge? Raising an Emerging Type 8
Susan Parker Jones explores the characteristics and needs of Enneagram Type Eight children, providing guidance on fostering their resilience and understanding their instinctive nature in this interview.
5 Jun 2025
More Than a Number: Exploring the Harmony Triads in Parenting
Licensed therapist Susan Parker Jones introduces the Enneagram's Harmony Model, revealing how it illuminates childhood narratives and their impact on parenting styles and personal development in this episode.
29 May 2025
Tip of the Iceberg - Looking Beneath the Behaviors of Children
Susan Parker Jones explores children's behaviors, revealing the underlying stories and needs driving tantrums or withdrawal, and emphasizes trauma-informed strategies to foster connection over correction in this episode.
22 May 2025
Healing the Hard Places: Attachment, the ICN, and the Enneagram
From the moment we’re born, we’re wired for connection — but what happens when our early experiences disrupt that connection? In this episode of Childhood and the Enneagram, licensed therapist and author Susan Parker Jones unpacks how attachment theory and the Inner Childhood Narrative (ICN) intertwine, shaping how we view ourselves, others, and the world. Drawing from her book The Wholehearted Child, Susan walks through the six early risk factors that impact secure attachment, the four major...
16 May 2025
The ICN and the Enneagram: Understanding Your Childhood Filters
What if your strongest emotional reactions, your relationship patterns, and even your inner voice weren’t random — but rooted in childhood? In this episode of Childhood and the Enneagram, Susan Parker Jones guides us into a deeper understanding of the Inner Childhood Narrative (ICN) — the unconscious story we write in childhood about who we are, how safe we are, and whether we can count on others. You’ll explore how these narratives shape emotional reactions, self-talk, and relationship dynam...
8 May 2025
Mother's Day Special - The Wholehearted Child (Introduction)
In honor of Mother’s Day, I’m sharing a heartfelt reading of the Introduction to my book, The Wholehearted Child — a celebration of all who nurture, guide, and help heal the next generation. Whether you are parenting children, nurturing students, supporting clients, or tending to the younger parts of yourself, this episode is a reminder that your presence matters more than perfection. This is a gift of encouragement for every mother, teacher, therapist, and nurturer doing the quiet, courageou...
1 May 2025
Do I Matter? How Our Inner Story is Shaped in Childhood
Every child is asking: Do I matter? Am I safe? Do you see me? In this episode of Childhood and the Enneagram, licensed therapist and author Susan Parker Jones invites you to look beneath your words — and discover the powerful role they play in shaping a child’s inner world. You’ll learn how a child’s Inner Childhood Narrative (ICN) is formed through the micro-messages embedded in everyday conversations, and how the Enneagram helps us understand the emotional blueprints children carry. Through...
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