The Enneagram Personality Type 2: The Helper
The Two is the Helper according to Understanding the Enneagram: The Practical Guide to Personality Types (revised edition) by Don Richard Riso and Russ Hudson.
Twos like to help (not to be confused with the six who likes to assist). They are very empathetic and compassionate. They are often therapists, counselors, people in a crisis center or working at a suicide hotline, teachers etc. In fact there is a phone number here in California — 211 which is the number you call whenever you need help. I had to call it last year when my psychiatrist retired and I could not find a replacement and I was out of my ADD medication. It really wasn’t a big deal but the twos on the other end of the phone ask “Now I need to ask you, are you thinking about hurting yourself or anyone else”.
Of course I said no, I just need to find a psychiatrist. Th
ey sent me to a “Crisis Center” which is an amazing two situation. They couldn’t help me because they don’t consider ADD a “crisis” like I do, but they were so compassionate. They called my name and said “Ok, I need to tell you some things, 1 we can’t help you because Concerta is not an anti-psychotic, 2: if you are feeling strange at all do not hesitate to go to the ER and they will give you temporary meds”. I just loved that these random strangers were so concerned about my well-being. They really can be wonderful.
Twos are very generous and self-sacrificing, but they do have problems with taking care of their own needs. At their Best: unselfish and altruistic, they have unconditional love for others.
According to Understanding the Enneagram:
- Basic Fear: Of being unwanted, unworthy of being loved
- Basic Desire: To feel loved
- Enneagram Two with a One-Wing: “Servant”
- Enneagram Two with a Three-Wing: “The Host/Hostess”
Key Motivations: Want to be loved, to express their feelings for others, to be needed and appreciated, to get others to respond to them, to vindicate their claims about themselves.
Stay tuned for our continuing 9-part series covering all the enneagram types!
