EVOLVING INTIMACY: A Look at Ennea-type, instinctual biases, and the 5 forms of intimacy
Objectives:
- Learn about the 5 forms of intimacy (physical, emotional, sexual, intellectual, and spiritual)
- Understand how our enneatype and instinctual bias shows up in our intimate lives
- Gain insight on how the different types define and experience “connection”
- Learn how our instinctual bias informs our sexual approach and expectations/needs
- Learn techniques to get out of our own way and increase our capacity for intimacy
“The quality of your relationships determines the quality of your life” – Esther Perel
As beings that are wired for belonging and connection, our relationships and the quality of our relationships provides the foundation for safety, joy, and hope in our lives. When we feel deeply connected to those who matter most to us, we have a greater ability to endure and persevere during difficult times, we have more courage to take risks, and we are able to experience greater freedom to truly embrace who we are and what we want in life.
Unfortunately, whether we are surrounded by people or living alone, many of us suffer from a great loneliness. It is one thing to be around people, and it is a totally different thing to feel connected to people. One contributing factor to this dilemma is that many of us live within too narrow a definition of intimacy, and then we set expectations and behave in ways that fit the narrow script. Our enneatype and dominant instinct play a major role in the ways that we cut ourselves off from the intimacy that is available to us, and our defense mechanisms are so busy doing their job ‘protecting’ us that we can end up believing false narratives steeped in blame, shame, and powerlessness.
As sex and couples therapists, our workshop facilitators Lyndsey Fraser, LMFT, CST and Valerie Wanamaker, LCSW, have dedicated their careers to helping couples and individuals get out of self-defeating patterns of dysfunction and disconnection in order to move towards greater intimacy and relational satisfaction. (See Instructor Tab for their Bios.)
Originally recorded live, this is now available as a self-paced online video course (approximately 3 hours long) with downloadable handouts and slides included.
Join Lyndsey and Valerie as they help you to explore ways to increase your capacity for intimacy.
THIS WORKSHOP QUALIFIES FOR IEA ACCREDITATION POINTS.
Lyndsey Fraser, LMFT, CST
Lyndsey is a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist as well as a Certified Sex Therapist in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She has been practicing for the last ten years in a private practice that she owns. She specializes in relationships and sexuality utilizing the Enneagram. She is also a certified 4-D model therapist. This model utilizes the idea that the individual is an integration of body, mind, heart and spirit. Lyndsey believes by understanding these components in conjunction with the Enneagram allows us to have more growth and self-awareness in our lives. She values her lifelong commitment to learning whether through organic experience or formal education. She enjoys sharing this knowledge and expertise through the many presentations and workshops she has given for both therapists and clients. Her motto is that “Who you are at your core matters, and it deserves to be seen by the world”.
Valerie Wanamaker, LCSW
Valerie is a psychotherapist who specializes in relationship issues and sexuality. She has received advanced education on human sexuality and sex therapy and is conducting international research on the intersections of the enneagram & sexuality. Valerie is an IEA Accredited Professional and provides teachings and coaching on the enneagram with the Enneagram School of Awakening.
