As a fairly recent graduate of the Professional Certification Program, I have experienced The Narrative Enneagram only through its online courses. I was not involved in the 1990s, when teaching was done in-person and the curriculum was a work-in-progress. I never had the honor of meeting co-founders Dr. David Daniels or Helen Palmer— though countless times I’ve heard them referred to with affection, admiration, and gratitude by those who were fortunate enough to study with them.
My teacher certification experience couldn’t have been better. Signing up online was quick and easy. The state of the art course workbooks, graphics, and slides were professional and polished. Tech support was flawless. I eagerly logged on each day, and the masterful Core Faculty guided us through new concepts and facilitated live panels before sending us into small groups to engage with participants from around the world.
I knew from the first class that The Narrative was the real deal. In my new role as a board member, I became curious about the school’s early days.
I wondered how many years of work went into those hundreds of pages of thorough and thoughtful materials? How did the pedagogy and ethos come together in the first place? The Narrative Enneagram, an organization that has literally changed many people’s lives didn’t just happen. Here’s some of what I learned about the journey that has made it what it is today.
To begin with, you don’t have to take my word about the school’s excellence. The International Enneagram Association has also recognized this and named The Narrative Enneagram as its first Accredited Enneagram School with Distinction. Dr. David Daniels and Helen Palmer are featured in the short video posted by the IEA announcing this designation – paying homage to these Enneagram trailblazers and charismatic founders of the narrative tradition.
Though The Narrative Enneagram no longer has David and Helen at the helm, their legacy is solid and deeply embedded, with the core of the curriculum remaining grounded in their early teaching and modalities. In my journey to learn a little bit more about how we got here, I spoke with two Core Faculty members who were trained by David and Helen and have been with the Narrative since its beginnings.
Terry Saracino and Peter O’Hanrahan have participated in its evolution from the early days of the Enneagram Professional Training Program (EPTP) that was literally run out of Helen’s home office in 1988, then to an LLC, and finally to the non-profit organization it is today. The core of the EPTP curriculum remains today at the heart of our Professional Certification Program that earned praise from the IEA.
Peter shared the realities of navigating the evolution of an organization started by two charismatic founders who provided the early inspiration and vision, but needed to invite others into leadership roles to perpetuate their work. New structures provided the pathway to transmit their teaching, high standards, and vision in a new way.
As with anyone deeply invested in what they had created, this was not always easy for either David or Helen. But they persevered. Eventually, they chose Terry and Peter as teachers and managers and the journey began.
The journey had many twists and turns, but suffice it to say that many individuals over many years worked hard together, sometimes smoothly and sometimes with bumps in the road.
Terry told me she knew that “we needed a non-profit organization to carry this work forward. David and Helen were generous with their materials, donating the intellectual property of the Enneagram Professional Training Program to the new nonprofit. If their work was going to continue, I knew it needed some structure to hold it. That was the big idea– that this work was powerful, it changed people’s lives and it needed to continue.”
The process of transitioning to a nonprofit began in 2008 and took three years to complete, with Terry doing much of the organizing and legwork. Many others were involved, of course, including Peter. There was trial and error over the years as structure and procedures were put into place. Peter and Terry both recount frequent tension and challenges, as different players had different visions and ideas of how to proceed. However, people hung in, new people came on board, and eventually things came together to create our current configuration.
The Narrative Enneagram now has a larger Core Faculty, a well-defined and functioning support staff, and a committed Board of Directors. The structure is in place that allows the visionary work of Helen and David to be shared with the world. The curriculum meets its founders’ desire for high standards, while adapting to new realities. The school’s commitment to that evolution is illustrated by the recent restructuring of the core curriculum, diligently led by Christopher Copeland, Renee Rosario, and Chichi Agorom.
It is not a given that Helen and David’s vision would evolve into The Narrative Enneagram of today. According to Peter, 80% of organizations founded by charismatic leaders fall apart after the founders are no longer involved. This did not happen here.
Managing and honoring multiple stories and perspectives has always been what the Narrative is about and this allowed us to meet the various challenges and grow stronger.
I have deep gratitude and admiration for all of the people before me that have devoted so much time and talent to preserving and developing the important work that Helen and David began decades ago.
Do you want to experience this legacy for yourself?
If you’re newer to the Enneagram, check out our Enneagram 101 October 21 & 23 taught by Terry Saracino and Chichi Agorom. This new online workshop is free for members or $50 and includes access to the Essential Enneagram test and 34-page PDF guide. Join live or receive the recordings.
If you’re ready to take your learning to a deeper level, consider joining Experiencing the Narrative Enneagram with online dates coming up November 9-11 or January 9-11. This is also the first step if you’re interested in completing our Professional Certification Program.
Not sure what program is best for you? Join our free online Q&A October 10 to discover all your learning options and ask questions live or register for the recording.
Contributed by: Theresa Branaugh
Theresa Branaugh is a retired high school English teacher, mother of two, and grandmother of four who lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband of 48 years. She will be finishing the teacher certification program with The Narrative Enneagram at the end of this year. When she is not facilitating various community interest classes and professional development workshops at her community adult school, she can be found exploring all things Enneagram—workshops, panels, books, and podcasts.
