Adolescent girls are a special population in and of themselves, but when working with girls who are in foster care due to a history of abuse or neglect, there are even more issues that come to the surface. I have found that teaching the Enneagram to teenagers is especially effective when one can use clips from movies or television shows, particularly ones that are funny. I have also used some group and individual exercises for the girls in order to help them gain a deeper understanding of the types and enhance their ability to communicate their feelings with one another. This presentation demonstrates how I have taught the Enneagram to teenage girls in foster care group homes, how the girls have received the material, and the ways they have responded to the Enneagram.

Gail Garner is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker who has worked in the child welfare field for the past 12 years providing a variety of services, including individual, family and group therapy with children who have been victims of abuse or neglect. Gail is passionate about the Ennagram, uses it in her work and teaching.