In this opening episode of Childhood and the Enneagram, licensed therapist and author Susan Parker Jones lays the foundation for the journey ahead. Discover how the Enneagram—especially through the lens of the Harmony Model—can help us understand the stories we formed in childhood and the patterns we carry into parenting, relationships, and personal growth.

We’ll explore the three centers of intelligence (Head, Heart, and Body), the emotional dragons of fear, shame, and anger, and how our early coping strategies shape our reactions today. This isn’t about labeling or diagnosing—it’s about deepening compassion, expanding awareness, and beginning to heal the Inner Childhood Narrative that lives in us all.

Whether you're a parent, educator, therapist, or someone curious about your own story, this episode invites you to reflect, grow, and begin the journey toward greater clarity and connection.

In this heartfelt episode of Childhood and the Enneagram, Susan Parker Jones invites you to look beneath the surface of children’s behavior and discover what’s really going on inside.

Whether it’s a tantrum, defiance, or withdrawal, every behavior carries a story — and a need. Drawing from trauma-informed strategies like Trust-Based Relational Intervention (TBRI) and real-life examples, Susan explores how we can move from correction to connection.

You’ll learn the importance of nervous system safety, emotional regulation, and why “acting out” is often just a child’s way of saying, I don’t have the words yet.

Plus, a powerful reflection on your own childhood behaviors — and how offering your inner child curiosity instead of criticism can begin the healing process.

This episode is a must-listen for parents, teachers, therapists, and anyone who’s ever wondered, What’s really going on here?

Because when we stay curious about the story underneath the behavior, we offer something more than discipline — we offer dignity, safety, and connection.

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 attachment styles, and how each may show up across the Enneagram types using the Harmony model.

Whether you're a parent, educator, or someone doing the brave work of healing your own story, this episode offers clarity, compassion, and reflection — plus questions to help you uncover the deeper patterns at play in your relationships.

Tune in to begin understanding the story behind your story — and take your next step toward healing, growth, and secure connection.

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 dynamics — and how the Enneagram’s three stances (Dependent, Withdrawn, and Assertive) reveal the hidden strategies we develop to feel safe and seen.

Whether you’re a parent wanting to model emotional safety, a professional working with children, or someone doing the brave work of healing your own story, this episode offers compassionate insights, practical reflection questions, and a pathway toward greater self-understanding.

Because when we name the story beneath the reaction, we begin to write a new one — with clarity, connection, and self-compassion.

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, courageous work of love.

May you hear in these words a reflection of your worth, your impact, and the beauty of your journey toward wholehearted living.

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 powerful stories, research-based insights, and practical strategies, you’ll explore:

• The connection between attachment and emotional scripting
• Three common parenting phrases that shape how kids see themselves
• How your own ICN may be influencing the way you respond to children
• What to say instead — and why presence matters more than perfection

Whether you're a parent, educator, therapist, or someone working to heal your own story, this episode offers clarity, compassion, and concrete tools to build emotional security — one conversation at a time.