Katherine Chernick Fauvre

Katherine Chernick Fauvre, creator of Tritype® and Instinctual Stacking Patterns: Order, Proportions, and Identifications, is an internationally recognized personality expert, author, teacher, trainer, researcher, and coach. She works with businesses, families, couples, and individuals. Her groundbreaking qualitative research studies on the "internal experiences" of the Enneagram types and subtypes have established her as a thought leader in the field. These studies include the discovery of the Tritype® Stackings, Tristar, Subtype Stackings, Subtype Countertypes, and the History and Evolution of Oscar Ichazo's Enneagram of Personality, along with an exploration of the different transmissions of the Enneagram.

Katherine is an IEA Accredited Professional with Distinction and a former member of the Board of Directors of the International Enneagram Association (IEA). Katherine holds the distinction of being the only person to have attended intensives with both Oscar Ichazo, the creator of the Enneagram of Personality, and Dr. Claudio Naranjo, creator of the Instinctual Subtypes, the latter of whom validated her 1994-1995 Instinctual Subtypes Research and her book on the Enneagram Instinctual Subtypes in 1996.

She also holds the distinction of being the only person to have been certified by all three of the first certification programs: The Narrative Tradition (Helen Palmer and Dr. David Daniels), Enneagram Institute® (Don Richard Riso and Russ Hudson), and Enneagram Breakthrough Method® (Kathleen Hurley and Theodorre Donson). Her diverse background includes studying with many pioneers in the self-help field and other prominent Enneagram teachers worldwide, including Tom Condon, Eli Jaxon-Bear, Stephen Wolinski, and Angeles Arrian.

Alongside her understanding of various viewpoints on the Enneagram and insights from multiple schools of thought, Katherine has completed 24 research studies focused on the “internal experiences" of the types. She has integrated these findings into advanced applications of the Enneagram, including Tritypes®, Tristar, the Unfolding of the 27 Tritypes®, Instinctual Stackings, the Enneagram of Process, and Archetypal Roles.

Background
Katherine began studying the Enneagram in 1985. Her first of 24 qualitative research studies began in 1994, and three were published in 1995. They focused on the “internal experiences” of the Enneagram Instinctual Types and Subtypes, and Enneastyle, the nine Languages of the Enneagram Types, Idealized Images, and Core Fears.

She has continued to conduct research exploring many facets of the types' “internal experiences,” including but not limited to the Enneagram Types, Instinctual Types, Subtypes, Tritype®, Tristar, Idealized Images, Core Fears, Defense Strategies, Enneagram of Process, Enneagram Archetypes, Enneagram in Business, Stacking Patterns of the Enneagram Types, Instincts, Countertypes, the Enneagram and Spirituality, the Enneagram and Intimacy, the Enneagram and Empathy, the Enneagram Lexicon, Archetypes, Visual Archetypes, Body Language Expressions, Microexpressions, Talk Style Usage, the Enneagram and Core Energetics, Core Energetics, Archetypes, MBTI, and the Self-image of the 9 Enneagram Types, as well as the Lexicon and the Myers-Briggs Personality Types and the work of Karen Horney.

Katherine has been an invited presenter at the International Enneagram Association Conferences since 1997. She regularly presents her Enneagram findings as a guest on The Shift Network and other Enneagram Events.  She has conducted professional Enneagram training programs across the USA and in countries such as Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Israel, Italy, Portugal, and the United Kingdom.

Research
Her initial and ongoing qualitative research studies on the Enneagram Types, Instinctual Types, Subtypes, and 16 Personality Types revealed key information about these types and subtypes. These findings include groundbreaking insights that enhanced understanding of these systems and added more advanced applications of the Enneagram. She also discovered the Stackings Patterns, the 27 Tritype® Archetypes, and Tristar: The Unfolding of the 27 Tritype® Archetypes,  the Enneagram of Process. Archetypal Roles,  along with correlations with many other systems.

Her research findings quickly made their way to the mainstream Enneagram. This was in part due to the enthusiasm and participation of the Enneagram Community. Katherine notified the community that she needed their help finding all types of participants, even those who disliked personality typologies, to have more accurate findings of the diversity within those of the same types.  This was also due to the cooperative efforts of the Enneagram enthusiasts, who encouraged their friends, family members, and colleagues to participate in the study. They encouraged their friends and family to fill out Katherine’s Enneastyle Questionnaire, send her pictures of the words, phrases, and images they identified with or expressed their internal experiences, and participate further by having a 2-3-hour qualitative In-depth Inquiry Process Typing (IIP) Interview with Katherine.  Due to their support, Katherine was able to interview people who were passionate about the Enneagram, those who were disinterested, and those who were averse to personality typologies. They became a part of Katherine’s control groups.

This provided key insights into individuals who were not interested in personality typologies, those who were too shy to offer their time for interviews, and those who were simply reluctant to participate in a study. With these individuals, the study findings became more comprehensive, providing an understanding of all types rather than just those who were enthusiastic about the Enneagram. This also shed light on the types who were often not represented in personality studies.

Incorporating these personality types enriched the study’s findings. With this data, Katherine was able to uncover the "inner world" of all types, not just those who are passionate about the Enneagram. Throughout each research study, Katherine seeks feedback from participants and identifies those who are uninterested or disinterested to maintain a control group in her studies. This method has allowed Katherine to gather key nuances of individual types and subtypes, resulting in a more concise and holistic view of the systems. She has also taught the Enneagram across various fields in multiple countries and cultures, providing a more comprehensive perspective of all personality types.

Unexpected Findings
For example, the Subtypes research highlighted the fact that the lead Instinctual Type in the Instinctual Stacking proved to be more dominant and influential than the lead “Core” Enneagram Type in the Tritype® Stacking. An unmet primal need of the lead Instinctual Type in the Instinctual Stacking triggers the Tritype® Stacking to solve problems, thus confirming that the Instinctual Stacking Order governs the entire Enneagram defense system.  While contrary to earlier beliefs, this powerful insight enabled Enneagram Enthusiasts to recognize the more hidden drivers of their personality structure and suggested that they should identify and work with their Instinctual Stacking to increase their understanding of their Type and Tritypes® passions, fixations, and convictions.

Publications
Katherine has published several articles in The Enneagram Monthly, Enneagram Full Circle, The Enneagram Educator, The Image Networker, and The Enneagram Journal, as well as in various newsletters worldwide. In 2012, her original work on the internal experience of the Enneagram Types, Tritypes®, Instinctual Types, and Subtypes, as seen through the lens of the Enneastyle Questionnaire, was outlined in her detailed study, Exploring Enneagram Tritype®: Theory and Practice, published in the International Enneagram Association's Enneagram Journal.

Katherine regularly shares her research findings on her comprehensive website, www.katherinefauvre.com, and her Enneagram Tritype® Test v8 test site. She regularly posts blogs and updates her materials on her website and social media.  In addition, she introduces new topics she has discovered about the Enneagram on her YouTube channel: Katherine Cherinck Fauvre: Creator of Tritype®. and created videos on new topics and her findings in her regular Blog Posts and on Social Media.

Awards
In 2011, as Enneagram Explorations, Katherine received the “Wave” Award for her Enneastyle work and her non-profit TV series Types: Your Personality Revealed. In 2015, she was awarded Best Coach of the Year for the City of Menlo Park, California. In May 2023, Katherine was inducted into the prestigious Marquis Who’s Who in America Biographical Registry. In August 2023, she was inducted into the International Association of Top Professionals and awarded the title of “Top Enneagram Coach of the Year” for 2023. In October 2023, she received another honor as the City of Menlo Park named her the “Best Consultant of the Year” for 2023. In January 2024, Katherine was awarded the title of “Empowered Woman of the Year.”

Products
Katherine is the author of numerous Enneagram products, including Enneastyle: The 9 Languages of Enneagram Type, Enneagram Instinctual Types and Subtypes 1.0, Enneagram Instinctual Types and Subtypes 2.0: Advanced Instincts, Subtypes, Countertypes, and Stackings, TrueType, Enneagram Enneacards Testing Instrument ©2015, and The 27 Tritypes® Revealed. She co-created the Enneagram Enneacards Testing Instrument ©1995-2003. Her most comprehensive EnneagramTritype®Test is now available. Katherine is also the co-creator of the Enneagram Professional Intensives and the Enneagram and Spirituality Intensives.

Media
She is the co-creator and co-host of the non-profit Wave award-winning television series Types: Your Personality Revealed. She has co-produced five TV shows covering diverse topics, including the Enneagram Types and Core Fears, Tritype®, Instinctual Types, and a Roundtable of Enneagram Master Teachers. She regularly presents her findings at the International Enneagram Association Conferences and is an invited presenter at the Enneagram Global Summit.

Books
Her newest work, Enneagram Instinctual Subtypes 2.0: Advanced Instincts, Subtypes, Countertypes and Stackings, was released on Amazon in November 2024. Her upcoming book, Enneagram Tritype® Advantage 2.0, will be released in the Spring of 2025. Since 1997,

Katherine has been an invited presenter at conferences such as the International Enneagram Association Conferences. She has also conducted professional Enneagram training programs throughout the USA, as well as in Australia, Belgium, Canada, Denmark, France, Israel, Italy, Portugal, and the United Kingdom.  The Enneagram Tritype® Test is now available.  

Prior to her work with the Enneagram, Katherine was an executive manager, regional consultant, and special events coordinator for Lancome Cosmetics. In 1984, Katherine founded her image consulting businesses, Dragonworks Consulting and Reflections Unique. Her focus as Personal Empowerment and Personality Diversity.

In 1985, she added Enneastyle, bringing a distinct blend of competencies as an executive manager, trainer, personality expert, color specialist, and designer. With extensive management experience spanning many years in the fashion industry, she skillfully combined these talents and consistently demonstrated creative problem-solving skills that set her apart.

She excelled at guiding clients and businesses through complex challenges, whether collaborating with a CEO seeking to instill trust and security within their company, empowering a hesitant HR manager to confront an intimidating attorney, advising legal professionals during the voir dire process, or designing a wardrobe. Her expertise was consistently marked by a strategic and insightful approach, underpinned by her astute understanding of various organizational roles and personality styles. This enabled her to provide tailored guidance that extended far beyond traditional consulting services,

Her studies span over three decades, marked by technological changes, significant advances, and numerous disputes in countries and groups around the world. While there have been many changes, it is noteworthy that the internal worlds of those sharing the same types remain the same. This suggests that these types are innate and that it is possible to learn more about understanding differences and depersonalizing what seems so personal.

Read IAOTP’s press release about Katherine Chernick Fauvre, Empowered Woman of the Year 2024.

Endorsements

“Katherine's Enneagram expertise and instruction on the Enneagram and Tritype increased our team's ability to relate with one another on a business level. Moreover, her teachings at the Federal Reserve Bank over the years helped me understand more about myself as a person, and I've taken her instruction with me well after I took her classes. Working with Katherine was a profound and important milestone in my life.” 
April 14, 2011, hired  Katherine more than once as a Business Consultant
Top qualities: Great Results, Personable, Expert
-Keane Li

"Katherine is a gifted teacher and researcher with superb presentation skills. She has a great sensitivity to her audiences, a sparkling presence, and a command of different approaches to the Enneagram that gives her a unique perspective on the subject. Her work with the Instinctual Variants and Tritype® are original and innovative contributions. Her research into the inner world of the types has made it easier to understand the basic fears of the types. We highly recommend her work and look forward to her continued contributions to the field.”
-Don Riso and Russ Hudson, The Wisdom of the Enneagram

Katherine is the most skilled and knowledgeable coach and teacher I've encountered. I have attended numerous trainings and find that her expertise, knowledge synthesis and charismatic and compassionate delivery is exemplary in every way. I write this with the highest recommendation possible.
-Sterlin Mosley Ph.d

"It's a pleasure to endorse Katherine Chernick Fauvre, an eminent pioneer in the field of Enneagram studies and the creator of Tritype®. As a master of microexpressions, visual archetypes, body language, and behavioral analysis within the Enneagram framework, Katherine has developed comprehensive Enneagram practices that integrate these elements seamlessly. Her creation of the in-depth inquiry process and her expertise in lexicon language specific to Enneagram types showcase her unparalleled understanding of personality dynamics.

Katherine's innovative approach also extends to combining Enneagram insights with Myers-Briggs personality types, offering a holistic view of individual and interpersonal dynamics. Her work on the Enneagram in spirituality and empathy further underscores her mastery and thought leadership. Co-creating and co-teaching the Personality Matrix with her has been a profound learning experience. This 10-week intensive program delves into Tritype®, archetypes, the processes of the 16 personality types, and the instinctual subtypes and stacking, providing rich, layered understanding at three levels.

As I near the completion of my certification as a master Enneagram teacher under her guidance, I am continually impressed by Katherine’s depth of knowledge and innovative spirit. Working with her has been an absolute privilege—her dedication to exploring and teaching the nuanced aspects of type is truly inspiring. Katherine Chernick Fauvre is not only a mentor but also a luminary in the psychological community, whose contributions continue to enrich and transform the way we understand human behavior and personality."
- Joyce Meng
Master MBTI Practitioner • Certified Enneagram Tritype® Teacher • Founder of Type Talks 

 Katherine also offers one on one Skype and Zoom coaching. 

Why is the Enneagram helpful?

• Honors personality diversity
• Recognizes 9 views of reality, all of which are inherently valid
• Identifies why you do what you do
• Helps you to develop critical self-awareness
• Improves your relationships with others
• Helps to build cohesive groups, families and teams
• A greater catalyst for change than any other personality typology

What is Tritype® Theory?

Tritype® Theory is a 27-point personality system created by Katherine Chernick Fauvre. This theory emerged from her qualitative research in 1994, focusing on the "internal experiences" of Enneagram types. Tritype® Theory suggests that individuals do not operate solely from a single Enneagram type but instead use three types—one from each center of intelligence: head, heart, and gut. These three types work together, blending their idealized images, core fears, and defense strategies to form a unique, cohesive personality structure with a specific focus and worldview.

Key Components of Tritype® Theory:

1. Three Centers of Intelligence:

   • Head Center (Types 5, 6, 7): Concerned with thinking, fear, and anxiety.
   • Heart Center (Types 2, 3, 4): Focused on feelings, relationships, and self-worth.
   • Gut Center (Types 8, 9, 1): Driven by instincts, actions, and anger.

2. Dominant Type and Hierarchical Stacking:

   • In each Tritype®, one of the three types is the dominant or core type. This dominant type represents the ego’s preferred defense strategy and leads the hierarchical stacking order.

   • The three types in a Tritype® are used in unison, in a rapid, repeating hierarchical order, influencing decisions and behaviors throughout the day.

3. Formation of Tritype® Archetypes:

   • There are 27 unique Tritypes®, each combining the characteristics of three types from the different centers. These combinations create distinct personality profiles, each with its own set of core values, needs, fears, and concerns.

   • The interaction of the three types within a Tritype® amplifies some characteristics and minimizes others, resulting in unique attentional patterns and personality traits.

4. Internal Dynamics:

   • The Tritype® integrates the idealized images, core fears, and defense strategies of the three types, creating a new type with a more specific focus and worldview.

   • Research suggests that the common theme among the three types within an individual’s Tritype® identifies their archetypal life purpose and critical blind spots, offering insights into living a more conscious and meaningful life.

5. Example of Tritype®:

   • For instance, the 478 Tritype® includes the three “creative" types (4, 7, 8), resulting in a person who is innovative, creative, outspoken, intense, assertive, deep, sensitive, and unconventional. The dominant type influences which traits are most pronounced.

Identifying Your Tritype®:

• To identify your Tritype®, you must determine your dominant type within each of the three centers.

• To confirm your Tritype®, you must have the Idealized Images and Core Fears of all three types in the Tritype®. You also need to use the Defense strategies of all three types in the Tritype®.

• The focus of attention of your Tritype® emerges from the interaction of these three types, forming a cohesive and unique personality structure.

Significance of Tritype® Theory:

• Tritype® Theory provides a more comprehensive understanding of personality by considering the interplay of three types rather than just one. It enhances self-awareness, personal growth, and the ability to navigate interpersonal relationships by recognizing the complex dynamics of the Tritype®.

For more detailed information and specific descriptions of each Tritype®, you can explore the resources available on the Enneagram Tritype Test website.

Types: Your Personality Revealed
Co-host of Wave Award Winning Educational TV Series:
Show 1: 9 Enneagram Types
Show 2: Types and Core Fears
Show 3: Tritype®
Show 4: Instinctual Types
Show 5: Enneagram Master Roundtable Discussion
Watch all videos

Katherine is an IEA Accredited Professional with Distinction

Author of:
Over 24 Research Studies including:
Enneastyle: The 9 Languages of EnneagramType
Enneagram Instinctual Subtypes
The 27 Tritypes® Revealed
Enneagram Enneacards Testing Instrument

Current Research Studies:

Enneagram and Empathy EQ2 https://enneagramtritypetest.com
Guiding the 9 Enneagram Types to Change

(Can be found on Products Page)
Enneagram Tritype® Test is now available

Book Launch on Amazon:
Enneagram Instinctual Subtypes 2.0: Advanced Instincts, Subtypes, Countertypes, and Stackings

Specialties:
 Personality Expert
• Enneagram Type and Tritype®
• How to Type, TrueType®
• 24 Enneagram Research Studies
• Tens of thousands of in-depth Interviews
• Instinctual Types and Subtypes of Research
• Archetypes
• MBTI
• Core Energetics - Barbara Brennan - Hands of Light, Light Emerging, Stephen Johnson
• Micro Expressions
• Body Language Expert
• NLP
• Faceology
• Lexicon/Language Use Expert - University Validated Study 2021- University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK
• Testing
• Consulting, Team Building
• Conflict Resolution
• Ongoing Innovative Applications
• Trained in Harvel Hendrix, Imago Therapy
• Trained in the work of Harley work of 10 Emotional Needs
• Trained in the work of Stephen Stosny

Teaches:

• • Instinctual Subtypes and Intimacy- 1998 University Validated Study 1998 - University of California at Davis, CA
• Lexicon of Type- The keywords used by each Enneagram TypeUniversity Validated Study 2021 - University of Oklahoma, Norman, OK
• How to take advantage of the Enneagram Tritype® Test - Take the Test here:  https://enneagramtritypetest.com• 
• Enneagram Professional Certification Intensives
• Enneagram and Spirituality Intensives
• Tools for Change and Compassion
• Tritype®- Dominant Type in each Center
• Tristar
•Tritype®: Unfolding of the 27 Tritypes                                               
• Enneagram Coaching
• 3 Enneagram Instinctual Types and  27 Subtypes
• Enneagram Idealized Self-Image and Core Fears
• Enneagram & Psychotherapy
• Enneagram Talk Styles
• Enneagram in Business
• The 9 Languages of Communication
• Enneagram and Core Energetics
• On All 4s- An In-depth Exploration of Type 4
• On All 6s-
• Presentation and Language Usage
• Enneastyle-The 9 Languages of the Enneagram Types
• Micro-expressions and the Enneagram
• The influence of 7 Visual Archetypes
• Enneagram of Process and Archetypes
• Enneagram Type, Social Roles, and Communication Styles
• Enneagram Wing Theory
• Enneagram Spiritual journey- Consciousness and Inner Work
• How to Type-- 12 Key Considerations when typing others and oneself.
• Typing Interviews, Type, Tritype® and Instinctual Type
• Custom Courses that apply to your Group, Team, or Organization.


Katherine's Tritype® Coaching Sessions 

Learn more about Katherine's approach to Enneagram Coaching on Coaching Page

Enneagram Tritype® Coaching with Katherine
Learn to quickly identify and release negative emotions, limiting beliefs, and habitual behaviors... Then turn personal struggles into opportunities for life-enhancing personal empowerment. 

New Client Tritype® Special
Special New Client 1-hour Mini Tritype® Typing Session - $150 (Save $50)

Katherine is an IEA Accredited Professional with Distinction