David Daniels offered his 50 years of experience as a therapist and around 30 years of practical studies of the Enneagram in both his writing and teaching.
Written by Flemming Christensen
David Daniels has a personal mission to bring peace and compassion to the world
David passed away on Maj 26th, 2017, and was a clinical professor of psychiatry at Stanford University. He is the author of several books about the Enneagram and co-founder of The Narrative Enneagram. Up until the year 2000, he ran his own private practice but retired himself to use his time on a deeper study of the Enneagram.
In 1984 David attended a workshop with Helen Palmer and the Enneagram material has much alignment with his own studies. The Enneagram discovered the core fundamental adaptive patterns that each of us uses in our daily life, and David started connecting the Enneagram with especially personal work and personal work within intimate relationships.
Enneagram Professional Training Program
It was in 1988, that David Daniels and Helen Palmer announced their first Enneagram Professional Training Program and they created a method called ‘the narrative tradition’. The narrative tradition is based on a panel of students from each type speaking about their own experiences supported by David and Helen’s teaching. In 1994 David and Helen held the first International Enneagram Conference at Stanford University with more than 1.200 guests.
The scientifical verification of the Enneagram
David is co-author of the publication, where the Enneagram is validated. The publication is using Loevinger’s model of ego development as both the Enneagram and Loevinger’s model have a holistic approach to the development of personality. Also, the levels we know in the Enneagram (Levels of Development by Don Richard Riso and Russ Hudson) are consistent with the achievement of higher developmental levels within Loevinger’s model. “In the publication, it is stated that within the development of each type, the full range of human potential can be reached.” The publication is based on a study that validates the structure and psychology of the Enneagram.
Books and videos with David Daniels
Don was a very productive author, and his books are very profound and precise. Many students regard the Wisdom of The Enneagram as their main source of inspiration as
(2001) The Enneagram, Relationships, and Intimacy: Understanding One Another Leads to Loving Better and Living More Fully (click here to read more)
(2009) The Essential Enneagram: The Definitive Personality Test and Self-Discovery Guide (click here to read more)
David Daniels in videos
Watch videos with David Daniels (click here)
Links about David Daniels
Read more about David Daniels on this website honoring him and his work (click here)
Read the original publication about the verification of the Enneagram (click here)



















