Rising Stars: Meet TJ Teems of Pasadena

Today we’d like to introduce you to TJ Teems.

Hi TJ, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I started out as a math teacher, loving curriculum development and working with people. While I loved my time as a teacher, I realized that I was drawn most to the psychological development of my students, which motivated me shift my career and pursue a Masters’ Degree in Counseling.  I soon after learned about the Enneagram and how useful it is to help people make big progress in their personal growth. The Enneagram is much more than Instagram memes—it can be traced back over 2000 years!  It is an excellent tool for self-understanding and growth.  This tool has been so incredibly effective, that I now use the Enneagram exclusively for personal growth development.  I teach classes, workshops, one-on-one sessions, and speak at school and businesses to help improve their work environments using the Enneagram.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Working for yourself has its pros and cons.  I have great freedom of creativity and development of curriculum, but the downside for me personally is how challenging it is to get comfortable with marketing and self-promotion.  That part is necessary to good business growth, but it is really tough for me. I’ve learned that I need to reach out for help in that area, so I have more time to do what I love most–working with clients.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I love my work most of all because I have the privilege of seeing people’s eyes light up as they gain new understandings about themselves and their difficult relationships. It is a thrill to be a part of peoples’ journey toward greater freedom.  I’m most proud of the community that has formed out of my classes and workshops.  This community has learned to normalize compassion and humility as they continue to pursue their own growth.  My work has made a positive impact on people’s relationships and their view of themselves.  Because of the work my clients are doing with the Enneagram, personal and business relationships are more compassionate, more enlightened and more enriched.  

The Enneagram is so much more than a personality assessment.  It is a framework for understanding yourself and the struggles and wins in all our relationships.  It is a quick and tangible way to clearly see where and why we are getting stuck relationally.  Also, it is very approachable, no matter where you are on your journey.  It pairs well with personal therapy, and it is also helpful if you just want to learn more about yourself.

In my work, I’m known for my compassionate approach.  I advocate for compassion for ourselves and for each other.  Having a compassionate environment creates safety for the honest self-reflection that is essential for real growth and change.  We live in such a divided society, people long for real connection and a pathway to reconciliation. My work helps us get there.

Is there a quality that you most attribute to your success?
The primary reason I’ve had successful response to my work is that I am approachable and disarming.  We are all on a journey with our own set of strengths and struggles, and no one is immune to challenges.  When we hurt others, it is usually out of a failed attempt at self-preservation.  Knowing this doesn’t excuse the behavior, but helps give us compassion for ourselves and others and open our eyes to see the situation from a new perspective. Every human can relate to getting stuck.  Often, that happens in our relationships—we keep having the same arguments and the same misunderstandings and disconnection.  In my work, people’s eyes are opened in new ways to understanding why they get stuck, and then finding pathways out for greater relational freedom and connection.  When this happens in a disarming and compassionate environment, my clients feel safe to step out into real change.

Pricing:

• $120 for 50 minute private Zoom Session
• $300/hr for guest speaking

Contact Info:

• Website: https://tjteems.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/growingwiththeenneagram/

Image Credits
Worthy Teems