A Brief Introduction
I first want to thank you for being here and for taking the time out of your day to spend a little of it with me.
My Name is Adam Ebberts. I’m a Master’s level clinician and Licensed Professional Counselor, and “Mechanics of Personality” is the manifestation of the last nearly 20 years of both my personal and professional life.
Back in late 2002, I was introduced to a book by Dr. David Keirsey entitled “Please Understand Me II”, a follow up to the original “Please Understand Me”. With no prior contact with the MBTI, Jungian typology, or any other form of personality or temperament typing system, I did have an interest in the psychology of people and how they interact on an intuitive level.
When I first read Keirsey’s work, I was completely blown away by what he was able to articulate about what he called “temperament” types, and more particularly, about my type. It felt surreal to read someone’s words from roughly 15 years ago, and to have them so clearly identify my motivations, drives and desires. I knew this was a special work, and I consumed it almost religiously for the next several years.
This offered a fascinating context from which I began to observe myself and others. I found thematic influence in what I understood about relationships, intelligence, habits and tendencies, and found new insight into what temperament had to do with stress responses, self-destructive behaviors, and general dysfunctions.
This theoretical interest would follow me as I began a career in the counseling field. I have been able to intimately discuss these issues in great detail with others as well as draw new conclusions. As I began to apply some of my understandings about Keirsey’s work, I made useful connections to the role temperament plays in our relationships and behaviors. I also began to see how this theory could be used in a practical sense to assist the therapist in understanding the needs of their client.
In the coming weeks, months and years, I will be sharing with you much of what I have come to understand about personality, temperament and typology. I will be expanding the work of people like Keirsey, and presenting many of my own ideas that have developed from thousands of hours of clinical practice.
Whether you’re a professional working in psychological services, or just someone who looking to improve your life and strengthen your relationships with those around you, I believe you’ll find Mechanics of Personality to be an invaluable resource.
SO much more to come….