Narrative Enneagram vs Your Enneagram Coach vs Integrative9: Which Program?

Three Enneagram certification programs come up repeatedly when aspiring coaches begin their research: The Narrative Enneagram (TNE), Your Enneagram Coach (YEC), and Integrative9 (iEQ9). Each has cultivated a loyal following, a distinct teaching philosophy, and a specific kind of graduate. But they differ substantially in approach, format, cost, and accreditation.

Choosing between them requires understanding not just what each program offers but which aligns with your values, learning style, professional goals, and budget. This head-to-head comparison provides the detail you need to make a confident decision.

For a broader overview that includes additional programs, see our best Enneagram certification programs guide.

Quick Comparison at a Glance

Feature	Narrative Enneagram	Your Enneagram Coach	Integrative9
Founded By	Helen Palmer & David Daniels	Beth McCord	Dirk Cloete
IEA Accredited	Yes	No	Yes
ICF CEUs	Yes	Limited	Yes
Primary Format	In-person intensives	Online	Fully online
Approximate Cost	$4,000-$7,000+	$1,500-$4,000	$2,500-$5,000
Duration	12-24 months	6-9 months	6-12 months
Assessment Tool	Panel-based typing	YEC typing resources	iEQ9 assessment
Spiritual Orientation	Contemplative/interfaith	Christian-integrated	Secular/professional
Best For	Depth seekers, therapists	Faith-based coaches, beginners	Corporate coaches, global access

The Narrative Enneagram (TNE)

Background and Philosophy

The Narrative Enneagram was co-founded by Helen Palmer and David Daniels, MD, two of the most influential figures in modern Enneagram teaching. Their approach is rooted in the narrative tradition, which holds that the best way to understand each type is to hear from real people who embody that type.

The philosophy is fundamentally experiential. Rather than learning about types from a textbook or instructor alone, students learn by witnessing live type panels where individuals share their inner experience while facilitators and students observe and inquire. This creates a depth of understanding that purely didactic methods struggle to match.

Curriculum and Teaching Method

Panel-Based Learning: TNE's signature method involves structured panels where 3 to 5 individuals of the same type sit before the group and respond to questions about their inner world, their motivations, their challenges, and their growth. Observing how a panel of Type 5, the Investigator individuals describes their relationship with knowledge and withdrawal is profoundly different from reading about it.

Experiential Exercises: The curriculum includes guided meditations, body awareness practices, and experiential exercises designed to help students access each type's experience from the inside, not just intellectually.

Theoretical Depth: TNE covers all nine types with exceptional thoroughness, including subtypes, wings, integration and disintegration, and the spiritual dimensions of each type. The theoretical grounding draws from psychology, contemplative traditions, and interpersonal neurobiology.

Professional Training: The full certification pathway includes both foundational Enneagram studies and professional training in how to teach and coach with the Enneagram.

Program Structure

TNE's certification typically involves:

• Part 1 (Enneagram Professional Training Program - EPTP): Core Enneagram theory across several weekend intensives
• Part 2 (Advanced EPTP): Advanced topics, coaching methodology, supervised practice
• Ongoing requirements: Continued education and community participation

Total duration is typically 12 to 24 months, depending on scheduling and how quickly you progress through the levels.

Strengths

• Unmatched depth of type understanding through panel methodology
• IEA accredited with ICF continuing education credits
• Strong theoretical foundation rooted in decades of development
• Contemplative and somatic dimensions that create well-rounded practitioners
• Respected reputation in the professional Enneagram community

Limitations

• Higher cost when including travel and accommodation for in-person intensives
• Geographic constraints (programs are offered at specific locations)
• Longer timeline to completion
• Less emphasis on practical business building for coaches
• Can feel more academic than practical for students wanting immediate coaching application

Ideal Student Profile

TNE is the strongest choice for therapists, counselors, spiritual directors, and anyone who prioritizes depth of understanding over speed of certification. If you are willing to invest significant time and money, value experiential learning, and want the deepest possible theoretical grounding, TNE delivers.

For therapists specifically, see our article on Enneagram certification for therapists for additional considerations.

Your Enneagram Coach (YEC)

Background and Philosophy

Your Enneagram Coach was founded by Beth McCord, who has become one of the most visible Enneagram teachers in the United States. McCord's approach emphasizes accessibility, practical application, and integration with Christian faith. The philosophy is that the Enneagram is a gift that reveals how God uniquely designed each person.

YEC has grown rapidly, particularly within faith communities, and has built one of the largest Enneagram training communities in the world.

Curriculum and Teaching Method

Gospel-Centered Framework: YEC integrates Enneagram teaching with Christian theology. Each type's journey is framed through the lens of gospel truths, and the growth path is understood as part of spiritual formation. This is central to the program, not an add-on.

Practical Application Focus: The curriculum emphasizes immediately applicable insights. Students learn to help clients understand their type patterns and take concrete steps toward growth, rather than spending extended time in theoretical exploration.

Coaching Tracks: YEC offers multiple certification tracks (Explore, Coach, Train) that allow students to choose their level of investment and professional goal.

Community Model: A significant portion of the learning happens within the YEC community through group discussions, peer connections, and shared resources.

Program Structure

YEC's certification pathway includes:

• Explore: Foundational Enneagram knowledge (shorter, lower cost)
• Coach: Coaching methodology and supervised practice (mid-range investment)
• Train: Training others to teach the Enneagram (higher investment)

The core coaching certification typically takes 6 to 9 months and can be completed entirely online.

Strengths

• Most accessible entry point of the three programs (lower cost, shorter timeline)
• Strong, supportive community that continues well beyond certification
• Excellent for coaches serving faith-based populations
• Clear, practical teaching style that avoids unnecessary complexity
• Multiple certification levels allow graduated investment
• Active social media presence creates brand recognition that benefits graduates

Limitations

• Not IEA accredited, which limits credibility in some professional contexts
• Faith integration may not resonate with secular or non-Christian coaches
• Less theoretical depth than TNE or Integrative9 on subtypes, levels of development, and psychological underpinnings
• Limited ICF continuing education credits
• May not prepare graduates sufficiently for corporate or clinical settings

Ideal Student Profile

YEC is the strongest choice for coaches who want to work within Christian or faith-based communities, value a supportive learning community, prefer accessible teaching over academic depth, and are sensitive to budget and timeline constraints. It is also well-suited for coaches building practices around individuals and couples rather than organizations.

Integrative9 Enneagram Solutions (iEQ9)

Background and Philosophy

Integrative9 was founded by Dirk Cloete in South Africa and has grown into a globally recognized Enneagram training organization. Their philosophy centers on integrating the Enneagram with modern coaching methodology and psychometric science. The iEQ9 assessment, their proprietary typing instrument, is one of the most rigorously validated Enneagram tools available.

Curriculum and Teaching Method

Assessment-Centered Approach: The iEQ9 assessment is central to the Integrative9 methodology. Students learn to administer, interpret, and debrief this comprehensive assessment, which provides detailed reports on type, wing, subtype, levels of integration, and specific developmental recommendations.

Competency-Based Framework: The curriculum is structured around clearly defined coaching competencies. Students progress through levels as they demonstrate mastery of specific skills.

Professional Coaching Integration: Integrative9 explicitly integrates ICF coaching competencies into their Enneagram training, making the program particularly suitable for students who want or already hold ICF credentials. See our IEA vs ICF comparison for more on why this matters.

Global, Virtual Delivery: The program is delivered entirely online, with students from dozens of countries in each cohort. This creates a naturally diverse learning environment.

Program Structure

Integrative9 offers a progressive certification path:

• Accredited Practitioner: Core Enneagram knowledge and iEQ9 proficiency (approximately 4 to 6 months)
• Professional Practitioner: Advanced coaching methodology and supervised practice (additional 4 to 6 months)
• Specialization Tracks: Team, Leadership, and other specialized applications

Strengths

• IEA accredited with ICF continuing education credits
• iEQ9 assessment provides a powerful professional tool for client work
• Fully online format provides maximum accessibility
• Strong integration of Enneagram theory with professional coaching methodology
• Globally diverse cohorts provide cross-cultural perspective
• Well-structured, progressive curriculum with clear competency benchmarks
• Particularly strong for organizational and corporate applications

Limitations

• Fully online format misses the depth of in-person experiential learning
• Assessment-centered approach may feel less personal or intuitive than panel-based methods
• iEQ9 assessment administration requires ongoing licensing fees
• Less emphasis on the contemplative and spiritual dimensions of the Enneagram
• The South Africa base means live sessions may occur at inconvenient times for some time zones
• Does not offer the depth of panel-based type study that TNE provides

Ideal Student Profile

Integrative9 is the strongest choice for coaches who want a professional, data-driven approach to Enneagram coaching. It is particularly well-suited for those targeting corporate and organizational clients, those who value having a validated assessment tool, those pursuing dual IEA/ICF certification, and international students who need a fully online program.

Deep-Dive Comparisons

Theoretical Depth

TNE wins this category. Their panel methodology and contemplative approach create the deepest understanding of the nine types. The experiential learning goes beyond intellectual knowledge into embodied comprehension.

Integrative9 is strong in its systematic coverage and its integration of modern psychological research with traditional Enneagram wisdom.

YEC provides solid foundational knowledge but does not go as deep into subtypes, levels of development, or psychological underpinnings as the other two.

Coaching Skill Development

Integrative9 has the strongest explicit coaching methodology training, with clear competency frameworks and direct integration of ICF coaching competencies.

TNE develops coaching presence and intuition through experiential methods, though the explicit coaching methodology training varies by instructor.

YEC teaches practical coaching skills within an accessible framework, though with less formal methodology structure.

Assessment and Typing Tools

Integrative9 dominates with the iEQ9, a comprehensive, validated instrument that provides detailed client reports.

TNE relies on the narrative panel and interview method for typing, which requires high skill but produces deep understanding.

YEC offers typing resources and guides but does not provide a comparable psychometric assessment tool.

Post-Certification Support

YEC has the most active post-certification community, with ongoing events, ambassador programs, and peer support groups.

Integrative9 provides continued access to the iEQ9 platform and advanced training opportunities.

TNE offers advanced trainings and the annual IEA conference connection, but the ongoing community is less structured.

Return on Investment

Each program's ROI depends on your career path:

• For corporate coaches: Integrative9's iEQ9 tool and IEA/ICF credentials generate the strongest ROI
• For therapists and counselors: TNE's depth justifies the higher investment through clinical applicability
• For faith-based and community coaches: YEC's lower cost and strong community create the fastest path to ROI
• For general coaching practice: Any of the three can provide strong ROI if matched to the right market

For detailed income data, see our Enneagram coach salary guide.

What About Combining Programs?

Some practitioners complete training with multiple organizations. Common combinations include:

• TNE + Integrative9: Deep type understanding (TNE) plus assessment tools and coaching methodology (iEQ9)
• YEC + TNE: Accessible foundation (YEC) followed by deeper theoretical work (TNE)
• Any program + ICF accredited coach training: Adding formal coaching credentials to Enneagram expertise

Combining programs increases your total investment but can create a uniquely comprehensive skill set. Consider this option if you have already completed one program and want to fill specific gaps.

Our Recommendation

Each of these three programs serves a distinct audience well. There is no single "best" program, only the best program for you.

However, if you are looking for a program that balances the strengths of all three, offering depth of theory, practical coaching methodology, professional accreditation, and an accessible format, we recommend exploring The Enneagram University. Their IEA-accredited program combines rigorous Enneagram training with practical coaching skills in a hybrid format that provides both flexibility and depth. It is a strong middle path for coaches who do not want to compromise on any dimension.

Whichever program you choose, commit fully to the process. The certification is only as valuable as the effort you invest in it. For a comprehensive look at the full certification journey, see our guide to becoming a certified Enneagram coach, and for help deciding between online and in-person formats, check our dedicated comparison.