 By Lavern Nissley Encompass Relationship Facilitator When I first began hearing about the Enneagram approach to understanding personality some ten years ago, I remember blocking it out, almost as if it were some dreaded disease to just stay away from. It was numbers-based, which felt strange to me, in contrast to other approaches like Myers-Briggs and DISC that use textual descriptions, or The Primary Colors personality approach that uses the colors red, orange, yellow, green, purple, and blue to represent key behavior characteristics.
What turned my heart (and my head) was two trusted relationships in my life that talked quite positively about the Enneagram. One was our daughter and son-in-law, Kevin and Kristen Frank, who had found it helpful to understanding dynamics in their marriage. The other was a clinical counselor, Chris LeMaster, who had become a sort of "expert" on the Enneagram and used it frequently and successfully with clients. I thought, "Well, if these people are speaking so highly of it, I should check it out!" I did and came away with the same conclusion they had - that it is another helpful tool for self-insight and relational health. What follows is a brief introduction, accompanied by additional resources for optional follow-up.
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 By Dr. David Mabry Encompass Executive Director If you're looking for a fresh and meaningful way to connect with your spouse—beyond the usual dinner and a movie—try exploring your personality types together. Taking time to understand each other’s unique wiring can be a powerful way to strengthen marriage communication, deepen empathy, and grow your relationship. Whether you're dating, engaged, newlyweds, or decades into marriage, using a personality assessment as a couples activity is a fun and insightful way to build greater connection and insight into how you both think, decide, and interact.
One of the most helpful tools I’ve found for understanding personality is the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® (MBTI). It’s a well-established framework that helps people understand how they naturally perceive the world and make decisions. I’ve used it personally, professionally, and in coaching sessions with couples, families, and workplace teams. In fact, I’m a certified MBTI practitioner and have seen how learning about personality can transform relationships.  By Cindee Johnson Relationship Champion and Encompass Partner There are some people who energize me! And there are others who…well, let’s just say, don’t. There are conversations that seem effortless with one person, yet almost painful with another. There are events and activities I can’t wait to engage in. Still, there are those I dread having to attend.
Raise a hand if you get me. Raise two if this also is you. Have you ever wondered why? The answer may lie in something surprisingly simple: your personality type.  Faith and Keith Bosland. By Faith Bosland Encompass Board President Looking back, there were some pretty good reasons for my husband Keith and I not to take that RINGS class.
At the time, back in 2011, our kids were 5 and 3. Life with two little kids and two full time jobs felt like rollerblading on a treadmill most days, and Sunday afternoons – when our church was inviting us to come to 3 weeks of RINGS classes – were one of the precious little bits of downtime in the chaos. Could it really be worth that sacrifice? On top of that, we felt like our marriage was doing pretty well. We’re both easygoing people and had never had a lot of conflict or arguments. We both felt like we knew how to communicate well. But we’d heard good things about the RINGS workshop – so we gave up our Sunday downtime (goodbye, naps) for three weeks and went. Fourteen years later, those two squirrelly little kids are now pretty great young adults. I can’t say I remember exact “aha moments” or statements made in those three sessions. But I can tell you that RINGS has impacted our relationship and our family greatly, and here’s why:  Dr. David and Theresa Mabry (center) with their children, daughters-in-law, and grandchildren. By Theresa Mabry Encompass Director of Operations David and I had been married for 13 years when we took our first relationship assessment. He was getting ready to begin work at the Marriage Resource Center—what you now know as Encompass Connection Center—and we were invited to help teach relationship classes to couples.
I remember thinking, “Well, they’ve asked the right people! We've been married long enough to teach this stuff with our eyes closed.” Boy, was I wrong.  By Dr. David Marine Mabry Encompass Executive Director Every workplace has its quirks—inside jokes, unwritten rules, and yes, even the occasional debate over who moved the stapler. But if you’ve been following our blog series this month, you know those surface-level irritations point to something deeper: the quality of our workplace relationships.
Whether it was a moment of tension like the one shared in Theresa’s lighthearted story about Greg, or Cindee’s reminder of the power of words, or Lavern’s call for clarity, safety, and morale, one truth echoed throughout: our work lives rise or fall on the strength of our relationships. And yet, in most workplaces, relationship skills are the least trained and least resourced.  By Theresa Mabry Encompass Director of Operations It was 8:03 AM when the mild-mannered accountant named Greg walked into the office, ready to start his day. But something was off—his favorite stapler was gone. Not missing. Moved. Just a few inches to the left on his desk. What seemed like a harmless gesture to one coworker sent Greg into a minor tailspin. “Why can’t people respect my space?” he muttered as he rearranged his desk for the third time.
We've all been there—those little moments in the workplace that spark confusion, frustration, or even conflict. But more often than not, the root of the issue isn’t the stapler or the coffee pot or even the group chat that won’t stop buzzing. It’s a misunderstanding of personalities—our own and others’.  By Lavern Nissley Encompass Relationship Facilitator Most of us spend way more time in the workplace every week than with our spouses or families. In some ways, workplace relationships can become more complicated and complex than family relationships because of different power, financial, and legal environments. Yet, there are similar dynamics in all settings where humans interact: communication, conflict resolution, stress, emotions, and expectations.
For the past 48 years, I've experienced many workplace settings both as an employee as well as a supervisor/overseer of others. Thankfully, most of these settings have been healthy, with only a handful of "nightmare co-workers" to deal with. I've also served as a consultant/facilitator to several dozen organizations during the past 5 decades, and unfortunately have observed workplace dynamics that literally suck the life and joy out of people. Not good! What follows are three overall criteria for a healthy workplace. Each could be "drilled down" for even more depth and specificity. But this is a brief blog, so here goes!  By Dr David Marine Mabry Encompass Executive Director At Encompass, we believe that a healthy marriage is one of the greatest gifts parents can give their children. Not because the marriage is perfect, but because it is real—rooted in mutual respect, open communication, and a commitment to growth. Children who grow up watching their parents intentionally nurture their relationship absorb powerful life lessons that shape their emotional intelligence, relationship skills, and overall outlook on life. Here are the top lessons children learn when they are raised by parents with a healthy, growing, and vibrant marriage—a relationship that embraces both the struggles and the joys of life together.
 By Theresa Mabry Encompass Director of Operations Can you feel it? The excitement, the anticipation, the thrill of stepping into a new chapter of life? For pre-marital couples, this season is truly the Gift of New Beginnings. Everything is fresh—new plans, new experiences, new families to connect with. It’s a time of endless possibility and growth as two lives come together to form something unique and beautiful. But with all this newness comes the need for intentional effort. As you step into this exciting phase, how can you build a strong foundation that will help you navigate the years ahead?
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HostsDr. David Marine and Theresa Mabry are Co-Directors of Encompass since June 1, 2024. TOPICS
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Encompass Connection Center services are provided to all eligible persons on a non-discriminatory basis. Encompass Connection Center complies with all applicable laws and regulations concerning discrimination does not discriminate on the basis of the potential participant's race, gender, gender orientation, age, disability or religion.
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Program content is the sole responsibility of Encompass Connection Center and does not necessarily represent the views of the funders.
Encompass Connection Center services are provided to all eligible persons on a non-discriminatory basis. Encompass Connection Center complies with all applicable laws and regulations concerning discrimination does not discriminate on the basis of the potential participant's race, gender, gender orientation, age, disability or religion.
Registered 501(c)(3). EIN: 37-1485217