Counselor (VOE-S)
Visionary 68%
Observant 57%
Extraverted 50%
Identity: Supporting
If one personality type could be proclaimed the master of emotions, it is the Counselor. Highly intuitive and sensitive, Counselors are fascinated by people’s dreams and desires, their motivations and concerns. For a Counselor, life is a never-ending quest to understand themselves and others.
Counselors are curious, idealistic, artistically inclined, and even somewhat mystical. They value independence and self-determination, steadfastly believing that no one has a right to tell anyone else what to do. Rather than controlling other people, Counselors tend to inspire by example, often unwittingly. They simply live as they see fit, spearheading new initiatives and forging their own path, and it’s perplexing to them when other people see this independence as bold or unusual.
Authenticity is a core value of this personality type. Few things excite Counselors more than the prospect of being true to themselves, and few things frustrate them more than suffocating routines or rules. Although they’ll devote themselves to causes that matter to them, they resist taking on work that doesn’t align with their key goals and values, regardless of the potential rewards.
For Counselors, emotional expression is necessary for a full, authentic life. Sensitive to their environment and the moods of the people around them, they can experience a range of emotions in a short amount of time, with the pendulum swinging from apprehension to exuberance, pity to inspiration. Counselors fall in love perhaps more easily than any other personality type, and their creativity and artistic output usually stem from the realm of feeling and sensibility rather than logic or rational thought.
Despite their cheerful, free-spirited attitude, Counselors are quite perfectionistic. Because they are so values-driven, they may conflate their work with their true identity, making them anxious to meet or exceed even the highest standards. Although they can be adaptable, Counselors are vulnerable to stress and anxiety, particularly in challenging situations. Their sensitivity and their interest in others, if taken too far, can also unsettle them. Campaigners need quiet time to work through their thoughts and experiences, and they may surprise their friends by periodically acting like Introverts (I).
With the right work-life balance and good friends, Counselors can handle occasional rough patches. People with this personality type often bounce back from adversity and use their strong interpersonal skills to encourage and inspire others. Counselors’ characteristic charm and enthusiasm is difficult to resist. It seems as if they truly know what it means to enjoy life, and this trait, combined with their extraordinary intuition, makes them unrivaled motivators.