Personality Types: A New Workbook Series

I’m excited to share some news about a project I’ve been working on for a while — a series of workbooks on personality types. As a psychoanalytic psychotherapist with over 25 years of experience, I’ve had the privilege of working with many different clients, each with their own story, challenges, and strengths. Over the years, I’ve read countless books on human behavior and personality, and combined with my clinical experience, I’ve gained a deep understanding of the patterns that shape how we think, feel, and relate to others.

This inspired me to create a series of workbooks focused on helping people better understand themselves through the lens of personality types. The first workbook, “How to Heal from Narcissistic Wounds,” is already available, and it explores the core traits of narcissistic personality, where they come from, and how to work through the emotional pain they can create.

Personality types: why to understand?

Understanding your personality type can give you valuable insights into why you think, feel, and behave the way you do. It also helps you recognize how certain patterns from childhood and early relationships influence your current relationships, self-esteem, and emotional health. When we understand our patterns, we have the power to change them. That’s why I’ve decided to create a comprehensive series of workbooks covering different personality types. Each workbook is designed to help you explore your inner world, identify recurring patterns, and develop healthier ways of relating to yourself and others.

The series will cover six key personality types, each based on psychoanalytic theory and my experience working with clients over the years. Here’s a closer look at each type and what you can expect from the workbooks:

1. Narcissistic Personality

The first workbook, “How to Heal from Narcissistic Wounds,” explores the core traits of the narcissistic personality — the deep need for admiration, the fear of vulnerability, and the difficulty forming genuine emotional connections. Narcissistic traits often develop as a defense against early emotional wounds — usually a sense of not being enough or not feeling truly loved for who you are.

This workbook helps you understand the difference between healthy self-esteem and narcissistic defenses. Through guided exercises and reflective questions, you’ll explore the roots of these patterns and learn how to develop deeper self-acceptance, emotional authenticity, and more fulfilling relationships. Healing from narcissistic wounds is about moving from seeking external validation to finding a sense of inner peace and self-worth.

2. Histrionic Personality

The histrionic personality is characterized by intense emotional expression, a deep need for attention, and a tendency to seek approval from others. People with histrionic traits often feel that they need to be entertaining or dramatic to be noticed and loved. This behavior often stems from early experiences where they felt ignored or emotionally neglected.

In the histrionic personality workbook, you’ll explore the emotional patterns behind this need for attention and connection. You’ll learn to identify when your emotional expression is genuine versus when it’s a performance to gain approval. The goal is to help you build more secure emotional connections and feel seen and valued for who you are — not just for the role you play.

3. Obsessive Personality

Obsessive personality traits are marked by a need for control, order, and perfection. People with obsessive traits often struggle with anxiety and feel that they need to have everything in order to feel safe. They may hold themselves and others to extremely high standards, leading to feelings of frustration and disappointment when things don’t go as planned.

This workbook will help you understand the roots of obsessive thinking — often connected to early experiences of feeling overwhelmed or powerless. Through exercises on mindfulness, letting go, and self-compassion, you’ll learn how to create a sense of inner stability without needing to control everything around you. The goal is to move from rigidity and perfectionism to a place of balance and acceptance.

4. Schizoid Personality

The schizoid personality is characterized by emotional detachment and a preference for solitude. People with schizoid traits often struggle to connect with others on an emotional level and may feel more comfortable in their inner world than in social interactions. This personality type is often rooted in early experiences where emotional closeness was unsafe or overwhelming.

The schizoid personality workbook will guide you through understanding why you may prefer emotional distance and how to slowly build comfort with vulnerability. You’ll explore exercises on emotional expression, identifying and communicating your needs, and developing more meaningful connections with others. The goal is not to force closeness but to create a sense of safety in emotional connection.

5. Paranoid Personality

Paranoid personality traits are marked by deep mistrust of others, hypersensitivity to criticism, and a tendency to interpret neutral or ambiguous actions as threatening. This type of thinking often develops from early experiences of betrayal, neglect, or emotional harm.

In the paranoid personality workbook, you’ll explore the roots of mistrust and learn how to differentiate between real threats and projections of past wounds. Through grounding exercises and cognitive restructuring, you’ll develop more balanced thinking and learn to create trust-based relationships. The goal is to feel more secure in yourself and less reactive to perceived threats.

6. Depressive Personality

Depressive personality traits are characterized by chronic feelings of sadness, low self-esteem, and a sense of hopelessness. People with depressive traits often feel that they are fundamentally flawed or unworthy of love. These patterns are usually rooted in early experiences where emotional needs were not met, leading to feelings of abandonment or inadequacy.

The depressive personality workbook will help you identify negative thought patterns and develop more self-compassion. You’ll learn how to build inner strength, challenge self-critical thoughts, and reconnect with a sense of purpose and joy. The goal is to move from self-blame to self-acceptance and emotional resilience.

Why These Workbooks Matter

I created this series because I’ve seen firsthand how understanding personality patterns can be life-changing. Many of the struggles we face — whether in relationships, work, or emotional well-being — are tied to deep patterns established in early life. Once you understand these patterns, you have the power to change them.

Each workbook is designed to be practical and interactive. You’ll find reflective questions, self-help exercises, and psychoanalytic insights to help you apply what you learn to your own life. My goal is to make these complex psychological concepts easy to understand and helpful in everyday situations.

This project is a labor of love, and I’m excited to share it with you. The first workbook on narcissistic personality is already available, and the others will be released throughout the year. If you’re interested in learning more or want to stay updated on new releases, be sure to subscribe to my newsletter.

Understanding yourself is the first step toward healing and growth. I hope these workbooks will help you on that journey.