The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator

and its various uses.

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI), and the Kiersey-Bates Temperament Sorter (KBTS) and their use in:

A - pre-marital and marital counseling,

B - team building, and

C - meditation training.

The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator was developed by the mother-daughter team of Isabel Briggs Myers and Katherine Briggs in the 1940's. It was in use in colleges and universities by the '50's and is now owned by Consulting Psychologists' Press which strictly regulates its use and sale to those trained and certified in its use.

The MBTI is immensely helpful in determining one's personality type, as developed by Carl Jung in his book of 1900, Psychological Types. With additional work by Myers and Briggs and then by David Kiersey and Marilyn Bates, the whole set of instruments by these four researchers is available to help people understand even previously dimly felt things about their personalities.

Either the MBTI or KBTS are so helpful for a couple to understand their own and each other's personalities so as to help them avoid conflicts and tension arising from the differences in personalities. See the webpage in this website on MBTI & Marital Counseling.

Work-teams such as church boards are greatly helped by understanding the insights these psychological instruments bring about personalities and how to work with one that differ from you. See the webpage in this website on MBTI & Teams.

Research has even shown the relationship between the MBTI and the various meditation styles. See the webpage in this website on MBTI & Meditation.

The MBTI and its descendants, the various type and temperament sorters developed by David Kiersey are so helpful for clergy doing premarital and marital counseling and for spiritual directors desiring to use them in counseling directees that Fr. Price teaches the use of these various instruments.

Chaplain Price administers all four related instruments: the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI); and the Kiersey-Bates Temperament Sorter (KBTS); the Kiersey Temperament Sorter II(KTSII), and the Kiersey Four Types Indicator (K4TS) to participants in this workshop, leads them in scoring their own instruments, instructs them in the background, theory, and uses of the MBTI and Kiersey's instruments. Kiersey's instruments are alternatives to the MBTI so that a well-instructed person can utilize them without having to have the expensive instruction and certification required to purchase and administer the MBTI.

Additionally, the relationship to meditation as so carefully spelled out in Msgr. Chester Michael's "Prayer and Temperament" is explored so this material can be used and taught. As well, the excellent workbook, "Using Type with Couples" by Margaret and Gary Hartzler is explored so the professional wishing to use this material will understand its use.

Updated September 15, 2002