The MBTI® Step III™ instrument and Interpretive Report will soon be available to MBTI professionals who work with clients in one-to-one counseling or coaching relationships. To purchase and use this exciting new assessment, professionals are required to meet certain experiential and educational criteria, including the successful completion of the MBTI® Step III™ Certification Program, which will be held for the first time from June 23rd through 25th at the Center for Applications of Psychological Type in Gainesville, Florida.
The journey taken to develop the MBTI® Step III™ instrument and report has proven to be both a long and rewarding one. It began early in Isabel Myers' work when she started to think about how to help people develop their individual type as completely as possible. The soon to be published Step III instrument is fully grounded in Isabel Myers’ belief that,
" ... understanding your patterns of perception and judgment can make your perceptions clearer, your judgments sounder, and your life closer to your heart's desire."
Myers first wanted to give people a means by which they could accurately identify their psychological type preferences so they could gain a better sense of self-understanding (Step I™ Form M). With the work she did that served as the foundation for the development of the MBTI® Step II™ Form Q she wanted to give people greater insight as to why they might differ from others of the same type. Myers' in-depth and soon to be published work with what she called Level 2 (now named “Step III”) was and continues to be about enhancing a person's effectiveness in using perception and judgment.
The descriptive statements and suggestions in the Step III Interpretive Report are designed to encourage individuals to explore many facets of their personal development within the context of their psychological type preferences, and beyond. Many of the individuals who took the Step III instrument during the development phase commented that the report provided them with a nuanced and in-depth snapshot of both their current and potential selves.
The MBTI® Step III™ Interpretive Report serves as a unique catalyst for meaningful conversation between the client and professional. Step III co-author Naomi Quenk says, "Dialogue is the centerpiece of the Step III process." It provides a rich and unique experience for those individuals who have the opportunity to work with a trained Step III professional.
If you are a counselor, therapist, or coach who works with clients in a one-to-one relationship and are interested in learning how to use the MBTI® Step III™ instrument with your clients, here are some questions and answers you should find helpful.
Who will benefit from Step III results?
The Step III instrument is designed for anyone who wants to increase awareness about the specific and unique ways they use their type in making life choices, whether at home or at work. In-depth sessions with a trained Step III professional help the client gain insight necessary for becoming more effective in the natural use of their type.
The Step III Interpretive Report has been written in clear and understandable terms. It does not include type jargon and can be easily understood by average adults. The Step III assessment is not intended for use with those under the age of 18.
Who is eligible to attend the training session?
Because the Step III assessment is intended for use in a setting where there is a one-to-one relationship between the client and the counselor, coach, or therapist, there are specific requirements that the professional must meet.
The MBTI® Step III™ instrument and Interpretive Report are available for purchase and use only by those professionals who:
- Have an advanced degree in an approved field
- Work with clients in a one-to-one counseling, coaching, or therapeutic relationship, with a minimum of two years experience
- Are familiar with the theory of psychological type and how it is used to help people increase self-awareness and develop skills for more effective living
- Have successfully completed the MBTI® Step III™ Certification Program
Note: Before a registration can be accepted for attendance at a Step III™ Certification Program, the registrant will need to go to the CAPT website to complete a Step III™ Professional Qualification Form. A list of all approved advanced degrees is listed on this form. The Step III PQ Form can be found at www.capt.org/forms/
Does the MBTI® Step III™ Interpretive Report need to be interpreted by a professional?
Only trained professionals can purchase and use the Step III assessment with their clients. The reason for the above criteria is because it is important for professionals who use the Step III instrument to have an advanced degree in psychology, psychotherapy, or some other area that provides training and experience in “interviewing” or talking with individuals about sensitive areas in their personal lives.
It is also important for Step III professionals to be able to adopt a non-pathological, non-judgmental approach to clients. The MBTI Step III instrument, like the MBTI Step I and Step II instruments, addresses healthy personality characteristics. With its goal of encouraging fuller development of healthy personality, the Step III assessment fits well with the current thinking from the field of positive psychology.
Who is providing the MBTI® Step III™ Certification Program and what are the specifics?
The first Step III™ Certification Program, available for those professionals who meet the professional pre-requisite criteria, will be held at the Center for Applications of Psychological Type in Gainesville, Florida on June 23 - 25, 2009.
The program will be taught by Step III co-authors Naomi Quenk, Allen Hammer, and Wayne Mitchell. Other offerings for the Step III™ Certification Program can be found at http://www.capt.org/training-workshops/MBTI-Training-Step3.htm.
The current training program has been refined from feedback provided from an initial pilot Step III training program. That program was attended by representatives from CPP, Inc., Peter Myers and Katharine Myers, and a number of type experts with exemplary credentials. Excellent feedback from this highly skilled group was incorporated into the MBTI® Step III™ Manual, Step III™ Interpretive Report, and the current MBTI® Step III™ Certification Program.
The cost of the Step III™ Certification Program (held at the CAPT offices in Gainesville, Florida from June 23-25, 2009) is $1,495. All materials are included.
How many participants will be able to attend the first session?
This class is limited to 30 participants.
Will there be more training sessions to follow?
Yes. Check the CAPT training schedule at www.capt.org or contact CAPT's Customer Service Department. For additional questions, email
Who developed the Step III instrument and when will it be released?
The MBTI Step III instrument will be released by the publisher, CPP, Inc. in the summer of 2009. The current development team has been actively working on the completion of the Step III project since June of 2003, when a Collaboration Agreement was signed between CPP, Inc., the Center for Applications of Psychological Type, CAPT, Inc., and Peter Myers and Katharine Myers, copyright holders of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator® assessment instruments.
CAPT has taken a lead role in the Step III development process, making close to 400,000 records in the CAPT data bank available for analysis by MBTI experts and Step III co-authors Allen Hammer, Wayne Mitchell, and Naomi Quenk. Betsy Styron, President and CEO of CAPT, and Judy Breiner, CAPT Director of Research Operations have served with the co-authors as members of the Step III development team.
The successful completion of this project has been made possible by the outstanding collaborative effort of the individuals and organizations involved. Special appreciation goes to Peter Myers and Katharine Myers for their valuable input and commitment to this project, as well as to Mary H. McCaulley, the founding President of CAPT. Her original work with Isabel Briggs Myers laid the foundation for the Step III instrument, and she is included as a co-author of the Step III manual.
