The Super-Helper Syndrome: A Survival Guide for Compassionate People

The Super-Helper Syndrome is a new perspective on the psychology of helping that offers a new perspective on the psychology of helping. It provides activities for the reader to profile and analyse their own helping relationships, support for people who want to adopt a Healthy Helper Mindset, and guidance towards countering the inner critic with mindful self-compassion. It is for anyone who helps to the detriment of their own wellbeing, supports the helpers in their life, and wants to understand how helping works and be better at it.

Format: Hardback
Length: 256 pages
Publication date: 29 September 2022
Publisher: The History Press Ltd

Theres a special kind of person who excels at helping others, but may struggle to take care of themselves. You might know someone like this, or even be one yourself. These individuals are the backbone of the caring professions, providing strength to schools, clinics, care homes, and hospitals. You can find them in various settings, including offices, gyms, community groups, and charities. Often, there is one in every family. However, these dedicated helpers are facing challenges. They often go above and beyond to assist others, which can lead to overstretching themselves. Some encounter traumatic and distressing situations, while those in long-term caring relationships may not have time to take care of themselves. Professional carers, too, often work long hours with inadequate resources. Beneath all of this, there is a deeper issue that affects helpers: the Super-Helper Syndrome. This phenomenon, which has recently been recognized and named by chartered psychologists Jess Baker and Rod Vincent, sheds light on the psychology of helping. It explores how helping works and why it sometimes goes wrong, drawing on psychological and neuroscientific research to explain the roots of compassion and empathy. It delves into the belief system of helpers, revealing what truly motivates them. Through excerpts from interviews with paid and unpaid helpers, including ICU nurses, lawyers, volunteers, and live-in carers, the book offers a comprehensive understanding of the Super-Helper Syndrome. It provides activities for readers to profile and analyze their own helping relationships, helping them to gain insights and make positive changes.

Weight: 538g
Dimension: 165 x 394 x 28 (mm)
ISBN-13: 9780750998864