Helping Helpers™ provides innovative, practical and pertinent strategies to assist HELPERS keep the right rhythm, both personally and professionally.

“Helpers” can be defined in a variety of ways. Whether you are a parent, manager, teacher, physician or a clinician, at some point, you begin to realize you are not a magician! The demands on caregivers at home, in the workforce, classroom and in health and social service arenas have increased dramatically over the past decade. Many professionals are worn down and stretched to the brink of physical and emotional exhaustion. Helpers who possess solid skills need specialized resources to enhance their already substantial knowledge base, and to protect against the wear and tear of professional life.

There are few resources designed specifically for helping professionals, in part because of assumptions that their knowledge can universally be applied to personal life, and also because of outdated “us” versus “them” paradigms that suggest helping professionals are immune to stress or even needing therapeutic strategies and interventions themselves. I have worked with countless therapists, nurses, physicians and teachers who have been hindered by this mindset. Ironically, Helpers are the very ones who need to keep themselves emotionally tuned so they can stay healthy enough to help others. Many graduate school programs require or encourage students to enter therapy to raise self-awareness and identify personal patterns in order to maintain good health and quality of care deliverance.

Helpers are available in the context of many communities, businesses, professions, churches, businesses and families. Helping Helpers.com provides resources that are applicable to many helpers in various settings. Here’s what defines a HELPER:

• Helpers strive for excellence in caring for the needs of others.
• Helpers are innovative, have vision, and take initiative.
• Helpers have expertise and make contributions that are invaluable to our world.
• Helpers are role models with capacity to influence and restore lives.
• Helpers often put the needs of others before their own.

What risks do HELPERS face?

In a nutshell, Helpers are at risk for what I call crashing and burning. Most helpers are inundated with demands from those they are serving and the service systems themselves. Just ask practitioners dealing with the growing nuances of managed care; educators dealing with the repercussions of MCAS testing; and parents dealing with balancing modern-day family and career demands-they will tell you that they are stretched. Helpers immerse themselves into intensive and complex situations that demand a great deal of energy, time, creativity and expertise.

Because Helpers are so multidimensional, and are compelled to be in the front lines in health care settings, schools and many service arenas, there is a risk for exhaustion. What drives Helpers to excel and be effective can be the very thing that increases fatigue. It is imperative that Helpers set boundaries and implement intensive, deliberate self-care strategies to maintain personal and professional health. This is a priority that very often gets overlooked by Helpers, who somehow forget their own personal value while in search to help others find theirs. Additionally, by maintaining good emotional health, Helpers will be better suited to establish boundaries between their career and home lives. Helpers need to remember that in order to avoid the repercussions of professional overload, a commitment to self-care is a MUST.

I encourage and challenge you to take this pledge, and make a commitment to honor your professional and personal self. I invite you to explore the website to book a training and learn more about reaching your fullest potential as a Helper.

HELPERS PLEDGE™
I pledge to honor and value myself as an individual.
I will connect to relationships and activities that promote my well-being.
I vow to strive for excellence as a person and as a professional.
When I am in need of help, I promise to take action immediately.