The Soul of the Helper

Seven Stages to Seeing the Sacred Within Yourself So You Can See It in Others

Holly K. Oxhandler (Autor)

Buch | Hardcover

240 Seiten

2025 | First Edition, First Edition, First Edition, 1
Templeton Foundation Press,U.S. (Verlag)
978-1-59947-591-2 (ISBN)

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There are many kinds of helpers in our world, the caregivers among us. They are the social workers who serve the vulnerable, the nurses and doctors who treat the ill, the teachers who instruct the young, the first responders who rescue the imperiled, the faith leaders who comfort the congregation, the volunteers who support the community. And whether or not it is our professional calling, each of us is likely to serve as a caregiver at some point in our lives, as a parent raising a child, for instance, or as a loved one caring for an aging relative. These and many other efforts to serve are among the most noble pursuits we can imagine, but they come with a danger worth recognizing.

In their devotion to the well-being of others, caregivers routinely put their own well-being last and can unintentionally burn themselves out physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Their self-neglect, paired alongside a deep desire to help others, has the potential to stir up feelings of anger and resentment, leading to a sense of guilt and shame. They often believe that if they were to grant themselves any rest or grace, they would be at risk of failing in their duty.

In The Soul of the Helper, Dr. Holly Oxhandler shows caregivers and fellow helpers a more self-compassionate way to cope with their overwhelming responsibilities and to attend to their own needs, particularly when it comes to their mental health and spiritual journey. She invites them to pause and realize that if they let their personal resources run dry, they cannot possibly care for others as fully as they wish. In fact, their efforts are likely to cause more harm than good.

With a background in spiritually-integrated mental health, Dr. Oxhandler teaches helpers a seven-step process to slow down and reconnect with the stillness within themselves. It is in this space of stillness that Oxhandler guides helpers to reconnect with the “sacred spark” within their soul. By allowing themselves to enter that stillness, caregivers will recognize that they, too, are worthy of care. And with that realization, they will see anew the sacred spark that dwells inside everyone else, especially within those they’re helping.

As a social worker, researcher, and person of faith, Dr. Oxhandler writes in a warm and welcoming style, shares many relatable stories, and widens her scope to include believers of all faiths and spiritual traditions. Her book is for caregivers everywhere who sense the sacred spark within them saying, in effect: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”

Holly K. Oxhandler, PhD, LMSW, is an associate professor and associate dean for research and faculty development at Baylor University’s Diana R. Garland School of Social Work. For over a decade, Dr. Oxhandler has studied and developed tools to assess mental health care providers’ integration of clients’ spirituality in treatment, helping professionals’ infusion of their own faith in their work, and clients’ views toward discussing their spirituality in mental health care. Dr. Oxhandler has written extensively for top professional journals within social work and psychology, and her research has been featured in the Washington Post, Religion News Service, and more. She also co-hosts the weekly podcast CXMH: A Podcast on Faith and Mental Health. She lives in Waco, Texas, with her husband, Cory, and their two children, Callie and Oliver.

Author’s Note
Intention
Introduction
PART I Spirituality and Mental Health: Two Key Considerations for Seeking the Sacred Within
Chapter 1: Considering the Spiritual Journey
Chapter 2: Considering the Mental Health Journey
Chapter 3: Namaste Theory for Helpers
PART II The Journey of Seeking the Sacred: Finding the Sacred Within Ourselves to See It in Others
Chapter 4: Speed
Chapter 5: Slow
Chapter 6: Steady
Chapter 7: Still
Chapter 8: See
Chapter 9: Shift
Chapter 10:Serve
PART III “So What?”: Cultivating a Practice of Seeking and Serving the Sacred for the Journey Ahead
Chapter 11: Seek and Serve the Sacred
Notes
Resources
Gratitude
About the Author

Erscheinungsdatum	15.03.2022
Reihe/Serie	Spirituality and Mental Health
Verlagsort	Radnor
Sprache	englisch
Maße	140 x 216 mm
Gewicht	399 g
Themenwelt	Sachbuch/Ratgeber ► Gesundheit / Leben / Psychologie ► Esoterik / Spiritualität
	Sachbuch/Ratgeber ► Gesundheit / Leben / Psychologie ► Psychologie
	Geisteswissenschaften ► Psychologie
	Medizin / Pharmazie ► Gesundheitswesen
ISBN-10	1-59947-591-X / 159947591X
ISBN-13	978-1-59947-591-2 / 9781599475912
Zustand	Neuware