Heal the Healer: A Self-Care Guide for Wellness Workers and Caregivers

by Joshua Rosenthal

If you’re like most healers or caregivers, you’re probably highly empathic and energetically attuned—but don’t always give yourself the same level of care you provide to others. Instead, you go through your days striving to meet the needs of everyone around you. If you struggle with setting boundaries, compassion fatigue, or simply asking for support, Heal the Healer is just the resource you need.

Visionary healthcare pioneer and founder of the Institute for Integrative Nutrition Joshua Rosenthal has written a compassionate survival guide for givers—the therapists, coaches, bodyworkers, and alternative medicine practitioners filling an ever-widening care gap left by our institutionalized healthcare system—who are chronically stressed, exhausted, and undervalued.

Rosenthal calls upon his thirty years in the wellness industry to offer practical advice and actionable exercises that help caregivers, healers, and helpers find more balance in their lives, heal old wounds, decrease stress, and actualize a more joyful future.

This book will show you how



Set boundaries that protect your well-beingDecrease symptoms of burnout, compassion fatigue, and vicarious traumaRewrite your story and overcome childhood woundsProtect your energy and foster a stronger work-life balanceSeek out and take part in a community of peersExperience more joyHeal the Healer is an approachable and practical guide for stressed-out caregivers who are ready to set healthy boundaries, heal old wounds, and live a fuller, more joyful life.

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction

Kindle Edition

Published May 7, 2024

Reviews

[Linda Galella · Rating 4 out of 5]

I received a copy for review purposes; all opinions are honest and mine alone.


If you’re already in the healing or caregiving field, this will be an effective and easily accessible book. If you’re one who is caregiving out of necessity, there is much you can learn from author, Joshua Rosenthal, about how to HEAL THE HEALER: A SELF-CARE GUIDE…

After a brief introduction where Rosenthal explains his motivation for writing this book, he begins with naming some key causes of burnout among caregivers, professionals or otherwise: isolation, blurred boundaries, over responsibilities, etc. and then discusses why contemporary hacks for saving time and increasing productivity only increase stress on most people.

Part two delves into childhood trauma where you could spend a good long time identifying and working thru issues that might be impacting your current emotional health. Rosenthal provides clear and common sensical advice for moving thru this part of the book that will be specific to your individual needs, not some general cosmic bandage.

Part three is all about boundaries; identifying them, setting them and how to reset your daily routine to enjoy more freedom both with people and tasks. This moves to part four which looks back to the past again, before heading to the future, by looking at your values. Where did they come from? Religion? Family expectations? Ethnicity? Something else? During this part you’ll also look to the future, set goals, make plans and dream a bit.

Rosenthal set this book up to be used as a workbook, if you’re so inclined. Kindle readers could use a journal. It could take hours, days or weeks and then become a valued resource. He includes an interactive list of resources and bibliography of texts as well as an invitation to access the Heal the Healer live experience by joining his mailing list📚

Read and Reviewed from a GoodReads eARC, with thanks

[Liz · Rating 4 out of 5]

I came into this book with high hopes, only to have them dashed pretty abruptly. In the preface of the book, the author explicitly states this book isn't intended for people in traditional healthcare roles, i.e. nurses, doctors, paramedics, etc. I found this rather upsetting, as I am a traditional healthcare worker, but chose to plod along and read this book anyway. I feel as though the author sold themselves short by putting that exclusionary statement in at the beginning. I feel as though this book will be helpful to anyone in any sort of caretaking position, whether that's new-age wellness or traditional healthcare roles. Many of the topics covered in this book apply to so many different people in so many walks of life. Childhood trauma and other traumatic events are not just limited to one subset of people. Walking through this book gives the read clear exercises to work through to help deal with the negative experiences of the past coming up to haunt you in the now.

Why couldn't I give this 5 stars? One, because of the alarming slap in the face at the beginning of the book. Two, because there are times in the book the author appears to get lost in their own storytelling, and veers off course of the purpose of the book. While some may find this helpful and give them something to connect to, I did not find that to be the case. I found them distracting and unhelpful. I am also not a fan of how this book is divided into sections. Rather than flowing through and building up as you progress, it seems to unnecessarily fracture ideas and thoughts that otherwise could flow smoothly from one to the next. The divisions aren't fully encapsulated either. The theme still bleeds between the sections, and the author repeatedly references one or another section of the book in other places, which is again distracting. This could have been a book divided, but the method in which it was is not reader friendly.

[Alicia Reads · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read to help you heal and to help others around you. Life can be difficult and we want to help everyone, well I do anyhow. Heal the Healer is just that, a guide to help you when all you have is drained and you need to rebuild yourself to helping capacities again. I look forward to checking out more books from Joshua Rosenthal. Happy reading and re-energizing!

[✨ ੈ✩‧April ♡ ʚ♡⃛ɞ✨ · Rating 4 out of 5]

Joshua Rosenthal's "Heal the Healer: A Self-Care Guide for Wellness Workers and Caregivers" is an invaluable resource for those dedicated to caring for others. This insightful guide offers practical advice and profound wisdom on the importance of self-care, providing wellness workers and caregivers with the tools they need to maintain their own well-being while tending to others.

Rosenthal's writing is clear, compassionate, and deeply understanding of the unique challenges faced by caregivers. He addresses the physical, emotional, and psychological demands of caregiving, offering strategies to manage stress, prevent burnout, and cultivate resilience. The book is structured in a way that makes it easy to navigate, with each chapter focusing on different aspects of self-care, from nutrition and exercise to mindfulness and emotional health.

One of the standout features of "Heal the Healer" is its practical approach. Rosenthal doesn't just offer theoretical advice; he provides actionable steps that readers can incorporate into their daily routines. The exercises and tips are accessible and adaptable, making them suitable for a wide range of caregivers, regardless of their specific circumstances or the nature of their work.

The book's holistic approach to self-care is another strength. Rosenthal emphasizes the interconnectedness of body, mind, and spirit, encouraging readers to adopt a balanced approach to their well-being. This comprehensive perspective is both refreshing and effective, helping caregivers to address all facets of their health.

While the book is immensely helpful, some readers might find that certain sections repeat common self-care advice without delving deeply into more innovative strategies. However, the repetition of fundamental self-care principles reinforces their importance and serves as a useful reminder for busy caregivers.

Overall, "Heal the Healer" is a thoughtful and practical guide that empowers caregivers to take charge of their health and well-being. Joshua Rosenthal's compassionate approach and practical wisdom make this book a must-read for anyone involved in caregiving or wellness work. It serves as a timely reminder that to care for others effectively, one must first care for oneself.

[ND15read · Rating 5 out of 5]

“If perfectionism prevents you from trying something new, remember this: something can be improved on later, but nothing can’t!”

I won this book through Goodreads Giveaways and it was rather timely! After a decade of a speech therapy career, I left the system so burnt out. If I were to ever go back into the therapy world, it would have to be on my own, most likely, as the system is so broken at this point.

This book does not address the broken system, but does address how to heal from being trampled on in that system. There are many questions for self-reflection and practical way to set better boundaries. Excellent read!

[Sofi · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Heal the Healer: A Self-Care Guide for Wellness Workers and Caregivers" by Joshua Rosenthal is an indispensable resource for anyone in the caregiving profession. This insightful book provides practical strategies and heartfelt advice to help wellness workers prioritize their own health and well-being. Rosenthal's compassionate and knowledgeable approach makes this guide both accessible and deeply impactful. Each chapter is filled with valuable tips, reflective exercises, and empowering messages that resonate with caregivers' unique challenges. "Heal the Healer" is a must-read for anyone looking to restore balance, joy, and vitality in their caregiving journey.

[Dora Okeyo · Rating 4 out of 5]

For someone who has experience in counseling, reading this book was affirming some of the experiences I had.
The author explores aspects of self worth and burnout and reading this makes for a good companion for anyone who is a healer, who is out and about working daily to help nourish other people. Thank you Netgalley for the eARC.

[Shelby · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. Joshua does a great job expanding on things we can all to do help learn, heal and be better for ourselves and others. I completed the IIN health coaching course and this is a wonderful complement. I like the takeaways he provides and hope to continue growing and being on my healing journey to help others as well. Definitely recommend!

[Nevaeh Ramirez · Rating 4 out of 5]

I initially got this book because my mom is a caregiver and I've noticed her burnout and wanted to see if there was information in this book that could help. I read the whole thing and it's helped me in a lot of ways too: to reflect on my past and my current actions to create a future that works best for me..

[Chris · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was a very insightful read.
Working in Healthcare has its challenges. You give so much of yourself and it can be overwhelming. It can take its toll on a person. This book was something I needed to read.
Thank you Goodreads for the chance to win this and read it.

[Janet · Rating 4 out of 5]

Heal the Healer

Heal the Healer: A Self-Care Guide for Wellness Workers and Caregivers. Written by Joshua Rosenthal. Well written and helpful for anyone to read. This was a Goodreads winner.

[Kim Hendricks · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have been waiting for years for a book to come out like this one! I learned so much about myself and how to handle situations to ease a lot of my stresses. I'm thankful for this book.

[Paige Medynskyj · Rating 3 out of 5]

This wasn’t what I was expecting at first when I got this-based on the title. It was a ok read and I took something away from this.

[lisa meccariello · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book held a lot of information and well written . Insight was given on strategies to heal after burn out or near burn out .

[AMAO · Rating 5 out of 5]

🔥❤️‍🔥🔥❤️‍🔥‼️

[Laura · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some helpful information

Things that you already know, or you should. So that you don't burn yourself out. But some really good personal accounts. And loads of helpful information.

[ChillCassie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this was a great introduction into this topic. It hit a lot of great points. Very informative and something you can refer to more than once and have as a tool in your tool kit.

[Nancie Lafferty · Rating 3 out of 5]

Practical and useful help for anyone involved in any type of caregiving, especially if feeling overwhelmed or stressed.