The Rescuer Trap: Doormat or a Hand Grenade: When Rescuing Behavior Gets Overcorrected

The Rescuer Trap: Doormat or a Hand Grenade: When Rescuing Behavior Gets Overcorrected

November 19, 2025 · 38 min

About this episode

The episode explores the concept of rescuing behavior and how to achieve healthy boundaries through Stoic philosophy and CBT.

This episode features guest hosts Dr. Scott Waltman and Kasey Pierce, authors of the forthcoming book The Rescuer Trap . It’s time to rejoin the pack, lone wolf, and bring your newfound healthy boundaries with you. Scott and Kasey unpack Maladaptive Overcorrection and how to find the middle path of flexibility and true, healthy Interdependence. Are you the fixer, the over-giver, the emotional first responder for everyone but yourself? Welcome to The Rescuer Trap . We playfully own the labels “Parentified and Codependent” to make a point: these are not identities, but learned behaviors. And what can be learned can be unlearned. Hosts Dr. Scott Waltman and Kasey Pierce use Stoic philosophy and CBT to give you the tools to break the cycle and reclaim your autonomy. Your escape from the trap starts here. Based on the forthcoming book, The Rescuer Trap (New Harbinger). Thanks for reading Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life! This post is public so feel free to share it. Get full access to Stoicism: Philosophy as a Way of Life at donaldrobertson.substack.com/subscribe

People in this episode

Host: Donald J. Robertson

Guests: Dr. Scott Waltman, Kasey Pierce

Topics covered

Keywords

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: New Harbinger

Books & works: The Rescuer Trap

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