The Empowered Type C: How to Stop Toxic Overgiving, Let Go of Guilt, and Thrive

A unique and essential look at the little-known personality Type C—people who are compulsively nice, consumed with meeting others’ needs, prone to denying and suppressing their own, and make themselves smaller to keep everyone else comfortable—and how these patterns can take a toll on mental and physical health.

Most people have heard of Type A personalities (high-achieving, controlling, aggressive) and Type B personalities (relaxed, flexible, passive, sometimes unmotivated). But there is another: Type C. These individuals can be characterized as:

Hyper-eager to please
Incapable of saying no
Fearful of disappointing others
Compelled to maintain a constant pleasant façade
Unable to access their anger and resentment
Conditioned to ignore their own needs

Type C individuals are conscientious and responsible but take it too far. They take care of everything and everyone around them while neglecting themselves. Often seen as exhibiting admirable qualities—Type Cs are helpful to others, productive, and unselfish—their behavior can lead to burnout, and adverse health consequences as they put others’ needs before their own to detrimental effect.

First studied in the 1970s as a personality profile associated with cancer prognosis, Type C eventually fell into obscurity. Decades later, clinical psychologist Dr. Kore Nissenson Glied was seeing a proliferation of burnout in her patients when Anna White, a self-described recovering Type C, approached her about looking into Type C behaviors. The two joined together to create a community addressing what seemed to be an epidemic, especially for women. In this new book devoted to the Type C personality, the authors raise awareness of this overlooked personality type to help understand the behaviors that often stem from childhood experiences and offer tools for avoiding toxic over-giving, setting boundaries, learning to say no, letting go of guilt, and thriving.

For readers who always put others first to the detriment of their own health, this empowering guide reveals the hidden costs of over-giving through heartfelt, personal narratives and offers practical tools for creating a healthier, more balanced life.

Discover Type C: An eye-opening look at the little-known personality type driven by mind-based rules dictating the ceaseless need to keep everyone else calm and happy.

Recognize the Traits: Learn the signs of Type C, including excessive people-pleasing, inability to say no, suppressed anger, and chronic self-neglect.

Understand the Why: Explore how childhood experiences can shape patterns of over-giving, guilt, and boundary struggles.

Set Healthier Boundaries: Gain practical tools to say no, express your needs, and break free from toxic over-giving.

Thrive Without Guilt: Discover strategies to change behavior patterns to create a healthier, more balanced life.