The Savior Syndrome

[z/m(Ret)]

Adler's "Strive to Overcome"

a) the need to overcome a pervasive sense of inadequacy or inferiority.
b) the need to be a hero in the eyes of certain significant people in his life (who have probably humiliated or put him down, at least in his mind).
c) the need to overcome a life-long negative self-concept such as being convinced that one is a failure. (etc...)

Doc, your psychologist friend is uncontroversially adlerian.