I never heard of this distinction (self-help vs "true" philosophy).
Wikipedia[0] has this:
Stoics outlined what we have control over categories of our own action, thoughts and reaction. The opening paragraph of The Enchiridion states the categories as; "Things in our control are opinion, pursuit, desire, aversion, and, in a word, whatever are our own actions. Things not in our control are body, property, reputation, command, and, in a word, whatever are not our own actions.". These suggest a space that is within our own control.
Is that based on the self-help book approach?
0 - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stoicism