By Katrina Van Duzee/Garden Grove Journal
Back pain, gray hair and migraines are all negative effects of stress, but what some might not know is there is a positive form of stress and celebrity therapist Dr. Pat Allen is teaching people how to utilize it.
This Sunday at Temple Beth David in Westminster, Allen will speak on “eustress” vs. distress and how individuals can achieve their resolutions this New Year. By helping people realign their communication system and giving them the tools to use verbal and nonverbal communication to get what they want, Allen has counseled individuals from all walks of life.
From CEO’s trying to be better leaders, to the Millionaire Matchmaker Patti Stanger’s quest to find love, to Allen’s four appearances on the Oprah Winfrey Show, her methods have been widely applied.
“I help people negotiate what they want and what they don’t want,” Allen said. “The people at the Temple are going to get a message that is scientific, social, political, but not religious.”
Synagogue member, Cathy Katz, who has taken Allen’s classes and is certified to coach her teachings, is sponsoring the event. Katz calls herself an “educator of effective communication strategies” and works with clients looking to learn how to speak rationally in order to get what they want.
“She is a wonderful person and has helped a lot of people,” Katz said about Allen.
The event will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. at 6100 Hefley Street, Westminster, CA 92683 and will include a brunch. Around 50 people are currently signed-up to attend the seminar, which costs $12 for adults with reservations and $18 for walk-ins, Katz said.
Catching up with Allen was difficult between her daily counseling appointments and night classes held at her office in Newport Beach, but she set time aside to passionately explain how people need to be careful in how they let stress take over their lives.
Allen explained how eustress produces Dopamine, a neurotransmitter that brings us healthy pleasure, allowing humans to do what’s right, while enjoying life. The inverse of positive stress is distress, which produces Cortisol, a hormone that can lead to unhealthy physical and mental health.
According to Allen people have to make the choice to let positive stress run their lives and can do so if given the tools. These tools: living a balanced life, speaking rationally and setting verbal goals, allow people to achieve their healthy desires and live happily.
Although Allen’s teachings don’t cater to a specific religion, they do emphasis the importance of a higher power that will make individuals feel hope and love.
The seminar is being held at the synagogue, not only because the congregation is fans of Allen’s work, but also to help those interested in starting off the year in a positive productive fashion, she said.
Beware of your thoughts, because they become actions. Beware of your words because they become habits. Beware of your habits because they become your character, which then becomes your destiny,” Allen said as advice. “We have to rewire our brains to speak and live in a stoic way.”
More information on Allen’s methods can be found at http://www.drpatallen.com/.
