Dealing with stress: Support Salon helps

Katy Goshtasbi created a gathering to help people feel less isolated. (courtesy photo)

Dealing with stress: Support Salon helps

In an era of unprecedented feelings of isolation, even with new technologies that allow people to be more connected than ever, Katy Goshtasbi said supporting one another in person is mandatory.

Goshtasbi, a Scripps Ranch resident and founder of Puris Consulting, decided she would fill the gap in support by dedicating part of her office space every month to host an event called Support Salon. The local support group allows people to slow down and help one another get through the stresses of life.

“(It’s for) whoever wants to give support and get support,” she said. “And that’s really the gist of it. You can’t just come to get support. You have to be willing to give support because that’s the way the rules work. It’s called fairness.”

It all started about 12 years ago when Goshtasbi, a longtime lawyer and former lobbyist on Capitol Hill, decided to quit her Newport Beach law job “cold turkey.”

“And that was where I burnt out,” Goshtasbi said. “I said, ‘I can’t do this anymore for a living. It’s gonna kill me.’ It was the day I had spent 15 hours drafting just a small bit of a mutual fund perspective.”

After that she launched her company, formerly called Personal Branding. The consulting firm allowed her to exercise what she found to be her greatest ability: empowering others.

She realized that a lack of support is what she struggled with throughout her law career and that she needed to help others in the same position.

“I’m really good at empowering people so that they can reach their full potential, whatever that is at work or at home, to reach the results they want in their life, which is what I was always struggling with and what I did,” Goshtasbi said.

Support Salon guests can expect wine and snacks, provided by Goshtasbi. Women, men and people of all ages are welcome to join. At the first session of the event last month, she said just under 15 people came and that the experience was very well received.

“The word they use 100percent of the time, the same word: isolated,” Goshtasbi said. “And I got to stop and wonder why people feel isolated. And I think it’s for this reason – that people don’t have proper support.”

In the end, any positive impact will be welcomed, Goshtasbi said.

“I want to come to this group and leave happier than when I came, and that’s my whole goal,” she said.

Anyone is welcome to join the next free Support Salon meeting on March 7 from 1 to 3 p.m. at 9820 Willow Creek Road, Suite 430. For more information, contact Katy Goshtasbi at katy@purisconsulting.com or call (949) 274-6423.