I don't want to be stressed - Andi Bengis Occupational Therapy

15/07/2025

As an OT working with intimacy, gender and s*xuality, I often have clients that struggle with being themselves in a world that is so cisgender/ heteros*xual/ monogamous focused and normalised.
We work together to get to a place where they are comfortable and confident just as they are. To learn to advocate for themselves and their beliefs, and to be strong enough individuals that they don’t get stressed or anxious about being different or even for being judged.
It’s definitely a process and I’m always honoured to be trusted and to be part of their journey.
Everyone should celebrate what makes them unique.

10/07/2025

You are beautiful on all levels

05/06/2025

13/05/2025

OT works with meaningful occupation and all forms of s*x fall under that category.
We look at adaptations and accommodations for physical and psychological needs because everyone deserves to have passion and pleasure in their lives.

28/01/2025

Today is Lego Day and I’m a (little) bit of a Lego fan. With little room left to display my builds.
I’m blessed to have met one of my best friends through our mutual interest in Lego.
Even though a lot of Lego is marketed towards adults, there’s still an element of play in it.
How can you create moments just for pleasure and to have fun?
They don’t have to be huge, life changing or expensive moments, just a bit of time out for you to enjoy yourself.
On another level, I think that all of my clients are on a journey to rebuilding themselves and I will always be grateful and inspired to be part of that journey.

30/12/2024

2024 is ending and with it a real sense of wonder of everything that I have done this year. Sometimes I need to be reminded because it is easy to focus on what doesn’t work and what was a failure rather than on successes. Most of us are really hard on ourselves. Every person that I encounter, be it family, friends, colleagues or clients is fighting a battle. Not all of the time, but some of the time. And I am always in awe of the resilience and courage that most people have and how much they are trying to overcome and succeed.
The end of the year came with some sad news - another local newspaper printed its final edition and will be digital only from now on. The Daily Sun has been a source of inspiration for me for a long time. Bear with me here, I know that it is filled with seemingly unlikely or over the top stories.
But there is nothing like driving in heavy traffic and reading the amazing Daily Sun headlines.
Who gets stressed in the traffic when you realise that some poor policeman was attacked by a naked witch who stole his car?
I always say that no matter how bad you feel or how terrible your life seems, if you aren’t making the headline of the Daily Sun then life can’t be so bad.
Thanks for the memories, the laughs and appreciation Daily Sun.
May we all go into 2025 with renewed energy, motivation and hope and belief that we can be (and maybe already are) awesome!
And may all of our news end with an exclamation ❗️

19/12/2024

I presented my last art journaling workshop for the year last night. We focused on the baggage that we carry and what we can let go of going into the new year. There were lots of laughs and a few tears and hopefully sparks of insight and hope too.
I’m looking forward to new sessions, new clients and letting go of some of my own baggage in 2025.
Thank you to everyone who has been part of this journey and for all of your support.

09/12/2024

Monday appreciation:
Today I’ve been focusing on the little things that make me happy.
Because the big things are overwhelming at the moment.
Besides that, I see people doing big things (or saying they are doing big things) all the time. Especially on LinkedIn. Sometimes I can feel lost or not enough because I don’t have my PhD and I haven’t published research or my career is at a different point to someone else’s.
I know so many people who struggle and get overwhelmed by all the big stuff when they don’t notice all the small things that make a big difference.
Here’s my “small things” list
- I appreciate only 3 people asking me if I know I’m wearing two different shoes.
- I’m grateful to love the work I do.
- I love how interesting the edges of my journals look when they are very full.
- I’m blessed to have people in my life who really care about me.
- It was so stunning being able to finish work at 7pm and drive home in the beautiful light of a gentle Joburg sunset.
What are yours?

10/10/2024

Today is Mental Health Awareness Day
I had a serendipitous experience this morning on my way to work when I realised that ignoring my car’s low petrol levels was no longer going to serve me. I went to my usual petrol station and there was a queue which I had neither the time nor the patience for.
So I drove on and then pulled into a station that I had not used before and that had no customers at all.
(A side note for non South African readers… in South Africa we have a guy who fills the car with petrol, another one checking the oil and water and another one checking the tyre pressure.)
One of these guys came to ask me how I was and when I asked him in return, he broke down. He was having an emotional crisis after just receiving bad news. And for some reason, I was at the right place, at the right time to help him.
I don’t know why he immediately trusted me enough to talk or to be vulnerable.
I was late for work but I hope that I made a difference in his day.
And it made me think about how many people we encounter during our day are struggling.
What a difference a bit of kindness makes.
Don’t just wear a green ribbon today.
Be kind, listen, be gentle.
Every single day.

24/09/2024

On Sunday I had the privilege to give a talk on cognitive function at a retirement village.
A lot of people came up to me afterwards to thank me for making them feel heard, for acknowledging issues and for giving them a fun morning activity.
While we may not be able to change the process, we can definitely address issues around cognitive decline including anxiety, fear, loneliness and depression.

Cognitive function refers to the mental processes by which individuals acquire knowledge, reason, remember, solve problems, and make decisions. These processes include memory, attention, language, problem-solving, and executive function (planning, organising, and regulating behaviour).

As people age (yes I’m talking to you), cognitive function may decline due to changes in the brain.
Some common age-related declines include slower processing speed, reduced working memory, and difficulty in multitasking.
While certain cognitive abilities like vocabulary and general knowledge can remain stable or even improve, others like episodic memory (recalling specific events) and executive function often weaken.
Factors such as genetics, hormone levels, lifestyle, and health conditions like cardiovascular disease or dementia can accelerate cognitive decline in old age.
However, mental stimulation, physical activity, creativity and social engagement can help mitigate some of these effects.

An OT can help you to work on improving cognitive function by including these activities into your daily life.
Talk to people, learn something new, challenge yourself, go for a walk, make something, keep a journal, laugh and never stop having fun.

09/09/2024

I’ve decided that I’m old enough and free enough to create working opportunities that are positive and are driven by my passion.
I’m still working in the hospital because I love the type of patient I see there but I need more calm too. And I need to be doing things that make me happy.
So I’m seeing adults with anxiety, ASD and ADHD, and s*xual function issues in my new(ish) beautiful space in Linksfield.
I’m also running two art journaling groups in Edenvale which is an amazing and uplifting creative space.
You’d think that would be enough but I’m also putting myself out there as a speaker and workshop facilitator because I love being on stage and I use this love combined with my sense of humour and vast knowledge to really make a difference in people’s lives.
A huge thank you to my mentors, coach, designers, shoppers, plant buyers, very patient accountant, marketers, and friends who are walking this journey with me and who believe in me and encourage me every step of the way.

04/09/2024

Happy World Sexual Health Day to everyone who fights the stigma, who is unashamed to talk about uncomfortable topics, who advocate for healthcare rights, who believe that everyone should have access to s*xual healthcare without prejudice. And especially to my wonderful colleagues at My Sexual Health who all do all of these things and without whom I wouldn’t be the therapist and speaker that I am today.