Elzandri Potgieter Occupational Therapy

31/05/2025

Excited to support Andrea's Gift Foundation today!

30/04/2025

Feeling overwhelmed by emotions or stuck in harmful patterns? You’re not alone.
Dialectical Behavioural Therapy (DBT) is a powerful, evidence-based approach that helps people find balance, build resilience, and improve their relationships.

Whether you're dealing with anxiety, mood swings, self-sabotaging behaviors, or simply want better tools for emotional regulation, DBT offers practical skills you can use every day.

25/01/2025

30/09/2024

01/06/2024

Credit to


Regulation does not equal always being calm. It means being connected

22/04/2021

Just love working from LightHub Cape Town!

15/03/2021

Super excited about our support group for mommies starting in April!

"You are only able to live in a way that really helps and loves others when your soul feels its worth."- John Ortberg

Pop us a whatsapp or email to find out more.

Your soul is worthy.

10/03/2021

Wonderful description of what OT does in mental health.

Can Occupational Therapy address Behavior?

The answer lies in our practice guidelines!

The American Journal of Occupational Therapy, August 2020, Vol 74. Suppl. 2, pg 52,, under the Client Factor Category "Mental Functions" specifically states that OT can address emotional regulation and a range of emotions; appropriateness of emotions (including anger, tension and anxiety) and lability of emotions.

Under "Performance Skills", it specifically states that OTs can address transitions, as well as regulating and expressing emotions.

There are several areas throughout our practice guidelines that specifically identify underlying causes of behavior challenges.

SO, YES, OF COURSE Occupational Therapists can address "behaviors".

Often, OTs are considered having expertise in "Sensory", "Fine Motor Skills" or "Handwriting". This is true. However, over 100 years ago, our field started in mental health. Today, in order to become an OT, you need extensive coursework in psychology, anatomy, physiology and neuro.

It's that background that makes Occupational Therapists very competent in addressing the brain processes that lead to behavior.

OT has a history of providing compassionate care in order to help people become as independent as possible. Occupational Therapists have extensive training in how the body and brain work, which is what guides our clinical reasoning.

From the onset of our profession, we have been client-centered. Occupational Therapists genuinely believe that people do well if they can, and if they can't...we'll remediate, accommodate or adapt whatever is necessary to support participation in daily activities.

Image Description: Blue background: OT Occupational Therapy in the center of a circle written in white, with the phrase "giving you skills for the job of living" in white letters encircling the center wording.