Alet-Mari Kunz Occupational Therapy

25/04/2026

STARTING MONDAY 4 MAY

Burnout doesn’t have to be your normal. If life has been feeling like “too much”, this is a supportive place to start.

Join this 4-week guided programme to better understand your stress, regain your energy, and build a more sustainable daily routine, without feeling alone in the process.

Limited spaces available. Book your spot here: https://forms.gle/5PVJmE9Vj7URzo287

23/04/2026

Burnout doesn’t have to be your normal. If life has been feeling like “too much”, this is a supportive place to start.

Join this 4-week guided programme to better understand your stress, regain your energy, and build a more sustainable daily routine, without feeling alone in the process.

Limited spaces available. Book your spot here: https://forms.gle/5PVJmE9Vj7URzo287

21/03/2026

21/03/2026

🍂 What if letting go isn’t weakness… but a form of self-protection?

It’s autumn in South Africa, and the leaves are beginning their beautiful transformation into fiery reds, glowing golds, deep oranges.

I learnt something valuable this week. That behind the beauty of autumn is something powerful: an intentional act of SELF-PROTECTION.

As the days get shorter, trees don’t just lose their leaves, they CHOOSE to let them go. A gentle, controlled process begins where nutrients are withdrawn, and each leaf is safely released.

Because holding on would cost too much.

If a tree kept its leaves, they would freeze and become damaged, branches could break under wind or weight, and the tree would waste energy on leaves that no longer serve it. This would put the health of the tree at serious risk.

So instead, it LETS GO…
To protect itself.
To conserve energy.
To prepare for what’s next.

And then... it rests.

What is also wonderful is that the fallen leaves are not just a waste. They return to the soil, nourishing new growth for the next season 🌱

And maybe… there’s something in that for us.

Holding onto painful thoughts, past hurts, or unmet expectations can keep our nervous system in a constant state of stress. This often shows up as rumination, replaying things over and over.

Letting go can help:
• Reduce anxiety and overwhelm for inner peace
• Create space for calmer thinking and new opportunities
• Support emotional balance

👉 In OT terms, it frees up mental energy for what truly matters in your daily life and roles.

🍁 So as you see the leaves fall this season, ask yourself:
What am I holding onto that no longer serves me?

18/03/2026

There’s something powerful about exploring emotions in a safe, creative space.

In our Tuesday evening out-patient group called Managing Emotions, we’ve been discussing different emotions especially those highlighted in the movie Inside Out. Recognising them, understanding them, and learning how even unpleasant emotions can serve us in a positive way.

Each week we've been working on a project by expressing these emotions through therapeutic art using foam clay. The hands-on process has allowed group members to slow down, connect with their inner experiences, and externalise feelings that are often hard to put into words.

From an Occupational Therapy perspective, this kind of activity is so meaningful. It supports emotional awareness, regulation, and self-expression, while also engaging sensory and creative pathways.

Healing doesn’t always happen through talking alone, often it happens through creating.

If you’re curious about joining or learning more about out-patient groups, feel free to reach out!

20/02/2026

ADHD or Sensory Processing Difficulties in Adults

Many adults think they have ADHD because they:
• Feel constantly overwhelmed
• Struggle to focus
• Get irritated quickly
• Shut down after busy days
• Avoid certain environments
• Procrastinate, especially on “simple” tasks

And sometimes it is ADHD.

But sometimes… the root is sensory overload.

Here’s the tricky part:
If you’re not used to tuning into your body, you might not realise you’re overwhelmed by sensory input.

You might not consciously think:
“The office lights are too bright.”
“This space is too noisy.”
“My clothes are irritating me.”

Instead, your body reacts first. You feel:
• Tense
• Snappy
• Foggy
• Drained
• Unmotivated
• Like you “just can’t deal”

When your nervous system is overloaded, your brain struggles with attention, planning, and emotional regulation, which can look like ADHD.

🔎 The difference?

ADHD is primarily a struggle with executive functioning.
Sensory processing difficulties are about how your nervous system filters and responds to the world around you.

In OT sessions, adults can be guided on how slow down, build body awareness, and understand their sensory patterns. When you understand your nervous system, things start to make sense.

It’s not laziness.
It’s not a lack of discipline.
It might be regulation.

If this resonates, contact your nearest OT for a consultation to gain more insight and to brainstorm strategies that can work for YOU.

16/02/2026

✨ Why crafts are more than “just crafts” in therapy ✨

Today I did this creative activity with one of my clients and it was such a beautiful reminder of why I love occupational therapy.

While it may look like a simple craft, it actually works on so many important skills:

🧠 Planning and organising
🧠 Problem-solving
🧠 Sustained attention and focus
🧠 Memory
🧠 Emotional regulation
🧠 Following steps and sequencing

But beyond the cognitive skills… it creates space.
Space to talk.
Space to process emotions.
Space to build confidence.

Creative activities allow clients to experience success in a tangible way, to be able to say: “I made this and I actually like it!” And that sense of achievement builds self-esteem and resilience that can be applied in their everyday lives.

In occupational therapy, we use meaningful activities to strengthen the mind, support emotional wellbeing, and build coping skills. Therapy doesn’t always look like talking, sometimes it looks like creating. 💛

If you’re curious about how creative therapy can support mental health, feel free to reach out.

05/02/2026

LIMITED SPOTS AVAILABLE!

🌿Feeling overwhelmed or stuck in your emotions?
You’re not the only one, and there are tools that can help!
I’m running a 7-week "Managing Emotions Skills & Support Group" for adults who want to better understand their emotions, cope with stress, and feel more in control day to day.
We’ll cover practical tools (OT strategies as well as from DBT), have real conversations, and create a supportive space to learn and grow together.
📍 In Lynnwood Ridge, Pretoria
📅 Starts on Tuesday 10 February 2026 at 18:00

If this sounds like something you need, you can get the info or sign up here: https://forms.fillout.com/t/hGQrcQvBxBus