Get Inspired Into Healing

Speaker

This page was last updated on 20261024.

Inspiring Transformation for Organizations and Individuals Navigating Complex Illness

I deliver two signature keynotes designed to help people and organizations navigate from complex illness to whole-person health.

Drawing on my experience as a retired Army Lieutenant Colonel, published author, and whole-person health advocate, I combine personal story, practical strategies, and military intelligence frameworks to help audiences measurably improve health outcomes.

Choose Your Keynote Adventure

For Care Professionals, Care Systems,
Care Payers, and Care Monitors
For Care Clients &
Their Caregivers

1️⃣ Win the War on Complex Illness

For Organizations, Healthcare Systems, and Professional Groups

A female U.S. Army officer speaks into a microphone while addressing an audience, with other soldiers in the background.
LTC Benes speaks at her battalion change of command ceremony.
A soldier in military uniform hands over a blue flag to another soldier during a formal ceremony.
LTC Benes passes the guidon during a company change of command.
A female U.S. Army officer in a military uniform, speaking and gesturing in front of a presentation board in a classroom setting.
LTC Benes gives guidance to her staff during a training exercise at Camp Shelby, Mississippi.
A group of soldiers boarding a military helicopter during twilight, with red and green lighting casting on the scene.
LTC Benes boards a helicopter during a training mission at Camp Shelby, Mississippi.

Watch Tenay share her story:

Neural Transformations Podcast:
Healing strategies for secular audiences.

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In Baghdad, I helped turn the worst-performing brigade area of operations into the best-performing using what I now call my Four Steps to Winning a War. In this keynote, I show care organizations how to use the same approach to improve complex illness outcomes—without hiring more people or buying new tech.

See pricing, availability & get a quote

Demo Reel “Win the War”

Watch Tenay’s demo reel from this 60-minute keynote:

Demo Reel:
“Win the War on Complex Illness”

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Book “Win the War” through Benes Companies

2️⃣ Heal or Die

For People Navigating Complex Illness and Their Caregivers

I overcame complex post-traumatic stress, chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation to reclaim my life, health, and purpose. In this keynote, I share three of the lessons from my book, Heal or Die, plus a 20-minute practical exercise.

See pricing, availability & get a quote
A woman sitting on a pew inside a church, with stained glass windows and wooden benches in the background.
Tenay Benes sits inside Dallas Theological Seminary’s chapel in Texas.
A woman in a hospital bed wearing a transparent helmet-like device for respiratory support, smiling at the camera.
Tenay Benes receives hyperbaric oxygen treatment for PTSD in Colorado.
A woman crouches beside a brown dog in a grassy outdoor setting, smiling at the camera, with a river in the background.
Tenay Benes poses with her emotional support dog, Angel, after a hike in Virginia.

Watch Tenay in the Army:

Change of Command Speech:
Promoting well-being in the Army.

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Demo Reel “Heal or Die”

Watch Tenay’s demo reel from this 60-minute keynote:

Demo Reel:
“Heal or Die”

Note: If immediately above this text, you can’t see an embed of a YouTube video with the thumbnail titled “Doctors Said She’d Never Heal! She Proved Them Wrong!”, which is the Demo Reel for “Heal or Die”, please accept cookies and refresh this page. Alternatively, you can click here to watch it on YouTube.

Book “Heal or Die” through Benes Companies

Skills

I speak native English, fluent (child-like) Turkish, and fluent (deteriorated) French. I am comfortable presenting with an on-stage, near-simultaneous interpreter, provided we schedule a one-hour virtual practice session at least one week before the event to ensure seamless communication.

Talks & Appearances

Recaps of talks I have given, plus interviews and guest podcast appearances.

See all talks & appearances

My Podcast

I host The Care We Need Podcast, where I talk with people who have lived it and the care professionals who help them heal.

Booking

Pricing, availability, and quotes for my keynotes are handled by Benes Companies, the company my husband and I co-founded.

Book “Heal or Die”
Book “Win the War”

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What topics do you speak about?

A: I speak on how to improve complex illness outcomes by applying military intelligence frameworks to healthcare, wellness, and human services organizations. I call this health intelligence frameworks.

I also empower complex illness overcomers (you may call them patients) and their supporters (including caregivers) on how to navigate a complex illness healing journey well.

Finally, I can speak about how I am overcoming:

  • primary and secondary Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD), Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD), childhood trauma, combat trauma, moral injury
  • Adult Child of an Alcoholic (ACOA) Syndrome, codependency, healing from Narcissistic relationships
  • sexual trauma from grooming, harassment, and assault
  • relational trauma (Cassandra Syndrome for spouses of people with Autism Spectrum Disorder)
  • Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS)
  • glucose dysregulation, prediabetes, metabolic syndrome
  • Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), neurodivergence
  • panic attacks, Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD), Major Depressive Disorder (MDD)
  • medical injury from anti-depressants (including suicidal ideations) and anti-psychotics (glucose dysregulation)
  • body-image issues, over-dieting, rapid weight gain
  • nutrient deficiencies, fatigue, pregnancy, postpartum
  • being a combat veteran, an OIF veteran, a disabled veteran
  • medical trauma from experiences in Army and Veterans Administration hospitals
  • spiritual abuse from church leaders
  • financial abuse from family members
  • legal abuse from family members
  • chronic inflammation, food sensitivities, heavy metals and high toxin load
  • workplace trauma from toxic commanders, abusive authority, undue command influence, cover-up-culture
  • and more…
Q: What kind of talks do you offer?

A: I offer keynotes, workshops, panel participation, breakfast/luncheon/dinner/fireside chats, presentations, breakout sessions, and emcee’ing (serving as the Mistress of Ceremonies of your event).

Q: Are you easy to work with?

A: I am highly organized, very responsive, and execute all my activities with a military-efficiency. I can’t help it, it’s in my blood. 🤣 Also, I have served as an event planner and MC for two national conferences in my life, so I know what it feels like to be in your shoes. I want to be the easiest part of your equation.