Inova’s Functional Neurological Disorder (FND) Program
Functional neurological disorder (FND) is a medical condition that causes real, often disabling symptoms — weakness, seizures, tremor, gait and speech changes — that arise from how the nervous system sends and processes signals, not from structural damage. Inova’s interdisciplinary FND program provides diagnosis, education, and treatment for adults across the Northern Virginia and DC area. We offer the following treatment pathways:
FND Clinic with Neuropsychology
Consultation, specialized short-term individual therapy (from 2-15 visits), and occasional group visits. If you’d prefer to continue working with your current therapist, we can offer consultation with them instead of taking over your care directly. Treatment is offered for all types of FND in this clinic, including:
- Functional/dissociative seizures (previously PNES)
- Functional cognitive disorder
- Functional sensory symptoms
- Functional movement disorders that do not require the full FMD interdisciplinary clinic
Goals of therapy may include:
- Developing skills to manage and take control of your symptoms
- Returning to activities you’ve had to stop because of symptoms
- Identifying and addressing the factors that trigger and maintain your symptoms
- Reducing your need for emergency room visits
- Developing ways to communicate your diagnosis to family, employers, or doctors
- Developing a relapse prevention plan
Functional Movement Disorders Interdisciplinary Clinic (FMD IDC)
A specialized interdisciplinary evaluation and rehabilitation program for the functional movement disorders (FMD) subtype of FND, built on close collaboration between disciplines. Our core team includes a neuropsychologist, movement disorders neurologist, physical therapist, and occupational therapist – all with expertise in FMD care.
Step 1: Interdisciplinary Evaluation
You will meet with 4 providers over a single, coordinated 3-hour visit so the team can confirm your diagnosis, understand the factors driving your specific symptoms, and design a personalized treatment plan together, rather than piecing it together across separate appointments.
| Role | Clinician | What They Do |
| Neuropsychologist | Emmi Scott, PhD | Leads the FMD Interdisciplinary Clinic. Assesses psychological and social factors that can contribute to the development and persistence of FND symptoms and develops a treatment plan targeting these factors alongside the physical ones. |
| Movement Disorders Neurologist | Mick Reedy, MD | Confirms the FND diagnosis and explains how medical and neurological factors contribute to FND symptoms. Provides specialty referrals and additional treatment options if appropriate. |
| Physical Therapy | Ashlie Williams, DPT or | Focuses on movement itself: retraining how your body walks, balances, and moves. Our PTs are trained in FND-specific techniques like graded movement retraining and attention-diversion strategies that help restore normal, automatic movement patterns for tremor, gait changes, dystonia, or weakness. They evaluate your rehab potential, teach self-management strategies for your specific movement symptoms, and provide FND-informed physical therapy recommendations. |
| Occupational Therapy | Jenny Hoewing, OT | Focuses on daily function: helping you get back to the activities that your symptoms have interrupted (e.g., dressing, cooking, driving, working). Our OT evaluates rehab potential, helps you manage fatigue and pacing, teaches strategies for coping with sensory triggers, and provides FND-informed occupational therapy recommendations tailored to your routine and goals. |
Step 2: FMD Therapy Program
Depending on your goals, functional needs, readiness, and availability, you may continue into our FMD therapy program at Inova where you will work with FND-trained rehabilitation therapists and psychologists.
Rehabilitation therapy (i.e., physical, occupational, and speech) is offered at:
- Inova Fairfax Outpatient Rehab
- Inova Fair Oaks Outpatient Rehab
- Inova Loudoun Outpatient Rehab
- Inova Alexandria Rehab
- Inova Mount Vernon Rehab
Psychotherapy is offered by neuropsychologists, rehabilitation psychologists, or heath psychologists at Inova and trusted partners.
No two people experience FND the same way, so no two treatment plans look the same. After your evaluation, we build a plan around your specific symptoms, goals, and readiness — that might mean starting with physical therapy alone, beginning psychotherapy first, or combining several treatments at once. We emphasize building self-management skills so you can take an active role in your own recovery.
We also keep your care connected. Your neurologist, therapists, and psychologist communicate regularly about your progress. Dr. Reedy’s role in your ongoing care depends on your specific needs. For some patients, he continues periodic follow-up visits; for others, his role is to confirm the diagnosis and help set the initial plan, after which your referring physician continues managing your neurological care. Either way, your referring provider stays part of your care team throughout — we see our role as supporting them, not replacing them.
Referrals & Scheduling
We require the following:
- A confirmed or strongly suspected diagnosis of FND (including functional seizures, functional movement disorder, or other subtype)
- A physician referral and a copy of your neurology records
For patients:
- Please ask your neurologist or primary care provider to fax a referral to the Inova FND clinic, along with relevant records, to 571-472-4201.
- Once the referral has been sent, then you can call 571-472-4167 to schedule or wait for our scheduling team to call you.
For clinicians:
- Clinicians outside of Inova: Fax relevant records and a referral to the Inova FND clinic to 571-472-4201
- Clinicians at Inova or with access to EpicCare Link: Place an order for Ambulatory Referral to Neurology (REF46), then select FND clinic from the options.
We recommend that the referring clinician remain involved in the patient’s care. Our goal is to support the referring team rather than take over all of a patient’s care. Our model involves assessment, short-term treatment, and occasional consultation between our team and the patient’s local clinicians as appropriate.
SCHEDULER Denyah Henderson
PHONE 571-472-4167
FAX 571-472-4201