FND Essentials 

Why this Course exists 

FND is common in clinical practice, but many clinicians have not received enough practical training in how to explain it, formulate it or plan care collaboratively.

This can lead to:

• uncertainty in diagnosis conversations
• mixed messages across the treating team
• patient confusion or distress
• over-focus on symptoms rather than function
• difficulty knowing when to involve physiotherapy, psychology, OT, speech pathology, neurology, GP care or other supports
• unclear care planning and follow-up

FND Essentials has been developed to give clinicians a clearer and more practical framework.

The focus is education, confidence, communication, formulation and coordinated care planning.

This course does not promise guaranteed patient outcomes. It supports clinicians to develop more consistent, evidence-informed and person-centred approaches to FND care.

Who This Course is For

FND Essentials is designed for health professionals working with people who have, or may have, Functional Neurological Disorder.

It may be useful for:

• physiotherapists
• psychologists and mental health clinicians
• occupational therapists
• speech pathologists
• neurologists and medical clinicians
• general practitioners
• rehabilitation clinicians
• nurses
• exercise physiologists
• community health clinicians
• multidisciplinary team members
• clinicians new to FND
• experienced clinicians seeking more structure, language and confidence

You do not need to be an FND specialist to begin.

This course is designed to help clinicians build a practical foundation and apply FND-informed thinking within their own discipline, scope of practice and service context. 

What You’ll Learn in This Course

By the end of the course, you will have explored how to:

• understand FND through contemporary biopsychosocial and neurobiological frameworks
• explain FND in clear, accessible and non-blaming language
• use the 3P model to support clinical formulation
• introduce the FND Smartphone Model as a patient education tool
• identify common maintaining factors such as fear, avoidance, attention, dysregulation and mixed messages
• communicate diagnosis and formulation with patients, families and clinicians
• clarify MDT roles and shared language
• develop practical, function-focused care plans
• support collaborative goal setting
• consider readiness for change and engagement
• discuss relapse, flare-ups and expectations more clearly
• use downloadable tools to support your clinical reasoning and MDT communication

Course Modules Overview

Module 1

Foundations of FND: This module introduces the foundations of Functional Neurological Disorder and why clear explanation matters.

• What is FND? - Biopsychosocial framework and 3 P’s model.  
• The 'Perfect Storm"
• Identifying risk factors and common presentations.  
• Clinical formulation
• Real-world case studies 

Module 2

Psychoeducation, Formulation & Confidently Communicating the Diagnosis: This module focuses on how to explain FND clearly and respectfully.

•  Answering Why Me? for clients
• Presenting a formulation that guides the treatment plan
• How to confidently explain FND to clients (and families)
• Introducing The FND Smartphone Model
• Addressing shame, fear, and confusion
• MDT collaborative language 

Module 3

 Mentoring Q&A Session: This pre-recorded Q&A session supports reflection on the early course content.

It explores common clinician questions, practical examples and ways to consolidate learning around explanation, formulation and communication.

Module 4

The Recovery Approach: This module explores how education, support networks and evidence-informed strategies can be integrated into care.

• Education, support networks, and evidence-based strategies
• Care coordinator role (and how to do it well)
• Collaborative goal setting
• Applying the recovery approach in an MDT
• FND-informed treatment
•  Integrated formulation 

 Module 5

Navigating FND Recovery and Expectations: This module focuses on how clinicians can support realistic, compassionate and practical care planning.

• Beyond symptom management: mind-body reconnection.   
• Framing as disorder of agency
• Readiness for change
• Developing hope and future oriented mindset 
• Resetting the nervous system
• MDT goal settings 
• Managing relapse planning

Module 6

Mentoring Q&A Session: This pre-recorded Q&A session supports consolidation of later course content.

It explores care planning, expectations, relapse planning, MDT challenges and practical questions that commonly arise when applying FND-informed care.

Why Clinicians Choose FND Essentials

Practical and Clinically Relevant

The course is designed to help clinicians move from theory into clearer conversations, formulation and care planning.

Evidence-Informed

The training draws on contemporary FND literature, clinical consensus recommendations and multidisciplinary practice principles.

MDT-Aware

FND care often spans neurology, physiotherapy, psychology, occupational therapy, speech pathology, general practice, nursing and community supports. This course helps clinicians think more clearly about shared language and team roles.

Communication-Focused

Many clinicians find FND challenging because the words matter. This course gives you practical language for explaining FND without stigma, blame or over-simplification.

Flexible Online Learning

The course is delivered through pre-recorded modules so you can learn at your own pace.

Downloadable Tools

Templates and resources are included to support clinical reasoning, patient education, formulation, goal setting and MDT communication.

Professional Disclaimer

FND Essentials provides professional education only.

It does not replace medical diagnosis, clinical supervision, individual clinical reasoning, local governance, risk assessment, documentation requirements, discipline-specific scope of practice or referral pathways.

Clinicians remain responsible for their own assessment, communication, treatment decisions, documentation, escalation processes and professional obligations.

Where FND has not been medically diagnosed, or where symptoms are new, changing, atypical or medically concerning, appropriate medical assessment is required.