2025

Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies Annual Convention November 2025

11/22/25 Clinical Round Table: Neurobehavioral Therapy Mechanisms That Support Holistic Recovery in Functional Seizures Across the Lifespan: A Multidisciplinary Perspective

We discussed how psycho-education, mindfulness, exposure, and cognitive-behavioral strategies reduce vulnerability to stress by promoting healthy behaviors, increasing awareness, decreasing avoidance, and identifying and modifying maladaptive thought patterns in adult and pediatric populations. This panel was comprised of experienced professionals from multiple disciplines, career stages, and clinical settings, who synthesized current clinical and theoretical literature to inform decision-making and practical applications for implementing neurobehavioral therapy with individuals who have functional seizures.

Moderator: Miranda Schafffer, M.S

Speakers: Najda Robinson-Mayer, LMSW, Wesley Kerr, M.D., PhD, Elissa Patterson, Ph D, Julia Doss Psy. D., Christine Sebastian Psy. D., Nicholas J. Beimer, M.D

Association for Behavioral and Cognitive Therapies Annual Convention November 2025

11/21/25 Research Symposium: From Uncertainty to Understanding—Prognoses, Progress, and Multi-Morbidity Functional Seizures to Advance Clinical Science and Compassionate, PatientCentered Care

Speakers:

Chairs: Najda Robinson-Mayer, LMSW, Miranda Schafffer, M.S

Discussant: Elissa Patterson, Ph D,

Presenters : Nicholas J. Beimer, M.D., Joseph Tu, M.S., Wesley Kerr, M.D., PhD

Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan Annual Wellness Conference 2025

11/14/25 Mental Health and Epilepsy: Coping with Anxiety, Depression, and Burnout

Managing epilepsy can take a toll on mental health, affecting individuals, caregivers, and families alike. This session explored practical strategies for coping with anxiety, depression, and burnout while addressing both the emotional and physical challenges of epilepsy. Led by medical and mental health experts, the discussion focused on building resilience, accessing support, and creating a balanced approach to well-being.

• Nanzin Mahmood, MD – Pediatric Epileptologist; Children’s Hospital of Michigan

• Najda Robinson-Mayer, LMSW – Licensed Master Social Worker; University of Michigan / Michigan Medicine

• Michael Nanzer, DPT, MBA, FHE – N1 Consulting 

• Moderator: Angie May – Parent and Epilepsy Advocate; Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan

Michigan Medicine Inter-professional Research Symposium 2025

10/24/25 Presentation: Broadening Access to Care for Patients with Functional Seizures: Initial Data Results from Group Therapy

To evaluate the effectiveness of a newly developed group therapy option, the Functional Seizures clinic at Michigan Medicine systematically asked group therapy patients for feedback. Group therapy provides holistic, patient-centered and interprofessional approach. Group therapy results indicate that patients find this treatment beneficial.

2024

Functional Neurological Disorder Society:

The Functional Neurological Disorder Society is a professional society of healthcare professionals, scientists, and students who are interested in functional neurological disorders

Functional Neurological Disorder Society’s: Rehabilitation 101 Virtual Education Course 2024

Functional Neurologic Disorder (FND): Rehabilitation 101 is a virtual education course designed to equip healthcare professionals with essential rehabilitation skills for assessing and treating people with Functional Neurological Disorder (FND). Chaired by Glenn Nielsen, PhD, and Sarah Lidstone, MD, PhD, you will learn from expert occupational therapists, speech pathologists, speech & language therapists, physiotherapists, nurses, social workers, and specialist physicians.

2023

Psychiatry Social Work Workgroup at University of Michigan / Michigan Medicine

11/14/23 Presentation: Real world change in seizure frequency during and after cognitive behavioral informed therapy for functional seizures

Michigan Medicine Inter-professional Research Symposium 2023

9/21/23 Presentation: Real world change in seizure frequency during and after cognitive behavioral informed therapy for functional seizures

2019              

9/4/2019 Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan Learn and Share Conference Call : Epilepsy and Emotional Wellbeing  

An essential component of brain health is emotional wellbeing. While many of us take steps to improve our physical health, we often fail to give our mental health the same level of attention. On this call, our guest speakers discuss important daily strategies that we can all integrate into our lives to improve our emotional wellbeing - drawing from the fields of mindfulness, cognitive behavioral therapy, and positive psychology. They also discuss common epilepsy-related factors that contribute to the increased prevalence of depression and anxiety disorders in those with epilepsy.

Speakers: Najda Robinson-Mayer, LMSW and Dr. Elissa Patterson, PhD

2016           

11/2/2016 Epilepsy Foundation of Michigan Learn and Share Conference Call: Diagnosis & Management of Psychogenic Nonepileptic Seizures Panel discussion 

Panelists from University of Michigan Health System: Nicholas Beimer, MD; Scott Winder, MD; Elissa Patterson, PhD; Najda Robinson-Mayer, LMSW. Psychogenic nonepileptic seizures (PNES) is an often misunderstood and misdiagnosed condition. While the causes and treatment of PNES are very different from those for epilepsy, the impact is very similar. This panel discussed what PNES is, how to accurately diagnose it, and various treatment options. They also discussed how to deal with the unfortunate misunderstanding of this condition that persists in the public and in the medical and mental health communities.