MARCELA A. BONAFINA, PH.D.
Neuropsychologist
Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures (PNES), also known as functional seizures, are real and involuntary episodes that resemble epileptic seizures but are not caused by abnormal electrical activity in the brain. PNES is considered part of the broader spectrum of Functional Neurological Disorder (FND), in which the nervous system produces real symptoms through changes in brain-body regulation rather than structural damage.
Treatment is also available for other Functional Neurological Disorder presentations, including persistent postural-perceptual dizziness (PPPD), functional dizziness, balance difficulties, movement symptoms, sensory changes, gait difficulties, and cognitive symptoms related to brain-body dysregulation.
Dr. Bonafina has worked with patients with PNES since 2012. She trained with Dr. Lorna Myers, a worldwide pioneer and expert in the research and treatment of PNES.
Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures (PNES)
HISTORY
Conversion disorders were first formally and scientifically studied in the 19th century by Dr. Jean-Martin Charcot at the Salpêtrière Hospital in Paris. One of his disciples, Sigmund Freud, developed his own theories about conversion disorders, which were the foundation of psychoanalysis.
DIAGNOSIS
PNES are similar and commonly misdiagnosed as epileptic seizures. Specialized testing including Video-Electroencephalogram (VEEG) is used to differentiate epileptic and non-epileptic episodes. Frequent misdiagnoses and delayed accurate diagnosis are likely to have a huge impact on the quality of life of the patients and their families, social isolation, under- or unemployment, chronicity, and disability.
RISK FACTORS
Sexual abuse, trauma, co-ocurring psychopathology, medical illnesses, interpersonal conflict, family illness, death, loss.
TREATMENT
PNES are treated with psychotherapy including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Mindfulness-Based Therapy (MBT), psychodynamic therapies, Prolonged Exposure (PE) for PNES and PTSD.
BIASES AND STIGMA
Frequently, after being accurately diagnosed. patients with PNES are seen as "faking" epilepsy with "intentional or purposeful" episodes because they seek attention-WRONG.
They should use their willpower to overcome these symptoms-WRONG.
HOPE
While challenges still exist due to the public and health professionals' misinformations, PNES is treatable with psychotherapy. ASK FOR HELP.
Services
Specialized Treatment Program
Overview
This program is a structured, time-limited, evidence-informed treatment for individuals diagnosed with Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures (PNES), also known as Functional Seizure Disorder. Treatment integrates neuropsychological, trauma-informed, cognitive-emotional, and somatic-focused approaches to address the mechanisms that contribute to seizure-like episodes.
PNES is understood as a disorder of brain–body regulation, not a conscious or voluntary condition. Symptoms are real and involuntary and often occur in the context of cumulative stress, trauma, emotional overload, dissociation, and autonomic nervous system dysregulation.
Program Structure
12 individual sessions
60-90 minutes per session
Weekly format (adjusted as clinically indicated)
This is a closed, sequential program. Sessions build on one another and are not interchangeable
Financial and Participation Information
Receipts may be provided for possible out-of-network reimbursement
Active participation and consistent attendance are required
FAQ
Is PNES “all in my head”?
No. PNES is a real, involuntary brain–body condition. Symptoms are not intentional or imagined.
Do I need a trauma history for treatment to help?
No. PNES can develop from trauma, chronic stress, emotional overload, or autonomic dysregulation. Trauma is addressed only when relevant.
Is this the same as regular therapy?
No. This is a structured, specialized program designed specifically for PNES.
Contact
Functional Neurological Disorders (FND)
These experiences are not imagined or feigned — they are your nervous system’s way of communicating. When the brain’s networks become dysregulated, the body may respond with real and distressing symptoms: movement changes, dizziness, balance problems, sensory disturbances, speech or gait difficulties, cognitive disruptions, or seizure-like episodes. Understanding that these symptoms arise from how the brain functions — not from structural damage — opens the door to compassionate care, evidence-based treatment, and renewed control over daily life.
