Functional Wellness Assessment
The Starting Point
The Functional Wellness Assessment (FWA) is the entry point into the Somatic Self-Care System (SSCS) and represents the Gather phase of the system.
Its purpose is to gather information about the individual’s current observations, relevant health history, symptoms, body signals, sensations, daily function, lifestyle factors and personal goals.
The assessment provides a structured opportunity for the individual to describe what they are experiencing, how those experiences may be affecting everyday life and what they hope to better understand through the Somatic Self-Care System.
Rather than focusing on one symptom alone, the Functional Wellness Assessment gathers a broader range of information that can later be organized into a more complete functional picture.
What the Assessment Gathers
The Functional Wellness Assessment gathers information about the individual’s current experiences and areas of interest. Information gathered may include:
- Current symptoms, body signals and sensations
- Relevant health history and previous evaluations
- Daily function and how current experiences may affect everyday activities
- Lifestyle routines, responsibilities and daily demands
- Existing self-care practices and support strategies
- Areas the individual would like to better understand
- Personal goals for observation, learning and self-care
The purpose of gathering this information is not to diagnose or determine the cause of a symptom. It is to organize the individual’s observations, support pattern recognition and provide the foundation for the Personalized Educational Summary (PES), continued learning and informed participation in healthcare.
When the Assessment May Be Helpful
The Functional Wellness Assessment may be helpful when:
- Symptoms involve more than one area of the body
- Experiences feel connected but are difficult to organize
- Symptoms, body signals or sensations continue despite inconclusive testing
- Daily stress, movement, activity or lifestyle demands appear to influence how the body feels or functions
- Recovery, energy or daily function has changed
- You would like a clearer way to observe and communicate your experiences
- You are seeking a broader understanding of how your body may be responding, functioning, adapting and recovering over time
What You Receive
The information gathered through the Functional Wellness Assessment is used to create a Personalized Educational Summary (PES).
The PES represents the Organize phase of the Somatic Self-Care System. It takes the information gathered through the FWA and organizes it into a structured functional overview.
The Personalized Educational Summary may include:
- A functional overview of symptoms, body signals and sensations
- Factors influencing how the individual feels, functions and recovers
- Functional patterns that may benefit from continued observation
- Existing strengths and supportive practices
- Questions for continued observation and learning
- Potential areas of focus for an Individual Support Plan (ISP)
- Educational next steps
- An organized summary that the individual may choose to use when communicating with healthcare providers
The PES does not provide a diagnosis or treatment recommendation. Its purpose is to help the individual better understand and organize what they are experiencing, support continued pattern recognition and identify areas that may be useful to observe more closely.
What Happens Next
Following the Functional Wellness Assessment, the Personalized Educational Summary is reviewed with the individual during a PES Review Session.
During this session, the individual has an opportunity to review the summary, ask questions, discuss areas that stand out and consider possible next steps.
The individual may then decide whether they would like to enroll in the 30-Day Observation and Learning Program within the Somatic Self-Care System.
The program provides continued educational support through:
- An Individual Support Plan (ISP)
- A Functional Self-Care Plan (FSCP), when appropriate
- Structured observation and individualized learning
- Progress review and reflection
There is no obligation to continue beyond the Functional Wellness Assessment and PES Review. The process is designed to provide organized educational information that may support self-understanding, informed participation in healthcare and continued self-care.
Important Notice
The Functional Wellness Assessment is an educational information-gathering process designed to support functional observation, individualized learning and practical self-care.
It is not intended to diagnose, treat or cure any medical condition and does not replace evaluation, diagnosis or treatment provided by qualified healthcare professionals.
Next Step
👇👇 Begin with a Functional Wellness Assessment