Staff Profiles

Dr Kate Swainston is a Chartered Psychologist, HCPC registered Practitioner Health Psychologist, and an Associate Fellow of the British Psychological Society (BPS). Kate is an applied psychology practice supervisor (RAPPS accredited) for the BPS Qualification in Health Psychology and is a Fellow of the Higher Education Academy. Kate maintains a clinical case load specialising in medically complex cases, chronic pain, cancer survivorship, and palliative care and has expertise in third wave and resource based therapies. 

Kate is a Senior Lecturer within the School of Psychology, a member of the Population Health Sciences Institute (PHSI), and a Fellow of the Faculty of Medical Sciences Graduate Research School.

Kate is a member of the Population Health Sciences Institute and conducts research, enterprise and business engagement projects within applied health psychology and behavioural medicine. Her collaborations are cross-disciplinary and she has received funding from a range of sources including the NIHR, universities, and third sector organisations. Kate sits on numerous steering and professional practice groups and her research focuses on the development of psychological interventions, cancer survivorship and late effects, pain and long-term conditions, optimising surgical outcomes, and women's health. She also has an interest in eco-psychology and taking psychology outdoors.

Kate is currently working on several projects including:

• Patient and practitioner experiences of the management of Persistent Physical Symptoms (EPPS)
• Health and lifestyle of patients with mesothelioma (HELP MESO)
• The psychological impact of hypermobility, the development of a psychometric tool and intervention pathway
• Problematic substance use including opioid reduction
• Virtual consultations in palliative care 
• Long-term monitoring and psychosocial impacts of childhood cancer
• Implementation of guidelines and service improvement within healthcare
• Screening and management of HPV
• Long-term conditions following complications during pregnancy

Kate is a peer reviewer for numerous journals, is a grant awards referee, and is the former editor of Health Psychology Update. She is an experienced supervisor with completions as Director of Studies of PhD's, clinical, health, and counselling psychology doctorates. Kate's PhD students conduct research on a range of applied health psychology topics including pre-eclampsia, cancer survivorship, and wellbeing coaching. Kate acts as external supervisor for clinical, health and coaching psychology PhD's and holds external examiner positions at several academic institutions. 

Current Teaching and Supervision:

• Research Skills for Psychological Research in Clinical Settings 
• Cultural and Historical Issues in Clinical Psychology
• Dissertation - MSc Foundations in Clinical Psychology
• UG Empirical Project

Kate is the Postgraduate Research Coordinator for the School of Psychology within the Faculty of Medical Sciences. She is the former programme director of MSc Health Psychology at Teesside University and has over a decade of learning and teaching development and supervisory experience. Kate has successfully led professional body re-accreditations and module/programme re-design at undergraduate and postgraduate levels. She has gained commendations for research informed teaching, the development of transferable skills, and supporting inclusion and employability. Kate is part of an international multi-lab study examining maths and statistics anxiety. 

• Articles

  • Powlesland C, Swainston K, MacGregor F. Women's experiences of information, education and support when undergoing pelvic radiotherapy for gynaecological cancer: An exploratory qualitative study. Radiography 2023, 29(1), 70-75.
  • Swainston K, Thursby S, Bell B, Poulter H, Dismore L, Copping L. What psychological interventions are effective for the management of Persistent Physical Symptoms (PPS)? A systematic review and meta-analysis. British Journal of Health Psychology 2023, 28(1), 80-97.
  • Bell B, Swainston K. The lived experience of long-term follow-up clinical care for haematopoietic stem cell recipients in England: a qualitative exploration. Journal of Cancer Survivorship 2023, epub ahead of print.
  • Clark NL, Johnson M, Rangan A, Kottam L, Swainston K. The biopsychosocial impact of hypermobility spectrum disorders in adults: a scoping review. Rheumatology International 2023, Epub ahead of print.
  • MacSween A, Coverdale D, Swainston K, Ryan C, Martin D. OldPain2Go® a novel intervention for people with chronic low back pain: a feasibility study. Pain and Rehabilitation 2023, 53(1), 40-47.
  • Terry J, Ross RM, Nagy T, Salgado M, Garrido-Vásquez P, Sarfo JO, Cooper S, Buttner AC, Lima TJS, Öztürk I, Akay N, Santos FH, Artemenko C, Copping LT, Elsherif MM, Milovanovic I, Cribbie RA, Drushlyak MG, Swainston K, Shou Y, Leongómez JD, Palena N, Abidin FA, Reyes-Rodríguez MF, He Y, Abraham J, Vatakis A, Jankowsky K, Schmidt KSNL, Grimm E, González D, Schmid P, Ferreira RA, Rozgonjuk D, Özhan N, O'Connor PA, Zsido AN, Stiglic G, Rhodes D, Rodríguez C, Ropovik I, Enea V, Nurwanti R, Estudillo AJ, Beribisky N, Himawan KK, Geven LM, van Hoogmoed AH, Bret A, Chapman JE, Alter U, Flack ZM, Hanna D, Soltanlou M, Banik G, Adamkovic M, van der Ven SHG, Mosbacher JA, Sen HH, Anderson JR, Batashvili M, de Groot K, Parker MO, Helmy M, Ostroha MM, Gilligan-Lee KA, Egara FO, Barwood MJ, Thomas K, McMahon G, Griffin SM, Nuerk HC, Counsell A, Lindemann O, Van Rooy D, Wege TE, Lewis JE, Aczel B, Monaghan C, Al-Hoorie AH, Huber JF, Yapan S, Garrido Vásquez ME, Callea A, Ergiyen T, Clay JM, Mertens G, Topçu F, Täht MG, Taht K, Mikkor K, Caso L, Karner A, Storm MMC, Daroczy G, Zein RA, Greco A, Buchanan EM, Schmid K, Hunt TE, De keersmaecker J, Branney PE, Randell J, Clark OJ, Steltenpohl CN, Malu B, Tekes B, Ramis T, Agrigoroaei S, Badcock NA, McAloney-Kocaman K, Semenikhina OV, Graf EW, Lea C, Ogba KTU, Guppy FM, Warhurst AC, Lindsay S, Al Khateeb A, Scharnowski F, de Kwaadsteniet L, Francis KB, Lecompte M, Webster LAD, Morsanyi K, Forwood SE, Walters ER, Tip LK, Wagge JR, Lai HY, Crossland DS, Darda KM, Flack TR, Leviston Z, Brolly M, Hills SP, Collins E, Roberts AJ, Cheung WY, Leonard S, Verschuere B, Stanley SK, Xenidou Dervou I, Ghasemi O, Liew T, Ansari D, Guilaran J, Penny SG, Bahnmueller J, Hand CJ, Rahajeng UW, Peterburg D, Takacs ZK, Platow MJ, Field AP. Data from an International MultiCentre Study of Statistics and Mathematics Anxieties and Related Variables in University Students (the SMARVUS Dataset). Journal of Open Psychology Data 2023, 11(8).
  • Clark N, Copping L, Swainston K, McGeechan G. Attitudes to organ donor registration in England under opt-out legislation. Progress in Transplantation 2023, Epub ahead of print.
  • Crabtree K, Swainston K. Acceptability of a wellbeing coaching intervention based on socio-cognitive mindfulness: A qualitative study of coaches’ views. International Coaching Psychology Review 2023, 18(1), 21-33.
  • Camilleri S, Swainston K, MacGregor F. A qualitative exploration of the experiences of post-mortem forensic imaging in Malta: A psychological perspective. Radiography 2023, 29(1), 84-89.
  • Kirkham A, Swainston K. Women's experiences of interstitial cystitis/painful bladder syndrome. Western Journal of Nursing Research 2022, 44(2), 125-132.
  • McLeod E, Mason C, Swainston K. Parents experiences of having an infant with early onset group B streptococcus infection. British Journal of Health Psychology 2022, 27(3), 777-788.
  • Epton T, Ghio D, Ballard L, Allen S, Kassianos A, Hewitt R, Swainston K, Fynn WI, Rowland V, Westbrook J, Jenkinson E, Morrow A, McGeechan GJ, Stanescu S, Yousuf AA, Sharma N, Begum S, Karasouli E, Scanlan D, Shorter GW, Arden MA, Armitage CJ, O'Connor DB, Kamal A, McBride E, Swanson V, Hart J, Byrne-Davis L, Chater A, Drury J. Interventions to promote physical distancing behaviour during infectious disease pandemics or epidemics: A systematic review. Social Science & Medicine 2022, 303, 114946.
  • Taylor L, Swainston K, Hurst C, Aujayeb A, Poulter H, Dismore L. Health and Lifestyle of Patients with Mesothelioma: Protocol for the Help-Meso Study. Journal of Respiration 2022, 2(3), 129-138.
  • McGeechan G, Byrnes K, Campbell M, Carthy N, Eberhardt J, Paton W, Swainston K, Giles E. A systematic review and qualitative synthesis of the experience of living with colorectal cancer as a chronic illness. Psychology and Health 2022, 37(3), 350-374.
  • Dismore L, Van Wersch A, Murty AN, Swainston K. A qualitative study with orthopaedic surgeons on pain catastrophizing and surgical outcomes: shifting from a medical towards a biopsychosocial model of surgery. British Journal of Pain 2022, 16(1), 14-22.
  • Dismore L, van Wersch A, Murty A, Swainston K. A qualitative study with orthopaedic practitioners on pain catastrophizing and surgical outcomes: shifting from a medical towards a biopsychosocial model of surgery. British Pain Society Annual Scientific Meeting 2022, 16(1), 14-22.
  • Dismore L, van Wersch A, Critchley R, Murty A, Swainston K. A qualitative study to explore patients' perceptions of their postoperative outcomes following forefoot surgery. British Journal of Pain 2022, 16(3), 317-325.
  • Reay A, Swainston K. Service user experience with a community substance misuse service: An exploration of the impact of COVID-19. British Psychological Society North of England Bulletin 2021.
  • Healey R, Taylor J, Swainston K. Men's experiences of living with melanoma: An interpretive phenomenological analysis. Health Psychology Update 2021, 30(2), 40-52.
  • Dismore L, van Wersch A, Critchley R, Murty A, Swainston K. A qualitative study to understand patients' experiences of foot pain and surgical consultation for hallux valgus and/or hallux rigidus. Journal of Pain and Rehabilitation 2021, 51, 15-28.
  • Reay A, Aujayeb A, Dotchin C, Tullo E, Steer J, Swainston K, Dismore L. A qualitative study exploring the impact and effects following hospital discharge of COVID-19. Journal of Respiration 2021, 1(3), 216-222.
  • McGeechan G, Swainston K, O'Neill C. Young people's experiences of targeted community intervention for self-harm. British Psychological Society North of England Bulletin 2020, (3), 21-34.
  • Farrington A, Wilson G, Limbrick H, Swainston K. The lived experience of adjustment to prostate cancer. Psychology of Men and Masculinities 2020, 21(3), 369-379.
  • Dismore L, van Wersch A, Critchley R, Aradhyula AM, Swainston K. The associations of pain catastrophizing and post-operative outcomes in domains of pain, quality of life, and function in joint replacement surgery: A systematic review. Journal of Pain Management 2020, 13(2), 105-113.
  • Beddard N, McGeechan G, Taylor J, Swainston K. Childhood eye cancer from a parental perspective: The lived experience of parents with children who have had retinoblastoma. European Journal of Cancer Care 2020, 29(2), e13209.
  • Erdem H, Wilson G, Limbrick H, Swainston K. An interpretive phenomenological exploration of the barriers, facilitators and benefits to male mental health help-seeking. British Psychological Society North of England Bulletin 2020, (1).
  • Rayment G, Swainston K, Wilson G. Using photo-elicitation to explore the lived experience of informal caregivers of individuals living with dementia. British Journal of Health Psychology 2019, 24(1), 102-122.
  • Souto Pereira S, Swainston K, Becker S. The discursive construction of low risk to sexually transmitted infections between women who are sexually active with women. Culture, Health & Sexuality 2019, 21(11), 1309-1321.
  • Dismore L, van Wersch A, Swainston K. Social constructions of the male contraception pill: When are we going to break the vicious circle?. Journal of Health Psychology 2016, 21(5), 788-797.
  • Swainston K, Campbell C, van Wersch A, Durning P. Treatment decision-making in breast cancer: A longitudinal exploration of women's experiences. British Journal of Health Psychology 2012, 17(1), 155-170.

• Book Chapters

  • Dismore L, van Wersch A, Critchley R, Murty A, Swainston K. Chapter 2: The associations of pain catastrophizing and post-operative outcomes in domains of pain, quality of life and function in joint replacement surgery. In: Merrick J; Morad M, ed. Pain Management: Recent International Research. New York: Nova Science, 2022.
  • Swainston K, van Wersch A. Women's experiences of treatment decision-making in breast cancer. In: Paludi M.A, ed. Praeger Handbook on Women's Cancers: Personal and Psychosocial Insights. Santa Barbara, California: Praeger, 2014, pp.245-262.

• Conference Proceedings (inc. Abstracts)

  • Crabtree K, Swainston K. What might increase acceptability of a wellbeing coaching intervention based on socio-cognitive mindfulness: A qualitative study on coaches’ views. In: British Psychological Society Coaching Psychology Conference 2023. 2023, London, UK.
  • Beddard N, Skinner R, McGeechan G, Nassar M, Swainston K. Through the eyes of an adult: Exploring the long-term effects of retinoblastoma using object elicitation. In: British Psychological Society Division of Health Psychology 2023 Annual Conference. 2023, Sheffield, UK.
  • Thursby S, Hirst F, Hamilton L, Dovey-Pearce G, Goff I, Ferguson D, Tomson D, Dismore L, Swainston K. The development and evaluation of a training programme to develop healthcare practitioners’ clinical skills when working with Persistent Physical Symptoms (PPS). In: British Psychological Society Division of Health Psychology 2023 Annual Conference. 2023, Sheffield.
  • MacGregor F, Breckons M, Swainston K. Organisational Barriers and Facilitators to Implementation of Best Practice within Forensic Radiographic Practice. In: The Society of Radiographers of South Africa (SORSA) 2023 Congress. 2023.
  • Taylor L, Swainston K, Aujayeb A, Dismore L. Mesothelioma and Nutrition: Exploring attitudes and experiences of healthcare professionals towards diet and nutrition within a high incidence area of the UK. In: 16th International Conference of the International Mesothelioma Interest Group. 2023, Lille, France.
  • Low W, Zhu X, Swainston K, Taylor J. Influences of product and situational involvement on cyber consumer decision-making styles. In: 2023 AMA Winter Academic Conference. 2023, Nashville. In Press.
  • Snelling L, Swainston K, VanWersch A. Examining therapist effect in Shiatsu when given to people with multiple sclerosis. In: Research Council for Complementary Medicine (RCCM) Conference. 2023, London.
  • Reay A, Dismore L, Aujayeb A, Dotchin C, Tullo E, Steer J, Swainston K. Analysing the Patient Experience of COVID-19: Exploring Patients’ Experiences of Hospitalisation and Their Quality-of-Life Post-Discharge. In: British Psychological Society Division of Health Psychology 2023 Annual Conference. 2023, Sheffield.
  • Crabtree K, Swainston K. A systematic review of socio-cognitive mindfulness interventions and its implications for wellbeing coaching. In: British Psychological Society Coaching Psychology Conference 2023. 2023, London: British Psychological Society.
  • Thursby S, Dismore L, Swainston K. A systematic review of clinical skills development for medical practitioners working with patients who present with Persistent Physical Symptoms (PPS) in primary and secondary healthcare settings. In: British Psychological Society Division of Health Psychology 2023 Annual Conference. 2023, Sheffield.
  • MacGregor F, Breckons M, Swainston K. A Scoping Review of Organisational Barriers and Facilitators to the Implementation of Best Practice within Forensic Radiographic Practice. In: The Society of Radiographers of South Africa (SORSA) Congress. 2023.
  • Swainston K, Thursby S, Bell B, Poulter H, Dismore L, Copping L. What psychological interventions are effective for the management of Persistent Physical Symptoms (PPS)? A systematic review and meta-analysis. In: British Psychological Society Division of Health Psychology Annual Conference. 2022, Bristol.
  • Swainston K, O'Malley C, Brown V. The implementation and evaluation of a university-based scheme to reduce period poverty. In: British Psychological Society Division of Health Psychology Annual Conference. 2022, Bristol, UK.
  • Brown V, Swainston K. Period poverty and period dignity. Lightening Talk. In: Academic Libraries North Conference 2022. The time is now: active approaches to inclusivity. 2022, Virtual: Academic Libraries North.
  • Dismore L, van Wersch A, Murty A, Swainston K. Patients experiences of their post-operative outcomes following forefoot surgery. In: British Pain Society Annual Scientific Meeting. 2022, London and Virtual.
  • Critchley R, Dismore L, Swainston K, Townshend D, Coorsh J, Kakwani R, Murty A. Does a high pre-operative pain catastrophizing score influence the outcomes following hallux surgery?. In: British Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society (BOFAS). 2022, Bournemouth.
  • Clark N, Copping L, Swainston K, McGeechan G. Are you in or are you out? Attitudes to organ donor registration in England. In: British Psychological Society Division of Health Psychology Annual Conference. 2022, Bristol.
  • Bell B, Thursby S, Limbrick H, Swainston K. A systematic review and thematic synthesis of haematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) patients experiences of long-term monitoring clinics and associated impact of fear of cancer recurrence (FCR). In: PsyPAG Conference 2022. 2022, Virtual: The British Psychological Society.
  • Wetherell B, Swainston K. Women’s Post-Natal Experiences of Pre-eclampsia/Eclampsia. In: British Psychological Society Division of Health Psychology Annual Conference. 2021, Virtual.
  • Bell B, Swainston K. The lived experience of long-term late-effects monitoring for haematopoietic stem cell recipients in England: A qualitative exploration. In: 36th Annual PsyPAG Conference. 2021.
  • Swainston K, Dismore L, Bonnema J, van Wersch A. The impact of sharing life events and current issues on decision-making for breast reconstructive surgery: The perspectives of healthcare professionals. In: European Health Psychology Conference 2021. 2021, Virtual.
  • Swainston K, Dismore L, Bonnema J, van Wersch A. The impact of influential life events and current issues on women’s decision-making for breast cancer reconstructive surgery. In: British Psychological Society Division of Health Psychology Annual Conference. 2021, Virtual.
  • Reay A, Swainston K. The effect of COVID-19 on Service User Experience within a Community Substance Misuse Service. In: Substance Use and Associated Behaviours (SUAB) PhD Symposium. 2021, Manchester.
  • Reay A, Swainston K. Healthcare professionals within a community substance misuse service: An exploration of the impact of Covid-19. In: 36th Annual PsyPAG Conference. 2021.
  • Mason C, Swainston K. An exploration of subjective wellbeing and resilience of non-frontline NHS employees, following resilience training. In: British Psychological Society Division of Health Psychology Annual Conference. 2021, Virtual.
  • McGeechan G, Byrnes K, Campbell M, Carthy N, Eberhardt J, Paton W, Swainston K, Giles EL. A systematic review and qualitative synthesis of the experience of living with colorectal cancer as a chronic illness. In: British Psychological Society Division of Health Psychology Annual Conference. 2021, Virtual.
  • Beddard N, McGeechan G, Swainston K. The lived experiences of parents with children who have had retinoblastoma. In: British Psychological Society Division of Health Psychology Annual Conference. 2019, Manchester: British Psychological Society.
  • Healey R, Taylor J, Swainston K. The lived experience of men diagnosed with melanoma: A qualitative exploration using photo-elicitation. In: British Psychological Society Division of Health Psychology Annual conference. 2019, Manchester: British Psychological Society.
  • McGeechan G, Swainston K, Carthy N, Eberhardt J, Paton W, Byrnes K, Maguire R. Experiences of living with colorectal cancer as a chronic illness: protocol for a systematic review and qualitative synthesis. In: British Psychosocial Oncology Society Annual Conference. 2019, Chester.
  • Low T, Zhu X, Swainston K, Taylor J. Cyber consumer decision-making styles: a qualitative approach. In: 7th International Conference on Contemporary Marketing Issues. 2019, Heraklion, Crete: International Hellenic University; Leeds University Business School.
  • Marron D, Swainston K, Carthy N, van Wersch A. Let’s talk about sex! Or is it just relationships? Communicating sex and relationships education in a primary setting. In: British Psychological Society Division of Health Psychology Annual Conference. 2018, Newcastle-upon-Tyne: British Psychological Society.
  • Farrington AP, Swainston K. Experiences of adjustment to prostate cancer. In: Posters in Parliament. 2018, Houses of Parliament, London.
  • Turnbull T, van Wersch A, Swainston K. Community led Sex and Relationship Education for Parents and their children: A qualitative evaluation. In: International Society of Critical Health Psychology Conference (ISCHP 2017). 2017, Loughborough: International Society of Critical Health Psychology.
  • Byrnes K, Swainston K. The motivations to volunteer in Therapeutic Care and impact on psychological wellbeing. In: European Health Psychology Society and Division of Health Psychology Conference. “Behaviour Change: Making an Impact on Health and Health Services”. 2016, Aberdeen: European Health Psychology Society.
  • Healey R, Taylor J, Swainston K. Patients’ experiences of melanoma from diagnosis to post treatment using illness grids. In: European Health Psychology Society and Division of Health Psychology Conference. “Behaviour Change: Making an Impact on Health and Health Services”. 2016, Aberdeen: European Health Psychology Society.
  • Portas M, Swainston K, Byrnes K, Hewitson J. A UK collaborative study of student peer leaders. In: European First Year Experience Conference. 2016, Ghent.
  • Turnbull T, van Wersch A, Swainston K. Sexual Health Research in Practice: Experiences in the North East. In: Public Health England Conference. 2015, Warwick.
  • Farnell J, Swainston K, van Schaik P, McNamee A. Increasing physical activity through self-efficacy as a consequence of social support experienced from computer game interaction. In: Midlands Health Psychology Network Annual Conference. 2015.

• Confidential Report

  • Reay A, Swainston K. The impact of COVID-19 on Supporting Treatment and Recovery Together (START) Community Substance Misuse Services: A Qualitative Review. Hartlepool Borough Council Public Health, 2021.

• Reports

  • Swainston K, Copping L. Statistical analysis report: Driving following a diagnosis of dementia. Exploring the views and experiences of patients and their carers - a national survey. Northumbria Healthcare NHS Foundation Trust, 2021.
  • O'Neill C, Dodsworth K, McGeechan G, Swainston K. Time to Care Service Evaluation. Sunderland City Council, 2019.
  • van Wersch A, Turnbull T, Swainston K. A qualitative investigation of the Bradford Speakeasy sex education programme. Bradford City Council, 2016.