Highly Specialist Clinical Psychologist (HCPC Registration Number: PYL33727)
Dr Sarah Swan is a Highly Specialist Clinical Psychologist with the Psychological Interventions Clinic for Outpatients with Psychosis. She provides psychological therapy to individuals in 1:1 settings and also sees individuals with their families. Alongside this Dr Swan provides supervision to qualified therapists, psychologists in training and students. She has provided teaching and training on Doctoral Clinical Psychology programmes across London.
Background
Dr Swan was awarded a First Class BSc (Hons) in Psychology from University College London following a year studying Neuroscience. During this time, she began working within psychosis in the voluntary sector. After a short stint in neuropsychology, Dr Swan worked on a large research trial investigating computerised Cognitive Remediation Therapy for people with experience of psychosis, delivering therapy and providing training to professionals. She has also worked on research trials within psychosis related to body psychotherapy and social cognition training. Alongside this, Dr Swan also worked on an acute ward for young adults with psychosis.
Dr Swan went on to complete the Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience (IOPPN), King’s College London. During training, she continued to develop her specialism in psychosis, conducting research into understanding the experiences related to psychosis that can lead to the development of post-traumatic stress symptoms such as hospitalisation. Clinically, she chose to specialise in delivering trauma focused cognitive behavioural interventions in psychosis. Since qualifying, Dr Swan has worked across specialist community and inpatient settings for clients who are first experiencing psychosis. Dr Swan has undertaken further specialist training, completing a Post-Graduate Certificate in Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Psychosis at the IOPPN.
Research
Her research interest has developed within psychosis to focus particularly on the impact of past trauma and post-traumatic stress symptoms. Dr Swan also has a research interest in how trauma is currently talked about and assessed within services with clients and the provision of appropriate trauma informed psychological interventions for people with psychosis.
Publications
- Cella, M., Edwards, C., Swan, S., Elliot, K., Reeder, C., & Wykes, T. (2019). Exploring the effects of cognitive remediation on metacognition in people with schizophrenia. Journal of Experimental Psychopathology. https://doi.org/10.1177/2043808719826846
- Swan. S., Keen, N., Reynolds, N., & Onwumere, J. (2017) Psychological interventions for post-traumatic stress symptoms in psychosis: a systematic review of outcomes. Frontiers in Psychology: Psychopathology. doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2017.00341
- Williams,P.M., Johnson, C., Swan, S., Barber, C., Murphy, P., Devine, J., Bathula, R., Cohen, C. & Crutch, S.J. (2016). The Northwick Park Examination of Cognition: A brief cognitive assessment tool for use in acute stroke services. International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation, 23:7, 314-322
- Cella, M., Swan, S., Medin, E., Reeder, C., & Wykes, T. (2013). Metacognitive awareness of cognitive problems in schizophrenia: exploring the role of symptoms and self-esteem. Psychological Medicine, 44(3), 469-476.
- Cella, M., Bishara, A. J., Medin, E., Swan, S., Reeder, C., & Wykes, T. (2013). Identifying Cognitive Remediation Change Through Computational Modelling-Effects on Reinforcement Learning in Schizophrenia. Schizophrenia Bulletin.
- Haywayd, P., Agoro, D., Swan, S., Wykes, T. Understanding and enhancing adherence to treatment in people with schizophrenia. In D. Castle, D. Copolov, T. Wykes, K. Mueser (Eds.), Pharmacological and psychological treatments in schizophrenia, 3rd Edition (2012).
- Morgan C.J., Gardener, C., Schafer, G., Swan, S., Demarchi, C., Curran, H.V., et al (2011). Sub-chronic impact of cannabinoids in street cannabis on cognition, psychotic like symptoms and psychological well being. Psychological Medicine, 1-10.