Practice information:

Dr. Swain became a Registered Psychologist (#1006) in 1991. His education includes the following degrees: Bachelor or Arts (1970); Teaching Certificate (1973); Master of Physical Education (1977); and Doctor of Education, Counselling Psychology (1990); all from the University of British Columbia. He began a teaching career in 1973 and was a college Athletic Director and basketball coach from 1976-1981. He has worked as a mental health professional since 1985, working primarily with adults and teens. He has retired from positions as a counsellor in the Vancouver school system and in various post-secondary institutions, as a sessional instructor with the Department of Education & Counselling Psychology at UBC, and as a clinical associate with the Clinical Psychology Department at SFU.  He has served on the boards of the College of Psychologists (2000-2008), the B. C. Psychological Association (2009-2012), the B.C. Roster of Parenting Coordinators (from 2009), and the B.C. Hear the Child Society (2010-2012).  In 2011, he was awarded the B.C. Psychological Association's Donald Sampson Award for excellence in teaching psychology.  He is a frequent media consultant.

Dr. Swain's area of practice is counselling psychology, primarily assisting adults and adolescents with such issues as: anxiety, depression, relationships,  bullying and harassment, sports and performance, and parenting.  He frequently works with parents who are in conflict with each other and/or with their teens. He is a founding executive member of the B.C. Roster of Parenting Co-ordinators, an alternate dispute resolution process for high conflict divorced parents.