As both a professional who has worked in both North America and Britain, and as a
parent of a teenage son with Asperger's and Tourette's syndromes, Dr. Swanson is uniquely qualified to help parents whose
children are struggling with special needs of one sort or another. Having experienced the
frustrations of raising such a child, and of battling with the education system to provide
him with the support that he needs, Dr. Swanson has made it his mission to help other
families who also want to do the very best that they can for their children.
Dr. Swanson recognises not only that there are no magic wands, but that there are very
real limitations on what the state-provided institutions (health, education, and social
services) can provide. Even so, he strongly believes that there is much that motivated,
caring parents can do, especially if they are willing to band together to help each other.
Dr. Swanson's goal is to provide parents with the tools and material they need in
order to make the task as easy as possible.
Dr. Swanson graduated in medicine from Southampton University in 1982. After his
pre-registration year as a House Officer in medicine and surgery he then went straight
into his psychiatric training at the Middlesex and University College Hospitals in London.
In 1987, having become a member of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, Dr. Swanson went
with VSO to Belize, Central America, as the country's only psychiatrist. Working with very
limited resources, Dr. Swanson and his team of locally trained nurses and attendants
provided a mental health service across the country. As part of this, he reviewed and
updated the treatments of many patients who had not seen a psychiatrist for ten years.
During these two years, Dr. Swanson also initiated a complete training programme for
mental health nurses.
From there, in 1989, Dr. Swanson moved to Canada. After completing further training to
qualify him as a specialist in Child and Adolescent Psychiatry he then settled in Prince
Edward Island where, again, he was in charge of the paediatric mental health service.
During this time Dr. Swanson was involved in various public education programmes and
ministry of health strategic planning processes. During this time he also developed
considerable expertise in the newly recognised Attention Deficit Disorders (now called
ADHD) and, with his wife Karen, facilitated the founding of the local ADHD parents support
group which is still running to this day.
During the years 1992 to 1997, Dr. Swanson traveled frequently to West Africa as part of
the leadership team of GAP International, a Canadian Christian charity concerned with
international development. During these visits Dr. Swanson provided leadership training
workshops, seminars, and consultation to a number of indigenous organisations in Nigeria,
Niger, and Cameroon. This experience in service development has been invaluable in his
work to develop services back in Britain.
In 1997 Dr. Swanson and his family returned to the UK to take up a post
as consultant Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist in a community child and
family therapy service in Fareham, Hampshire.
As well as publishing his highly acclaimed book, The GOOD CHILD
Guide, Dr. Swanson writes regular articles that are widely
published on and offline, and has spoken at numerous seminars and
workshops for both professionals and parents. With his lively, entertaining and highly
informative style Dr. Swanson's talks are never boring!
Apart from his professional roles, Dr. Swanson's other interests include sailing, skiing,
kayaking and painting. He lives in Fareham, with his wife, two children, and their dog
Bobbie.