Phyllis Swint, PhD, LMFT, is an assistant clinical professor and director of clinical training in the Counseling and Family Therapy Department (COFT) in the College of Nursing and Health Professions at Drexel University. She is a licensed marriage and family therapist, clinical fellow in the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT) and an AAMFT approved supervisor.
Swint maintained a long-standing relationship with COFT post-graduation, after completing both her Master of Family Therapy (MFT) degree in 1995 and PhD in Couple and Family Therapy (PhD) in 2009. Prior to her faculty appointment, she held director positions in community mental health agencies for over two decades. In those roles, Swint partnered extensively with the Philadelphia Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual Disabilities, Philadelphia Department of Prisons, Philadelphia Family Court, as well as child welfare and behavioral health agencies throughout the region, to further strengthen services and advocacy for vulnerable and marginalized populations and clinical training opportunities for MFT graduate students.
Swint’s doctoral research emphasized the importance of interprofessional collaboration and treatment in the Philadelphia prisons to reduce recidivism outcomes for incarcerated women. This was the culmination of years of prison-to-community clinical work that continues to inspire her clinical, scholarly and research interests that include: advancing clinical training education as it relates to curriculum and supervision, workforce development for clinicians and interns and advancing Contextual Theory and Therapy as an evidence-informed approach to family therapy practice. Families impacted by incarceration, mental health and addiction and the formulation of equitable healthcare and family policy for vulnerable and marginalized communities remain foci in her research agenda.
Professional Society
• American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy (AAMFT): Clinical Fellow
• National Council on Family Relations (NCFR): Professional Member
Selected Publications
Chou, J. Patton, R., Zaarur, A., Katafiasz, H., Swint, P., Dang, Y., & Feeney, E. (2023). Understanding families impacted by opioid use: Outcomes of a therapist training program. Families, Systems, and Health, 41, 425-433, https://doi.org/10.1037/fsh0000818. Journal Rank: 39 of 46 in Family Studies; Impact Factor: 1.95. Google Scholar Citations: 1
Patton, R., Chou, J., Dang, Y., Zaarur, A., Katafiasz, H., & Swint., P. (2023). Exploring MFT and counseling trainees’ substance use knowledge and perceptions upon entering an opioid use disorder training program. International Journal of Systemic Therapy. doi- org.ezproxy2.library.drexel.edu/10.1080/2692398X.2022.2123692. Journal Rank: None; Impact Factor: 1.9. Google Scholar Citations: 0
Richardson, A., Davey, M.P., & Swint, P.A. (2013, July). Female adoptees’ experiences balancing relationships with biological and adoptive mothers’ post-reunification. Journal of Marital and Family Therapy, 39(3), 358-372.
Family Therapy News, Volume 27, number 4, August 1996: “Reunification of Inmates and their Families: Treatment Considerations”
Grant Participation
Patton, R. Swint, P., Jordal, C., Krauthamer Ewing, S., Chou, J., Ramakrishnan, A., Tyszka, A., Sponseller, L., & Garcia, K. Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training Program. Strengthening Healthcare through Interprofessional Networks and Education (SHINE). Project ID #:1 M01HP54855‐01‐00. Funding Period: 2025-2029. Funding Agency: Health Resources and Services Administration. Federal Type: Training. Amount: $2,400,000.00. Role and Effort: Co- Investigator, 10% FTE.
Opioid Workforce Expansion Program. Interdisciplinary Training Initiative for Children, Adolescents & Families Impacted by Opioid Use Disorder. Project ID #: T98HP33419. Funding Period: 2019-2022. Funding Agency: Health Resources and Services Administration. Federal Type: Training Grant. Amount: $1,300,000.00. Role and Effort: Co-Investigator/Faculty Member, 7% FTE. Drexel Subcontract to University of Akron, $655,039.59.
Research Interests
Clinical training education curricula; workforce development; advancing contextual family therapy practice; family therapy practice and incarceration; mental health and addiction; equitable healthcare and family policy development in the field of MFT.
Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, 2009
PhD in Couple & Family Therapy
Dissertation: “The Effect of Family Therapy on
Prison-based Substance Abuse Treatment and
Recidivism Outcomes for Incarcerated Women”
Drexel (Hahnemann) University, Philadelphia, PA, 1995
Master in Family Therapy
Temple University, Philadelphia, PA , 1992
BA in Psychology