Kate Hefferon studied English Literature at the University of Ottawa, Canada, before completing an honours degree in Psychology at Carleton University, Canada. From there, she studied for a Masters of Science in Performance Psychology at Edinburgh University, Scotland. Her passion for positive psychology, physical activity and Scotland led her to Glasgow, where she completed her PhD in posttraumatic growth, breast cancer and exercise. Now she works as a Lecturer in Positive Psychology at the University of East London.

Her career has led her to work top sport scientists and internationally renowned dance companies, such as the Royal Scottish Ballet and Riverdance, in addition to working with multiple elite Canadian performers.

She is the author of several peer reviewed papers and has presented at conferences and seminars nationally and internationally. She is also the co-founder of the Scottish Interpretive Phenomenological Analysis Group.