Ursula James

About. . .

Course creator and innovator in clinical hypnosis modules in medical schools.

About Ursula James

Ursula James has worked as a clinical hypnotherapist for 30 years. For 25 of those years, she taught clinical hypnosis within the Tomorrow’s Doctors programme at medical schools throughout the UK, creating and developing teaching to meet medical-school criteria. She has taught at 11 UK medical schools, including Oxford and Cambridge and is the author of the Clinical Hypnosis Textbook, now in its third edition and used within medical education.

Ursula is a former Visiting Teaching Fellow at Oxford University Medical School and former Visiting Professor of Clinical Hypnosis at Robert Gordon University, Aberdeen. Appointed to the latter role in 2013, she was the first person in the UK to hold a Visiting Professorship specifically in Clinical Hypnosis.

Female psychologyst therapy session with client indoors sitting girl looking at therapist

Her other academic and professional appointments have included Honorary Lecturer at Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, and membership of the international advisory board of the Elsevier-published journal Complementary Therapies in Clinical Practice. She is also a Foundation Member of the Academy of Medical Educators.

Throughout her career, Ursula has written and delivered teaching at medical schools across the UK and has lectured internationally on clinical hypnosis, stress management and psychological techniques for use in medical practice.

In 2007, she presented the Channel 5 television series Sex, Lies and Hypnosis, in which she used hypnotherapeutic techniques to help people explore and address difficulties within their relationships.

Her podcast, HypnoSOS, offers short hypnosis sessions designed to help with everyday stress and emotional challenges, and was originally created for frontline workers in response to the pandemic. There is also a sister podcast, HypnoSLEEP.

In 2026, Ursula worked with St George’s Hospital, London as content creator and Therapeutic Advisor to PhaseSpace on a project combining hypnosis with virtual reality, including trials in London schools. The project was featured in The Guardian in May 2026.

She is a proud Patron of Anxiety UK.

The course content has exceeded my expectations, and my wellbeing has also improved, with better sleep and feeling more grounded and assertive. This course is a life changer - both for me and for those who will benefit from the knowledge I will use to help others.

Isabella
Psychologist and Researcher in Oncology

In science, outstanding practitioners are many, and gifted teachers are few. It’s rare to find both in one person. Professor Ursula James is that rare exception - combining deep expertise with a talent for teaching that inspires and endures. Whichever course you choose, and at whatever level, you’ll be guided by someone uniquely equipped to help you achieve your goals.

Dr Mark Feldman
General Practitioner

Having tried another hypnotherapy training, I am very pleased to say how enjoyable this course is. I would liken it to reading a good book. Easy to understand, informative and enjoyable. I would highly recommend it to anyone, whether for professional purposes or just for your own self learning.

Valerie
Corporate Fraud Detection Consultant