Dr James Woolley

Dr James Woolley is an award-winning consultant psychiatrist specialising in adult mental health and the psychological impact of physical illness, including cancer. He has nearly 20 years of experience as a consultant across leading London NHS teaching hospitals, including The Maudsley, Royal Free, King’s College, St George’s, Royal Brompton & Harefield, and the Royal Marsden Hospitals.

Trained in medicine at Imperial College London (St Mary’s Hospital) and in Psychology at University College London, Dr Woolley initially qualified in general medicine. He gained membership of the Royal College of Physicians before specialising in psychiatry at The Maudsley and the Institute of Psychiatry, where he also developed research experience and completed further postgraduate training in cognitive behavioural therapy at King’s College London. In 2021, he was elected a Fellow of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, and in 2023 he achieved the rare distinction of dual Fellowship with the Royal College of Physicians, highlighting his work at the intersection of physical and mental health.

His clinical practice focuses on the complex relationship between mental and physical health, supporting individuals with pre-existing mental health conditions during treatment for physical illness, as well as those who develop psychological difficulties following medical diagnoses. He has extensive experience treating a wide range of conditions, including anxiety, depression, OCD, bipolar disorder, psychosis, ADHD, and addiction, and frequently collaborates with oncology and other medical teams to provide integrated care.

Alongside his NHS work, he has spent nearly 20 years in the private mental health sector, including roles at prestigious institutions such as the Priory Hospital Roehampton, where he served as clinical tutor, before becoming a founding consultant at Schoen Clinic Chelsea. He has also held significant responsibilities in quality improvement, governance, and leadership, including serving as medical appraisals and revalidation lead at a large London hospital trust, and most recently as UK Medical Director for a major international mental health group. In addition, he plays an active role in assessing the mental health of commercial pilots across the UK and serves as a GMC Associate, supporting doctors experiencing their own mental health challenges.