About Dr Polly James
I'm a Highly Specialised Clinical Psychologist with over 15 years of experience in both the NHS and private practice. I'm passionate about helping people feel heard, understood, and supported, whether they’re children, young people, adults, or families navigating physical, emotional, or neurodevelopmental challenges.
My approach is warm, compassionate, and non-judgmental. I truly love the work I do and strive to create a safe, welcoming space where clients feel comfortable exploring their thoughts, feelings, and goals.
I believe in working holistically, tailoring therapy to each person’s unique needs. I draw on a range of evidence-based therapeutic models and also integrate mind-body practices from my training as a yoga teacher to support emotional wellbeing and self-awareness.
Above all, I take an individualised approach working collaboratively to help you make meaningful, lasting changes in your life.
Background
Growing up in London, my curiosity and passion for helping others led me to study philosophy and psychology at Bristol University, followed by a Doctorate in Clinical Psychology at King’s College London.
Early in my career, I was drawn to child health, but my work at Evelina London deepened my commitment to supporting children with allergies. I saw how profoundly conditions like food allergies and eczema impact emotional wellbeing, family life, and everyday functioning.
In 2016, I was proud to become the lead psychologist and help launch the NHS’s first dedicated allergy psychology service, an important step toward addressing a significant gap in care. My passion for this work is also personal: as a mum of two children with multiple allergies and feeding challenges, I understand the emotional toll it can take.
I offer evidence-based, compassionate therapy, drawing on CBT, Compassion Focused Therapy, and yoga-informed mind-body practices to support families in a holistic, practical, and meaningful way.
Specialties
Before starting my clinical training, I worked at Great Ormond Street Hospital and in community paediatrics, supporting children and families with neurodivergence such as Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), ADHD, and developmental delay. These early experiences shaped my interest in how social communication and developmental differences impact daily life, emotional wellbeing, and family dynamics.
During my doctorate, I gained broad experience across the NHS, working in services including neuropsychology, adult mental health, learning disabilities, and physical health. In my final year, I focused on supporting adults with cancer and children with complex physical health needs, deepening my understanding of how psychological care can be tailored to people living with long-term or life-altering conditions.
Evelina London Children's Hospital
I spent over eight years at Evelina London Children’s Hospital, where I provided specialist psychological assessment and therapy for children, young people, and their families. My work focused on helping children manage the emotional and psychological challenges that often accompany physical health conditions.
This included supporting young people in coping with medical procedures and pain, promoting understanding and adjustment to illness or disability, and delivering neuropsychological assessments to better understand how physical health issues can impact emotional wellbeing, behaviour, and development.
Who I work with
As Clinical Psychologist I am experienced to provide psychological therapy to children and adults who may be experiencing a wide range of mental health difficulties including;
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Anxiety (including health and relationship anxiety)
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Stress (including work-place stress)
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Depression
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Low Self-Esteem
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Anger
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Obsessive Compulsive Disorder
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Phobias
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Allergies
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Feeding difficulties
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Emotional Regulation
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Relationship or Interpersonal Difficulties
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Problems with Sleep
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Behavioural Difficulties
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Grief and Loss
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Difficulties related to control (over-control/loss of control)
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Pain
Publications
I am very keen to carry out research that is specific to providing improvements for children with allergies and to the quality of services that support children and their families. Below are a list of some of my publications and articles.
Psychological services for food allergy: The unmet need for patients and families in the United Kingdom. Rebecca Knibb, Mary Halsey, Polly James, George Toit, Judith Young. School of Psychology Applied Health Research Group College of Health and Life Sciences.
The psychological impact of anaphylaxis: advice and coping strategies for people affected:
Authors: Dr Polly James, Highly Specialist Clinical Psychologist, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, London; and David Reading, Co-founder and Honorary Vice President, Anaphylaxis Campaign
https://www.anaphylaxis.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Psychological-Impact-v5.pdf
Illness perception of adolescents with allergic conditions under specialist care. Polly James,Maria Rosario Caballero: 04 November 2019
BSACI 2021 guideline for the management of egg allergy. Susan C. Leech,Pamela W. Ewan,Isabel J. Skypala,Nicola Brathwaite,Mich Erlewyn- Lajeunesse,Sarah Heath,Heidi Ball,Polly James,Karen Murphy,Andrew T. Clark
Qualifications
Doctorate in Clinical Psychology - Institute of Psychiatry
October 2011 - October 2014 - DClinPsy
Joint Philosophy and Psychology Degree - University of Bristol
October 2004 - July 2007 - First class Joint Hons Bsc
200hr Yoga Teacher training - Power Yoga Company
November 2015 - Yoga teacher
Employment
Clinical Psychologist in private practice online and in person
December 2022 - present
Paediatric Clinical Psychologist - Evelina London, Guys’ and St Thomas’ Trust
November 2014 - December 2022
Roles included:
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Lead psychologist in children’s allergy service
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Clinical psychologist in neurology
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Patient experience lead psychologist
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Clinical Psychologist in general paediatrics
Clinical Psychologist in Training - Institute of Psychiatry
October 2011 - October 2014
Roles included:
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Placement 1: Conduct, Adoption & Fostering Team (CAFT)
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Placement 2: Split Placement; Southwark IAPT,
Maudsley Hospital / Adult Neuropsychology, Kings College Hospital
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Placement 3: Mental Health Learning Disability (MHLD), Lewisham
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Placement 4: Mental Health Older Adults (MHOA) Psychology & Psychotherapy Service
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Placement 5: The Psycho-Oncology Team (POST), Dimbleby Cancer, St Thomas' Hospital
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Placement 6: Paediatric Psychology Service, The Evelina London Children's Hospital
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DClinPsy Research Project: 'Guiding intervention: Identifying parental psychological risk factors for children's pre-operative anxiety'
Research Psychologist – Cognitive Remediation Therapy for Psychosis
Department of Psychology, Institute of Psychiatry
July 2009 - August 2010
Assistant Psychologist – Child Mental Health
Child Development Service, Westminster Primary Care Trust
August 2009 - July 2010
Health Care Assistant Psychologist
Great Ormond Street Hospital
January 2009 – August 2009
Support Worker - Adult Mental Health
Notting Hill Housing
January 2008 - January 2009
Volunteer - Health care worker
Ghanaian National Health Service
August 2007 - December 2007