University hires 'magic psychic' who specialises in Noel's cosmic ordering

London South Bank University chose Lisa Turner to hold two sessions with staff at a gender-equality event. More than 70 academics and support workers of both sexes attended.

Dr Turner claims to be able to help people achieve their goals through cosmic ordering, which involves writing down what you want to happen with the universe making it come true. Noel Edmonds, host of Channel 4's Deal Or No Deal, is a convert.

Her website says she charges £172 a time for a cosmic ordering workshop. She also practises past-life regression, where people are given an insight into previous lives.

On her website, Dr Turner refers to a "case study" of a woman whose phobia of churches was cured after a hypnosis session revealed that in a past life she had been an officer of the Spanish Inquisition named Pedro Castillo.

His soul was in "pain" after he was tortured for denouncing Roman Catholic atrocities.

The website also offers a range of alternative therapies, including hypnotherapy and reiki, as well as "psychic readings".

Today, academics attacked the university, saying it should not be funding initiatives with dubious scientific merit. June Purvis, professor of women's and gender history at Portsmouth University, said: "The session sounds like an opiate to dull the pain of reality, not an appropriate way to deal with staff stress and well-being."

Sharon Parker, director of the Institute of Work Psychology at the University of Sheffield, said: "Establishing an expectation in women that they can, and should, solve gender problems themselves by engaging in magical thinking is not only unhelpful, it could be damaging.

"In most cases of gender inequality it is the workplace that needs to change, not the woman."

Dr Turner, a former academic with a PhD in engineering from Southampton University, said her services were based on "sound scientific principles from quantum theory, philosophy and psychologyî. She added: "The workshop was very well received, with so many questions afterwards that we overran by 30 minutes and could have gone on much longer.

"I am used to controversy but usually it comes from psychics who say I am taking the magic away by bringing in science.

"When people come on the training sessions and see for themselves they realise what a difference this novel way of thinking can make to their lives."

However, Dr Turner admitted that past-life regression work was her "biggest money earner".

A university spokesman said: "Over 70 members of staff attended and benefited from the event. The feedback from staff was positive.

"There were no concerns or criticisms raised by anyone who attended.

"The university fully supports this staff-development initiative, which is helping to deal with common issues facing many universities, and is proud to be proactively taking innovative approaches, developed by staff, in dealing with these issues."