He grew up in Chicago, Illinois, and he attended college at the University of Illinois at Champaign-Urbana.  He graduated from there in 1970 with High Honors in Liberal Arts and Sciences and with Distinction in Psychology.  He received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology from the University of Texas at Austin in 1976.  While completing his education, Dr. Rosen was elected to Phi Beta Kappa (the highest honor society in Liberal Arts and Sciences), Phi Kappa Phi, and Psi Chi (the honor society of psychology).

He has taught psychology at five colleges and universities: the University of Texas, Texas Woman's University, the University of Central Arkansas, Henderson State University, and Rich Mountain Community College.  He has also taught numerous workshops for other psychologists, training them in clinical hypnosis and psychotherapy.

Dr. Rosen served on the Board of Directors of the Arkansas Psychological Association (ArPA), and he was Co-Chairman of the Independent Practice Division of ArPA.  He served on the Board of Directors for the Arkansas Society of Clinical Hypnosis, and he has been certified by the American Society of Clinical Hypnosis as an Approved Consultant in Clinical Hypnosis.

He is the author of the weekly column entitled Reaching Up.

Dr. Jim Rosen is a noted public speaker.  He conducts seminars and speaking engagements for health care professionals and for the public.