Looking for help? You’re in the right place.

Hi, I'm Jim. I've been through the emotional wringer. I've been a successful pastor and leader and a loving father, but I've also been suicidally depressed. I'll share with you the techniques I used to heal myself and give you the tools to reclaim your life and move forward.

Scroll down the page or click a link below to find out more.

About Me | Talks & Interviews | Experience | Humor & Magic

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 Who is Dr. Jim Stout?

I am a husband to Leah since 1967; a father of two sons; a grandfather of five grandchildren; a published author; a speaker and teacher; a pastor (Presbyterian) since 1969; a leader who enjoys humor and practical jokes; a former athlete (football, wrestling, boxing, triathlons) who enjoys long distance recumbent bike rides, hunting, and fishing; former volunteer coach (football, wrestling, boxing); a painter and sculptor; an amateur magician; and the handler of a therapy dog, "Thunder, the Wonder Dog.”

Talks and Interviews

Experience and Education

Professional Experience

  • Wrote Bipolar Disorder: Rebuilding Your Life (has distributed over 5000 copies)

  • Interviewed on National ESPN Radio (2003) on his views on bipolar disorder and its impact on an All Pro center for Oakland Raiders who had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder

  • Started, led, and supervised a weekly support group "Comfort Zone" for those living with a mental illness. Group has continued since 1990 and averaged 15-20 persons a week

  • Keynote speaker or workshop presenter on mental illness themes at NAMI California conferences at Marriott Hotels in San Francisco and Irvine, California and the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim, CA

  • Taught at Mental Health Association and DBSA conferences and seminars in California

  • Organized mental illness conferences, workshops and support groups in various cities in U.S.

  • Taught Job/Career Transition Seminars at Orange Coast College and elsewhere

  • Organized a special Leadership Breakfast for the Gathering, USA, an outreach to business and professional men in Orange County, CA (over 850 attended)

  • Organized and spoke at Men’s, Women’s and civic leadership prayer breakfasts

  • Guidance Counseled (since 1965) over 8,000 business professionals, college & professional athletes & coaches, and students

  • Member of Advisory Committee for Clinical Pastoral Education, Crystal Cathedral, Garden Grove, CA

Spoken on mental illness topics (as keynote speaker or seminar presenter) to local, county and state mental illness conferences and/or seminars for:

  • Chapel Services for professional football and baseball teams

  • Fuller Theological Seminary (Pasadena, CA) and Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary (South Hamilton, MA), two of the largest institutions in world for training clergy

  • National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI)

  • Mental Health Association (MHA)

  • Depression Bipolar Support Alliance (DBSA)

  • Hospital auditoriums or classrooms, and hospital behavioral medicine units, such as St. Joseph’s, Huntington Beach, College and San Diego’s V.A. Hospital Queenscare (a medical and mental health outreach in Los Angeles County Southern California Electrolysis Association leaders and representatives Doves Outreach (training their domestic violence staff)

  • Sober Living Rehab centers’ residents and/or staffs

  • Interdenominational churches such as Mariner’s Church and Crystal Cathedral in Orange County, CA

  • West Coast Medical Missions Conference

  • Taiwanese Pastor-Leader Conference

Spoken on mental illness or inspirational themes to churches having 300-12,000 members:

  • Presbyterian churches such as Menlo Park (CA)

  • First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood (CA)

  • St. Andrew's Presbyterian (Newport Beach, CA)

  • Trinity Presbyterian Church (Tustin, CA)

  • First Presbyterian (Santa Ana, CA)

  • First Presbyterian Church (North Palm Beach, FL)

Awards and Recognition

For Bipolar Disorder: Rebuilding Your Life:

  • Winner of 2003 “Editor’s Choice in Psychology Award” by Readers Preference

  • Winner of 2003 “Best Psychology/Self Help Book Award” by Bay Area Independent Publishers Association

  • Received “Winner, Best Book of the Year” Award from the Bay Area Independent Publishers Association

For Rev. Dr. Jim Stout:

  • Received National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), California’s “Distinguished Clergy Award 2001” for efforts on behalf of those affected by mental illness.

  • Listed in 1993 Marquis’ Edition of Who’s Who in the West

  • Listed in 1976-77 Marquis’ Edition of Who’s Who in Religion

  • Listed in 1973 volume of Outstanding Young Men of America

  • Medical Advisor of the American Academy of Naturopathic Medicine

  • Won Golden Glove Heavyweight Boxing championships in Pennsylvania and Ohio in 1961

Professional Roles

  • 1998-Present: Director of Career Compatibilities, a career/job/education guidance service, and President of Shepherd Publishing, a writing/publishing service

  • 1994-1998: Director of Career Compatibilities, a career guidance ministry of the Gathering/USA, a national ministry with business and professional men.

  • 1990-1994: The Gathering/USA Director, Southern California

  • 1987-1990: Associate Pastor, St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, Newport Beach, CA

  • 1987-1983: Senior Pastor, Covenant Presbyterian Church, Sharon, PA

  • 1981-1983: Senior Pastor, St. Andrews Presbyterian Church, Beaumont, TX

  • 1981-1974: Senior Pastor, First Presbyterian Church, North Palm Beach, FL

  • 1969-1974: Associate Pastor, Key Biscayne Presbyterian Church, Key Biscayne, FL

  • 1/1/65-6/1/65: Campus Chaplain, United Campus Ministries, Miami University, Oxford, OH

Counseling Experience

  • Counseled hundreds of mentally ill persons, their spouses, and family members

  • Counseled 10-15 seriously depressed or suicidal individuals a month

  • Interviewed in excess of 2000 patients and their family members, and more than 200 psychiatrists, psychologists, MFT’s, social workers and physicians regarding treatment of and recovery from depression and bipolar disorder

Education

  • 1975-1980: Doctor of Ministry (D. Min.), Fuller Theological Seminary, Pasadena, CA

  • 1965-1969: Master of Divinity (M. Div.), Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary, Boston, MA

  • 1962-1965: Bachelor of Arts, Miami University, Oxford, OH

  • 1960-1962: University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA

References

Gladly supplied upon request.

Humor and Magic Shows

I have used humor as a survival and recovery tool in spite of numerous “obstacles.” Check out this article I wrote about the mental health benefits of humor. 

I also love doing magic shows. My dog Thunder and I have performed slapstick magic shows or portions of them at such places such as:

  • Care Connections, a dementia- Alzheimer day care facility

  • Royale, the Orange County, CA psychiatric facility,

  • A Marine military base

  • Several mental illness patient groups