On October 11 Dr. Jim Collins, a psychotherapist, musician, and friend to many on two continents passed away in Denver. He would have been 78 in November.
"Dr. Jim" was born in Enid Oklahoma and has worked as a family counselor since gaining his doctorate from George Washington University(GW). He pioneered in mental health education and treatment in the Denver area and the Arabian Gulf for 35 years. He is survived by his daughter Candice Bundy, her husband Sean, and grandson Brendan of Centennial; daughter Leia Collins, partner Ryvyn Young and grandchildren Katherine, Nicholas, and Nathaniel of San Antonio; his sister Carolyn Glover of Atlanta; nephews Mark Glover of Anchorage, Alaska Dan Glover of Redmond Oregon, and Stephen Glover of Dallas Texas and their families; stepdaughter Julie Parker and her family of Westminster, and stepsons Robert Parker of West Virginia, Jeff Parker of Pa and their 6 children and spouses; his wife and best friend Nancy of Denver; and the Sayah family of Abu Dhabi, his adopted family while in the MIddle East.
Jim began his journey as an encourager of others at an early age, playing the church piano and organ at age 13. He continued at Central Bible College, where he met the Couriers Quartet and traveled as their accompanist. Later he served as evangelist and choir accompanist/director. He earned his B.A. and M.A. at University of Tulsa, and had two daughters, Leia and Candice. He completed his counseling internship at the Federal Penitentiary at Marion Illinois and years later enjoyed shocking others by relating stories of "when I was at prison." After receiving his doctorate from GW, when many churches were suspicious of pschotherapy as a tool for personal or spiritual growth, he came to Denver in 1975 where he established the Christian Counseling and Guidance Service. He worked with dozens of Front Range pastors to encourage mental health education and practices among their parishioners. Jim hosted a weekly radio show called "Ask the Counselor" and supervised counseling interns at Denver Seminary. He taught psychology at several Colorado colleges, used group and drama to facilitate client growth. He led Single Adult ministry at several local churches. At one of these he met Nancy, whom he married in 1999 and accompanied on her foreign diplomatic assignments in the Middle East and Central America from 2000 until 2010.
In Abu Dhabi, he ministered at the Evangelical Community Church a group that hosts 30 international congregations from as many countries. He originated a counseling course for lay leaders and helped guide many troubled families and individuals while encouraging the use of music and scripture to find mental health. While in the Middle East Jim also traveled to Albania and Lebanon to guide college students, a missionary nurse traumatized by the vicious murder of her colleague, and assisted in other difficult cross cultural cases. His clients numbered over 3000 in the Gulf, including those from the UAE, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait and 20 other countries.
Jim returned to Denver in June 2010 after a 10 year absence for treatment of lymphoma and eventually succumbed to the lingering effects of chemotherapy and pneumonia. He enjoyed his grandchildren, who all celebrated Fathers Day with him in June, traveling with his wife, music of all kinds, and seeing people heal. He was the consummate listener of great compassion, who refused to judge anyone. That, he believed, was a role that belongs uniquely to God.
His Denver memorial service will be at 4 pm on Nov 4 at Corona Presbyterian Church at 8th Ave and Downing Streets, Denver. Family requests no flowers. An educational fund for students in Uganda has been established in Jim's memory at Wells Fargo Bank account # 2529403533.