Kia James, Carol-Ann Trotman, Monika Cope-Ward – Cross-Cultural Couples Counseling: Strategies to Navigate Multiculturalism in Racial & Ethnic Diverse Couples

Kia James, EdD, LCPC, LPC, is a Licensed Professional Counselor, an Adjunct Professor, and a Relationship Therapist. She specializes in helping people have the best relationship with their self, so they can also have strong healthy relationships with others. As a result of moving around frequently during her early years, she realized that how you view yourself in the world has a profound impact on your mental health and well-being; therefore, she dedicated her life to improving one’s mental and emotional health and creating healthy connections with others.

Dr. James provides individual and couples counseling. She also facilitates diversity training for therapists and teaches therapists how to deal with cultural diversity issues when working with couples. She graduated from Bowie State University with a BA in Psychology, and she continued her education, and gained her Masters and Doctorate in Counseling from Argosy University, also known as, The American School of Professional Psychology. Dr. James has completed the level 3 training with the Gottman institute, specializing in helping couples attain healthy relationships. She is also an approved Gottman Educator for the Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Kia James is co-owner of Relationship Boosters. She is an adjunct faculty at Trinity Washington University. She receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc.
Non-financial: Kia James has no relevant non-financial relationship to disclose.

Trotman Psychotherapy and Consulting, LLC

Carol-Ann Trotman, LCPC, holds a Master of Science in Clinical Community Counseling from Johns Hopkins University, and a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Howard University. She currently resides in the D.C., Maryland, Virginia area but grew up in New York City and was born in Barbados.
Since 1999, Carol-Ann has worked in the field of mental health and has been a psychotherapist in the state of Maryland since 2010. She has extensive experience in several settings including department of corrections, hospitals (inpatient and emergency department), outpatient mental health clinics, domestic violence shelters, and DC Core Services Agencies. Carol-Ann also has specialized training in Gottman Method Couple’s Therapy, Prepare/Enrich, and sex therapy.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Carol-Ann Trotman maintains a private practice. She is the co-owner of Relationship Boosters, LLC. Ms. Trotman receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc.
Non-financial: Carol-Ann Trotman has no relevant non-financial relationship to disclose.

Monika Cope-Ward, LCSW-C earned her Master’s Degree in Social Work from Howard University, Washington, D.C. She has been a licensed therapist practicing in Maryland since 2008.

Since 2001 she has worked in private and public mental health organizations providing services in settings such as community health programs for children and adults, outpatient mental health clinics and hospitals (inpatient and emergency department) and worked for many years as an auditor/trainer of mental health providers throughout the state of Maryland. Monika has received extensive training on Gottman couples therapy methods, sex therapy and has completed the Prepare/Enrich certification for therapists. She is passionate about helping people actualize their potential and relationships.

Speaker Disclosures:
Financial: Monika Cope-Ward is co-owner of The Relationship Booster. She receives a speaking honorarium from PESI, Inc.
Non-financial: Monika Cope-Ward has no relevant non-financial relationship to disclose.