Brandi and James explore the “shop talk” of those engaging in cross-cultural living and work. Having lived and worked cross-culturally, they will draw from their own experiences and interview others along the way. You can find “Shop Talk with Brandi and James” on Apple or Spotify (also Amazon and Youtube).
Meet the Hosts
Dr. James Covey, PhD, LPC-S
You can see my full bio here. Ellie and I live in Malaga, Spain where we serve with both SIL and Sentwell in a variety of roles. With SIL I lead the Wellbeing Services Team for EruAsia and with Sentwell I provide counseling, debriefing and help with trainings and retreats. I enjoy writing, developing workshops, and speaking on subjects related to mental health and cross-cultural work and life. You can see the workshops I have developed Here. These topics include The Integration of Spiritual Formation with the Traumatized Client, Emotional Intelligence, Trauma Informed Staff Care, Boundaries, Stress, Parenting in the Digital Age, Teens and Trauma, Addiction, The Porn Problem, Resilience and more.
Specific Training and Publications
- PhD Candidate in Psychological Studies from Regent University
- Masters in Marriage and Family Counseling, Licensed Professional Counselor-Supervisor (Texas, USA).
- Bachelors: Psychology (Texas, USA).
- Crisis Debriefing Trainer (Crisis Response Training)
- Master Clinician in Cognitive Behavior Therapy with Children
- EMDR level 1 & 2
- CISM crisis debriefing
- Master Facilitator for the Trauma Healing Institute in adults and children,
- Co-author Healing Teens’ Wounds of Trauma(Facilitator Guide and Teen Journal)
- Co-author Unstuck: A Teen Guide to Living in Uncertain Times
- Author, Trauma Informed Staff Care in the edited work The Essentials for People Care and Development. By Geoff Whiteman and Heather Pubols.
Brandi Welterlen, MA
Before working in Staff Care, I worked as a speech-language pathologist in the Fort Worth area working mainly with stroke victims and dysphagia (swallowing disorders). After meeting my (future) husband Tracy at our church in Fort Worth, I thought he was cool (he drove a ’72 Buick Skylark) and I thought that his interest in Bible translation was also pretty cool. We joined Wycliffe/SIL in 2001 and in 2003 moved to St Petersburg, Russia with our almost 2 yr old to begin orientation to our area of SIL. In 2004, we moved with more than 3 years old (yes, we were crazy) to Central Asia where we lived for 7 years. While in Central Asia, I developed an interest in supporting and encouraging cross-cultural workers. After many classes and much weeping and gnashing of teeth I was awarded an MA in Professional Counseling from Liberty University in 2016. In 2012 our family moved to Kandern, Germany where we lived for 10 years before spending our final year in Germany living in Berlin. I also worked part-time while in Kandern at Black Forest Academy for 5 years as a counselor, working mostly with teenagers. My husband and I moved back to the States in August of 2023 where I continue to work remotely with Eurasia Area. Since 2016 I have worked in Eurasia Area on our Staff Care Team to help support mental health and wellness among our members. In my down time I love hiking, gardening, and meddling in the lives of my young adult kids.
Guide for Cross-Cultural Workers 