  We present an evaluation of the strong couplings JD^(*)D^(*) and
JD^(*)D^(*)pi by an effective field theory of quarks and mesons. These
couplings are necessary to calculate pi+J/psi --> D^(*)+barD^(*) cross
sections, an important background to the J/psi suppression signal in the
quark-gluon plasma. We write down the general effective lagrangian and compute
the relevant couplings in the soft pion limit and beyond.
