Susan F Branco
Biographic Data
| ID | 6644902 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Susan F Branco |
| GIVEN NAMES | Susan F |
| FAMILY NAME | Branco |
| SIGNATURE | BRANCO S F |
| AFFILIATIONS | Palo Alto University |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-0414-8921 |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 17 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 8 |
| WORKS AS AUTHOR | 17 |
| WORKS AS EDITOR | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2020 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2025 |
| H-INDEX | 1 |
Teaching Equitable Couples Counseling
We adapted previous descriptions on couples counseling experiential learning practices to an online classroom in counselor education. Specifically, we utilized two doctoral teaching assistants in a quarter-long couple role-play scenario and incorporated reflecting and co-counseling teams. The adapted strategies included attention to sociocultural aspects that addressed working with a queer couple among other salient identities. We offer the stren…
Special Issue Interview with Dr. Amanda Baden
This article presents an interview with Dr. Amanda L. Baden, Professor and Doctoral Program Director at Montclair State University and a licensed psychologist. Baden shares information on their rich adoption-focused research agenda and offers insight into emergent clinical and research areas of focus for adult adoptees and their families. Additionally, Baden provides recommendations for adoptee-identifying graduate students in mental health train…
The Adoptee Consciousness Model
Transracial adult adoptee storylines are increasingly represented across media platforms, yet counseling practice guidelines for the population remain limited. The authors provide updated counseling strategies by applying the Adoptee Consciousness Model (ACM). Via a fictitious case study of one adult transracial adoptee, the authors integrate the ACM with three family systems theories. Recommendations for individual, couple, and family counselors…
Introduction to the Special Issue Family and Couple Counseling with Adult Adoptees
The Family Journal is among the few counseling peer-reviewed journals that frequently publishes adoption-related theory, practice, and research. The current special issue explores counseling interventions for domestic, transracial, and international adult adoptees. The contributing authors share theory, clinical practices, teaching strategies, and research findings
Racial and Ethnic Identity of Transnational Adoptees
International and transracial adoptions have been practiced by multiple developed countries since World War II, where transracial adoptees are removed from their country of origin and raised by parents of a completely different cultural and racial background. In the United States, adoption was institutionalized after the Korean War, making adoption across races a common practice. This demographic change brings different developmental challenges t…
Teaching While Streaming
Bravo network's The Real Housewives, a long running reality tv series, spans multiple cities in the United States and across the globe. Counselor educators may utilize adult adoptee related issues present in the series for couples and family counseling students. This teaching brief describes the Real Housewives of Orange County's Katie Ginella, a transracial, international adoptee, whose storyline includes identity challenges, intergenerational t…
Transnational Colombian Adoptee Resilience Through the Lens of Liberation Psychology
The Colombian transnational adoptee diaspora is a marginalized subgroup of the Latine community seldom acknowledged yet growing in solidarity. As evidence of the illicit Colombian transnational adoption practices have intensified so have the efforts to support adoptee social justice rights. This article outlines how Liberation Psychology principles serve to facilitate action to address historical injustices promulgated by illicit adoption practic…
Exploring Transracial Adoptees’ Experiences of Developing Adoption Consciousness
Client Case Study Information
Client case study publications are a helpful way to disseminate innovative practices and clinical counseling interventions. Case study submissions are increasing both in peer-reviewed journals and practice publications. Likewise, marriage, couple, and family counselors and therapists are sharing case study examples via social media. We examine relevant ethical guidelines and describe alternatives to using real client data. We offer an example of …
Microaggressions and Racism
The authors assert client initiated microaggressions and racism towards Black, Indigenous, and People of Color ( bipoc ) counselors exist. They argue that the 2014 American Counseling Association ethical codes applied from the lens of a bipoc counselor provide guidance to navigate the ethical dilemmas microaggressive and racist incidents create. They apply the Transcultural Integrative Model, an ethical decision-making model with a unique emphasi…
The Racial and Ethnic Identity Development Process for Adult Colombian Adoptees
This research aimed to understand the process adult Colombian adoptees raised in the United States of America go through to define themselves in the context of race and ethnicity. The research followed a qualitative narrative methodology, in which six participants were interviewed twice regarding their experiences with transracial and transnational adoption and their ethnic and racial identity process. The results suggest that identity is a dynam…
Liberating Our Ancestors, Finding Ourselves
Information about transnational adoptee search and reunions with first families is limited. Less is known about how adult Colombian transnational adoptees engage in and experience search and reunion. To address this gap in research the current explanatory study explored the first family reunion experiences of 17 adult Colombian transnational adoptees within a liberation psychology framework. Using thematic analysis, the research findings describe…
Relational–Cultural Theory
Transracially adopted children and adolescents are subject to increased risks to their mental health and identity development as a result of racism and microaggressions. The risks are exacerbated by limited racial–ethnic socialization from their mostly White adoptive parents. This article reviews the history of transracial adoption in the United States through the lens of colonization, describes research related to racism and its impact on transr…
The Reclamation of Self
In this qualitative study the researchers interviewed 17 adult transnational Colombian adoptees in reunion with their Colombian first families. Through thematic analysis methodology three themes emerged: (1) first family influences, (2) navigating between families, and (3) identity reclamation. Participants in the study described the impact reunion had on their perceptions of family and their identities. The Competencies for Working with Transrac…
False Narratives
Evidence suggests Colombia’s transnational adoption program maintained systemic problematic practices, some of which were illicit in nature. Examples include child and birthmother trafficking, sale of children, and falsifying or omitting information in adoption documentation. Transnationally adopted Colombian adults encounter significant barriers to accessing their right to know their origins and identity. Despite this, some adult Colombian adopt…
Substance Use Disorders and Adoption Status
Adopted persons are at a higher risk to receive mental health and substance use treatment (Behle & Pinquart, 2016; Brodzinsky, 2013) and are also at a higher risk for a lifetime prevalence of substance use disorder (Kendler et al., 2012; Yoon et al., 2012). Despite the known risks for adopted persons, there remains a gap in counselor awareness and knowledge of the unique counseling needs of adopted persons and their families seeking substance use…
The Colombian Adoption House
In this explanatory case study, the researcher examined how adult Colombian adoptees, whose adoptions may have been facilitated under corrupt or suspicious circumstances, sought to learn factual information about their adoption narratives. Related journalistic documentation was also included in the case study analysis. The researcher found three major themes: (1) Discrepancy discovery, (2) Searching for answers, and (3) Social justice seeking. A …
The Colombian Adoption House
In this explanatory case study, the researcher examined how adult Colombian adoptees, whose adoptions may have been facilitated under corrupt or suspicious circumstances, sought to learn factual information about their adoption narratives. Related journalistic documentation was also included in the case study analysis. The researcher found three major themes: (1) Discrepancy discovery, (2) Searching for answers, and (3) Social justice seeking. A …
Exploring Transracial Adoptees’ Experiences of Developing Adoption Consciousness
The Racial and Ethnic Identity Development Process for Adult Colombian Adoptees
This research aimed to understand the process adult Colombian adoptees raised in the United States of America go through to define themselves in the context of race and ethnicity. The research followed a qualitative narrative methodology, in which six participants were interviewed twice regarding their experiences with transracial and transnational adoption and their ethnic and racial identity process. The results suggest that identity is a dynam…
Liberating Our Ancestors, Finding Ourselves
Information about transnational adoptee search and reunions with first families is limited. Less is known about how adult Colombian transnational adoptees engage in and experience search and reunion. To address this gap in research the current explanatory study explored the first family reunion experiences of 17 adult Colombian transnational adoptees within a liberation psychology framework. Using thematic analysis, the research findings describe…
False Narratives
Evidence suggests Colombia’s transnational adoption program maintained systemic problematic practices, some of which were illicit in nature. Examples include child and birthmother trafficking, sale of children, and falsifying or omitting information in adoption documentation. Transnationally adopted Colombian adults encounter significant barriers to accessing their right to know their origins and identity. Despite this, some adult Colombian adopt…
The Colombian Adoption House
In this explanatory case study, the researcher examined how adult Colombian adoptees, whose adoptions may have been facilitated under corrupt or suspicious circumstances, sought to learn factual information about their adoption narratives. Related journalistic documentation was also included in the case study analysis. The researcher found three major themes: (1) Discrepancy discovery, (2) Searching for answers, and (3) Social justice seeking. A …
Substance Use Disorders and Adoption Status
Adopted persons are at a higher risk to receive mental health and substance use treatment (Behle & Pinquart, 2016; Brodzinsky, 2013) and are also at a higher risk for a lifetime prevalence of substance use disorder (Kendler et al., 2012; Yoon et al., 2012). Despite the known risks for adopted persons, there remains a gap in counselor awareness and knowledge of the unique counseling needs of adopted persons and their families seeking substance use…
Relational–Cultural Theory
Transracially adopted children and adolescents are subject to increased risks to their mental health and identity development as a result of racism and microaggressions. The risks are exacerbated by limited racial–ethnic socialization from their mostly White adoptive parents. This article reviews the history of transracial adoption in the United States through the lens of colonization, describes research related to racism and its impact on transr…
The Reclamation of Self
In this qualitative study the researchers interviewed 17 adult transnational Colombian adoptees in reunion with their Colombian first families. Through thematic analysis methodology three themes emerged: (1) first family influences, (2) navigating between families, and (3) identity reclamation. Participants in the study described the impact reunion had on their perceptions of family and their identities. The Competencies for Working with Transrac…
False Narratives
Evidence suggests Colombia’s transnational adoption program maintained systemic problematic practices, some of which were illicit in nature. Examples include child and birthmother trafficking, sale of children, and falsifying or omitting information in adoption documentation. Transnationally adopted Colombian adults encounter significant barriers to accessing their right to know their origins and identity. Despite this, some adult Colombian adopt…
Microaggressions and Racism
The authors assert client initiated microaggressions and racism towards Black, Indigenous, and People of Color ( bipoc ) counselors exist. They argue that the 2014 American Counseling Association ethical codes applied from the lens of a bipoc counselor provide guidance to navigate the ethical dilemmas microaggressive and racist incidents create. They apply the Transcultural Integrative Model, an ethical decision-making model with a unique emphasi…
The Racial and Ethnic Identity Development Process for Adult Colombian Adoptees
This research aimed to understand the process adult Colombian adoptees raised in the United States of America go through to define themselves in the context of race and ethnicity. The research followed a qualitative narrative methodology, in which six participants were interviewed twice regarding their experiences with transracial and transnational adoption and their ethnic and racial identity process. The results suggest that identity is a dynam…
Liberating Our Ancestors, Finding Ourselves
Information about transnational adoptee search and reunions with first families is limited. Less is known about how adult Colombian transnational adoptees engage in and experience search and reunion. To address this gap in research the current explanatory study explored the first family reunion experiences of 17 adult Colombian transnational adoptees within a liberation psychology framework. Using thematic analysis, the research findings describe…
Client Case Study Information
Client case study publications are a helpful way to disseminate innovative practices and clinical counseling interventions. Case study submissions are increasing both in peer-reviewed journals and practice publications. Likewise, marriage, couple, and family counselors and therapists are sharing case study examples via social media. We examine relevant ethical guidelines and describe alternatives to using real client data. We offer an example of …
Teaching Equitable Couples Counseling
We adapted previous descriptions on couples counseling experiential learning practices to an online classroom in counselor education. Specifically, we utilized two doctoral teaching assistants in a quarter-long couple role-play scenario and incorporated reflecting and co-counseling teams. The adapted strategies included attention to sociocultural aspects that addressed working with a queer couple among other salient identities. We offer the stren…
Special Issue Interview with Dr. Amanda Baden
This article presents an interview with Dr. Amanda L. Baden, Professor and Doctoral Program Director at Montclair State University and a licensed psychologist. Baden shares information on their rich adoption-focused research agenda and offers insight into emergent clinical and research areas of focus for adult adoptees and their families. Additionally, Baden provides recommendations for adoptee-identifying graduate students in mental health train…
The Adoptee Consciousness Model
Transracial adult adoptee storylines are increasingly represented across media platforms, yet counseling practice guidelines for the population remain limited. The authors provide updated counseling strategies by applying the Adoptee Consciousness Model (ACM). Via a fictitious case study of one adult transracial adoptee, the authors integrate the ACM with three family systems theories. Recommendations for individual, couple, and family counselors…
Introduction to the Special Issue Family and Couple Counseling with Adult Adoptees
The Family Journal is among the few counseling peer-reviewed journals that frequently publishes adoption-related theory, practice, and research. The current special issue explores counseling interventions for domestic, transracial, and international adult adoptees. The contributing authors share theory, clinical practices, teaching strategies, and research findings
Racial and Ethnic Identity of Transnational Adoptees
International and transracial adoptions have been practiced by multiple developed countries since World War II, where transracial adoptees are removed from their country of origin and raised by parents of a completely different cultural and racial background. In the United States, adoption was institutionalized after the Korean War, making adoption across races a common practice. This demographic change brings different developmental challenges t…
Teaching While Streaming
Bravo network's The Real Housewives, a long running reality tv series, spans multiple cities in the United States and across the globe. Counselor educators may utilize adult adoptee related issues present in the series for couples and family counseling students. This teaching brief describes the Real Housewives of Orange County's Katie Ginella, a transracial, international adoptee, whose storyline includes identity challenges, intergenerational t…
Transnational Colombian Adoptee Resilience Through the Lens of Liberation Psychology
The Colombian transnational adoptee diaspora is a marginalized subgroup of the Latine community seldom acknowledged yet growing in solidarity. As evidence of the illicit Colombian transnational adoption practices have intensified so have the efforts to support adoptee social justice rights. This article outlines how Liberation Psychology principles serve to facilitate action to address historical injustices promulgated by illicit adoption practic…
Exploring Transracial Adoptees’ Experiences of Developing Adoption Consciousness
Child Welfare and Adoption (14 works) · Psychology (13 works) · Sociology (9 works) · Family Dynamics and Relationships (6 works) · Gender Studies (6 works) · Qualitative research (5 works) · Reproductive Health and Technologies (5 works) · Medicine (4 works) · Psychotherapist (4 works) · Social Psychology (4 works)