About
Susan Rodríguez Branco, PhD, LPC (VA), NCC, ACS, BC-TMH, (she/her/ella), is a transracial and transnational adoptee from Colombia, South America. She is an advocate for increased adoption related research and training within counselor education and is passionate about improving mental health outcomes for transracially adopted persons. Dr. Branco utilizes attachment theory, family systems, and trauma informed approaches in her clinical practice. Currently, Dr. Branco is a practicing counselor, board-approved clinical supervisor, and an Associate Professor in the Counselor Education program at Palo Alto University. Her research interests include transracial adoption and mental health, Colombian adoption policy, and clinical training and supervision practices for BIPOC counselors. She has authored or co-authored over 40 peer-reviewed journal or book chapter publications and is co-creator of the Adoptee Consciousness Model.
Current Work
Dr. Branco and colleagues and are examining how transracial adult adoptees learn to understand and be aware of the systems and policies that create harm towards adoptees and birth families. They completed their first report and have more information to share with the adoptee community. They are also in the initial stages of a book proposal about their model, the Adoptee Consciousness Model, so that they can share survey results of over 80 transracially adopted adults. Dr. Branco is also collaborating with another colleague on how to implement their microcounseling intervention model to help counselors and clinical supervisors respond, in a way that is ethical, to clients who say subtle or not so subtle identity-based insults, known as microaggressions, to their counselors. Finally, Dr. Branco is working with university professors in Bogota, Colombia and other Colombian adoptees to hold Colombian officials and adoption brokers accountable for harmful international adoption practices.
Research Area Keyword(s)
Critical adoption studies, transracial adoption, Colombian adoption policies, BIPOC counselor training and supervision