Research and Advocacy
My scholarship and research explore transracial and Colombian transnational adoption practices and clinical supervision practices with Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) counselors. I am currently working with other critical adoption scholars to research how transracial adoptees experience the Adoptee Conscious Model touchstones. Research and scholarship can be one way to advocate for marginalized voices. For this reason, I actively engage in scholarly research individually and collaboratively.
Publications
I have authored or co-authored 29 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters with several currently under review. More recent articles can be found here. For a complete review of publications please visit my linktree.
Branco, S. F., Stella, S., Langkusch, A. (2023). Liberating our ancestors: Colombian transnational first family reunion experiences. Adoption Quarterly. Advanced Online Publication. https://www.tandfonline.com/eprint/BFM2FBNYKR89MQ2NFXP9/full?target=10.1080/10926755.2023.2172505* + (students)
Branco, S. F., Kargess, S., Swann, W., & O’Leary, E. (2022). Moving towards an anti-racist curriculum: Student and counselor educator advocacy. Journal of Technology in Counselor Education and Supervision, 12(2), 46-49. https://doi.org/10.22371/tces/0028. + (students, open access)
Branco, S. F., & Cloonan, V. (2022). False narratives: Illicit Colombian transnational adoption practices. Genealogy, 6(4), https://doi.org/10.3390/genealogy6040080 (open access)
Branco, S. F., Stella, S., & Langkusch, A. (2022). The reclamation of self: Kinship and identity in transnational Colombian adoptee first family reunions. The Family Journal: Counseling and Therapy for Couples and Families, 30(4), 514-522. https://doi.org/10.1177/10664807221104112 +(students)
Meade, N., Branco, S. F., Isaacs, B., White, R., & Hanks, E. (2022). Cultural appropriation, appreciation, and adaption: A rejoinder to “Effects of a Rite of Passage ceremony on veteran’s behavior”. Journal of Counseling and Development, 100 (1), 96-103. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcad.12400
Branco, S. F. (2021). Relational-Cultural Theory: A supportive framework for transracial adoptive families. The Family Journal: Counseling and Therapy for Couples and Families, 30(1), 22-29. https://doi.org/10.1177/10664807211028986
Branco, S. F., & Jones, C. T. (2021). Supporting Black, Indigenous, People of Color counselors: Considerations for counselor skills training and practice. Journal of Mental Health Counseling, 43(4), 281-300. https://doi.org/10.17744/mehc.43.4.01
Branco, S. F. (2021). The Colombian adoption house: A case study. Adoption Quarterly. 24(1), 25-47. https://doi.org/10.1080/10926755.2020.1834042
Branco, S. F., & Davis, M. (2020). The Minority Fellowship Program: Promoting representation within counselor education and supervision. The Professional Counselor, 10(4), 603-614. https://doi.org/10.15241/sfb.10.4.603 (open access)
Author video: https://youtu.be/SH4bCNaDRXg
Jones, C. T., & Branco, S. F. (2020) The interconnectedness between cultural humility and broaching in clinical supervision: Working from the multicultural orientation framework. The Clinical Supervisor, 39(2), 198-209. https://doi.org/10.1080/07325223.2020.1830327
Branco, S. F., & Bayne, H. B. (2020). Carrying the burden: Counselors of Color experiences with client microaggressions in counseling. Journal of Counseling & Development, 98(3), 272-282. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcad.12322
Presentations
Presenting to both the academic and broader community is another way to engage in advocacy via sharing research and other scholarly work. I frequently submit presentations for peer-reviewed conferences and often accept invitations to present in the community. I especially like co-presenting with colleagues, students, and friends.
Scholarly
Adoption-Informed Mental Health Counseling: Supporting Adoptee Consciousness, American Mental Health Counselors Association, Virtual Fall Summit, November 10, 2022
Building a Virtual Counseling Residency: One Program’s Journey, Southern Association of Counselor Education and Supervision Conference, in person, November 4, 2022, first presenter with Dr. Nathaniel Mason
Applying Relational-Cultural Theory to transracial adoption in real life. American Counseling Association Virtual Conference Experience. Live and on demand virtual conference, October 18, 2022
Promoting multicultural and social justice competency with Afro-Latinx/e immigrants. National Latinx Social Justice and Mental Health Symposium. Antioch University. Live Virtual Conference, October 11, 2022, third presenter with Drs. Kirsis Dipre (first) and Diana Gallardo (second)
Microcounseling Interventions: Skills to Address Racism and Microaggressions in Session, American Mental Health Counselors Association, November 20, 2020
Microaggressions in Counseling: Reflections During a Racial Pandemic, American Mental Health Counselors Association, September 11, 2020
Being a Leader and Latinx: Y Ahora Que? Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development, July 20, 2020
Community
Konrad Lorenz University, Bogotá, Colombia, SA, La teoria Relacional-Cultural como marco de referencia para los consejeros profesionales, March 1, 2023
Blast From My Past, The Colombian Link, MyHeritage Podcast, April 29, 2022
I Am Adoptee, SideXSide, Birth family reunions, with Joy Rho, October 25, 2021
Alliance for the Study of Adoption and Culture: Latinx podcast with Dr. Stephanie Flores-Khoulish, August, 20, 2021
Adoptees On Podcast, February 19, 2021
Panelist in the American Counseling Association's Day of Racial Healing, ACA Racism Resource, January 19, 2021
Clinical approaches: Growing up adopted. Rudd Adoption Research Program, Virtual Conference 2020-2021, Adoption Adults: Connections Across Generations, University of Massachusetts Amherst, December 3, 2020.
We the Experts: Adoptees Speak Series (Adoptees & Therapy), Adoption Mosaic, November 14, 2020