1 Hour / 1 CE

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on Adoption-Informed Counseling: Addressing the Mental Health Needs of Adult Adoptees is presented by Susan Branco, PhD.

Adopted populations are more likely to seek behavioral healthcare services than non-adopted populations; however, many providers do not have training to meet the specific needs of adoptees. The presenter offers an overview of adoption-informed tenets, competencies, and interventions that support mental health providers in working with adoptees. Upon completion of the program, participants can implement adoption-informed interventions.

This program is intended for beginner to intermediate practitioners, including counselors-in-training, Individual, family, and couple counselors, in Independent, group, and or community mental health settings. 

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:

  • 1 Describe two reasons adult adopted populations may seek behavioral healthcare at a higher rate than non-adopted persons
  • 2 Describe 7 core issues in adoption
  • 3 Describe three mental health competency areas to provide adoption-informed care
  • 4 Describe at least two adoption-informed interventions they can use immediately in their practice

  • Intended Audience

    This training is designed for clinicians who support adoptees and their families, with a focus on those specializing in adoption-informed care, family therapy, or general mental health. It is intended for professionals who provide individual, family, or couples counseling and are interested in deepening their understanding of adoption-related issues.

    Examples of Relevant Professionals:

    • Mental Health Professionals
    • Counselors
    • Counselors-in-training
    • Family Therapists
    • Couple Counselors
    • Professionals working with adoptees and their families
    • Adoption-informed care specialists

  • Experience Level

    This training is designed for licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals seeking to enhance their adoption-informed practice.

    • Beginner: Participants are new to adoption-informed care and may have limited experience working with adopted individuals or families.

    • Intermediate: Participants have some experience with adoptee clients and are seeking to deepen their understanding of adoption-specific issues and interventions.

  • Practice Setting

    Participants practice in outpatient mental health environments delivering individual, couple, and family counseling within independent, group, and community-based organizations. Services are offered in person and via telehealth with interdisciplinary collaboration to address adoption-related needs; suitable for licensed and pre-licensed clinicians at beginner to intermediate levels.

    Examples of Practice Settings:

    • Independent private practice
    • Group behavioral health practice
    • Community mental health clinic
    • Nonprofit family services or post-adoption programs
    • Adoption agencies and foster care organizations
    • Hospital or health system outpatient behavioral health
    • Integrated primary care–behavioral health clinics
    • School-based or university counseling centers
Presented By

Susan Branco, PhD

Susan Branco, PhD, LPC (VA), LCPC (MD), 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. For fourteen years she maintained an independent clinical practice specializing in working with adults, children, and families connected to adoption and foster care. In addition, she has professional experience working in community mental health, pre-natal care clinics, and with immigrant populations.

Dr. Branco utilizes attachment theory, family systems, and trauma informed approaches in her clinical practice. She held core faculty positions in both on ground and online CACREP accredited counselor education programs. Currently, Dr. Branco is a practicing counselor, clinical supervisor, and an Associate Professor in the Counseling Department 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. In addition, she has multiple peer-reviewed publications related to her research interests and frequently presents at regional, national, and international counseling related conferences.

Training Outline

Key topics covered in this training include:

  • Stats about adoptees in the US and globally as applicable

  • Rationale for increased behavioral healthcare seeking for adoptees

  • 7 Core Issues in Adoption (Roxia & Maxon, 2019)

  • Adoption informed competency areas (Baden et al., 2015; Atkinson et al., 2013)

  • Adoption-informed assessments and how to implement using a composite case study

CE Sponsorship Information

Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by, recognized by, or maintains sponsorship provider status with the following boards and agencies. We maintain responsibility for all content in our CE/CPD programs. For more information, visit here. 

  1. American Psychological Association (APA): Approved sponsor of continuing education for psychologists.

  2. Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB): Approved continuing education provider (ACE program, Provider #1480), 11/22/2023–11/22/2026.

  3. Canadian Psychological Association (CPA): Approved to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.

  4. National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC): Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP No. 7190).


Sponsorship Approval Statements

Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 7190. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. Palo Alto University, #1480, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. Palo Alto University maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period 11/22/23-11/22/26. Social workers completing this course receive (clinical or social work ethics) continuing education credits. Continuing and Professional Studies, Palo Alto University, is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Psychology as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed psychologists #PSY-0103. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is solely responsible for all aspects of the programs. Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT), is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0356. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies, is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0073.