Professional Background

Dr. Susan Branco is an Assistant Professor in Counseling for the School of Education. She is a licensed professional counselor and approved supervisor in Virginia and Maryland. She is a nationally certified counselor (NCC), an approved clinical supervisor (ACS), and a board-certified telemental health provider.

Dr. Branco provides telemental health counseling services for adult clients. She utilizes attachment theory, family systems, and trauma-informed approaches in her clinical practice. Moreover, she uses these skills to volunteer at the Arlington Free Clinic to provide pro bono telemental health services to Spanish immigrants.

As someone who values diversity, Dr. Branco’s goals for her classes are to offer an inclusive space and a welcoming learning environment for both new and advanced learners. This diversity invigorates her efforts to continuously develop and refine teaching methods and techniques.

For 14 years, she maintained an independent clinical practice specializing in working with adults, children, and families connected to adoption and foster care. She has professional experience working in community mental health, prenatal care clinics, and with immigrant populations.

Previously, Dr. Branco was a clinical assistant professor overseeing a clinical mental health counseling training clinic, a director of clinical training, a department chair, and most recently served as a clinical assistant professor in an online CACREP-accredited clinical mental health counseling program. Her research interests examine how school and clinical mental health counselors work with persons who adopted transracially and clinical supervision practices with BIPOC.

Dr. Branco is a member of the American Counseling Association (ACA) and serves as the Bylaws committee chair and co-vice president of the Native American Concerns group for the Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development (AMCD). She is also a member of the International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors (IAMFC).

Academic Credentials

• Ph.D., Counselor Education and Supervision, Virginia Tech, 2015
• M.A. Ed., Rehabilitation Counseling, The George Washington University, 1997
• B.A., Human Services, The George Washington University, 1995
• Post-Master's Certificate, Marriage and Family Therapy, Virginia Tech
• Post-Master's Certificate, Clinical Community Counseling, Johns Hopkins University