Welcome to Watershed DNA
Search Topics
- DNA Surprise 39
- NPE 37
- DNA 33
- DNA Discovery 31
- Direct to Consumer DNA 22
- Adoption 21
- Adoptees 18
- Ancestry Testing 17
- Misattributed Parentage 17
- Family Search 16
- Home DNA Test 14
- Medical Genetics 14
- Donor Conception 13
- 23andMe 12
- Genetic Counselor 12
- Podcast 12
- Biological Family 10
- Genetic Genealogy 10
- Genetics 10
- DNA Test 9
- At Home Testing 8
- Family History 8
- Sperm Donation 8
- Biological Father 7
- DNA Shocks 7
- DNA Support 7
- Genetic Counseling 7
- Raw Data 7
- DTC Genetics 6
- Donor Conceived 6
- Promethease 6
- ROH 6
- Alzheimer 5
- DNA Guide for Adoptees 5
- DNA Podcast 5
- Family 5
- Genetic Testing 5
- Paternity 5
- Stem Cell Transplant 5
- Birth Parents 4
- Egg Donation 4
- Family Health History 4
- Forensic Genealogy 4
- GEDMatch 4
- Non-Paternity 4
- Resources 4
- Support 4
- Support Group 4
- Cousin Couples 3
- Family Secrets 3
How can a genetic counselor help someone after a DNA surprise?
Genetic counselors are healthcare professionals trained in both medical genetics and counseling. Most are comfortable answering questions about the health implications of DNA test results. This includes what conditions may run in families, what risks might exist for relatives, and when medical follow-up is recommended. Read more about genetic counselors from Brianne Kirkpatrick Williams and the way she helps after a DNA surprise.
Destinations podcast - Brianne and host Doni speak about support for NPE community
Doni is the creator of Culturs Magazine which celebrates people with cross-cultural identities; she has seen how the experience of ‘third culture’ people overlaps often with the NPE world.
Check out the episode to hear our discussion and understand more about the work I do through my writing and private practice, Watershed DNA. We talked about my book The DNA Guide for Adoptees and a little about my upcoming book on the topic of genetic identity. In our discussion, Doni also shared about her role in helping NPEs through the non-profit organization NPE Network.
NPE Awareness Day - June 27th
NPE has become the term for a person who has discovered one or both parents is not genetically related to them, popularized by the first wide-spread NPE support organization, NPE Friends Fellowship. Many people introduce themselves or describe themselves as “I am an NPE” — this serves to connect NPEs and can be a way to help non-NPEs understand how disruptive the late discovery of misattributed parentage can be to someone’s identity.
Giving Unexpected DNA News with Compassion
Conveying unexpected news is never easy, and it's natural to feel uncertain going into it. The world of DNA testing and surprise DNA discoveries has made ‘breaking the news’ a new part of life for many people.
Genetic DNA Testing and Alzheimer’s Disease
Watershed DNA’s founder Brianne Kirkpatrick shares advice on what to do when you receive your genetic DNA testing report.
There Is Growing Support for You if You’re the Wife of Husbands in Reunion With a Daughter Newly-Found From DNA Testing
The wives of husbands who are newly discovered to be someone’s biological father struggle as well.
