
Welcome to Watershed DNA
Search Topics
- NPE 37
- DNA Surprise 36
- DNA 32
- DNA Discovery 28
- Adoption 21
- Adoptees 18
- Direct to Consumer DNA 18
- Ancestry Testing 17
- Misattributed Parentage 17
- Family Search 15
- Home DNA Test 14
- Medical Genetics 14
- Donor Conception 13
- 23andMe 12
- Genetic Counselor 12
- Podcast 12
- Biological Family 10
- Genetics 10
- DNA Test 9
- At Home Testing 8
- Family History 8
- Genetic Genealogy 8
- Sperm Donation 8
- DNA Shocks 7
- Genetic Counseling 7
- Raw Data 7
- Biological Father 6
- DNA Support 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
- GEDMatch 4
- Non-Paternity 4
- Resources 4
- Support Group 4
- Cousin Couples 3
- DTC Genetics 3
- Family Secrets 3
- Support 3
- late discovery adoptee 3
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.
“I have uncovered skeletons in every family tree I have worked on.”
John’s story starts with a personal medical crisis leading to a decision to search for information about his biological parentage. It ends with him embracing the truth of his biological origins, a situation that many others in the same shoes have struggled to accept because of society’s stigma around conceptions between parents who are related to each other.
The Mindful NPE Chats With Grey Genetics About Her DNA Surprise
Imagine sitting in a restaurant waiting for your dinner date to arrive and finding out from your iPhone that half of your family is not what you expected. Then heading to the bathroom to call Ancestry and ask, "Could this be wrong?"
Understanding Genealogical Bewilderment and Identity Disruption
"Genealogical bewilderment" and "identity disruption" are two terms to understand if you're an NPE or are connected to one in your circle of friends and family.
A New Podcast, the Bradley Hall Show
The most common FIRST question I am asked as a genetic counselor and DNA coach working with those in NPE situations. That first question is most commonly, “Could the DNA test be wrong?”
Your Unexpected DNA Match Is Not a Fake DNA Account Created by Someone Trying to Scam You
The shock of an unexpected DNA family member can cause people to react in different ways.
Could the DNA test be wrong
The purpose of this quick guide is to answer the single most common question I hear from people who have recently received a DNA test result that does not match expectations.
“If My Dad’s Not My Biological Father, Then Who Is?”
More people every day are discovering unexpected news about their parentage as a result of consumer DNA tests. As a licensed and certified genetic counselor specializing in ancestry testing, I have more and more people reach out to me wondering could it be true my dad’s not my dad? If so, then who IS?
Birth Fathers Share What It Is Like to Find Out They Have an Adult Child They Never Knew About
Do you call them biological fathers? Birth dads? Found fathers, discovered dads, sires, or “men who fathered a child they were not aware of”?
When the DNA Test Results are Wrong
Sometimes 23andMe reports an inaccurate DNA relationship between two testers. A half sibling is not always a half sibling. It could be a cousin, for example.