Sandy M. Kaplan, M.S., IMFT
Sandy Kaplan has been an independently licensed Marriage and Family Therapist since 2018 and has worked in the field as a Marriage and Family Therapist since 2007. Sandy has extensive experience working with families, couples, adolescents, and children in a variety of community-based and outpatient settings including St. Aloysius Orphanage, St. Joseph Orphanage (now NewPath Child & Family Solutions), Butler Behavioral Health Services, Middletown Counseling Center, and The Highview Center. She graduated with a Master of Science degree in Counseling, specializing in Marriage and Family Therapy from California State University at Northridge (CSUN), and a Bachelor of Arts degree in International Studies, Peace and Diplomacy with a minor in Spanish from Wright State University . She also has a paralegal degree from the University of Cincinnati, and experience working as an Immigration Paralegal at Taft, Stettinius & Hollister, LLC where Sandy enjoyed assisting foreign nationals with renewing their work visas and applying for naturalization/citizenship.
Sandy employs evidence-based strategies (including Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Acceptance & Commitment Therapy (ACT), Mindfulness, Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT), and The Gottman Approach to couples counseling) while utilizing individual’s unique strengths and personal values to promote healthy life choices and improved quality of life. Areas of interest and specialized training include: strengthening communication in couples, healing from infidelity and betrayal, adjustment to divorce/separation, adoption, foster care, grief/loss, trauma and anxiety disorders, gender dysphoria and blended families. She enjoys working with couples, families and teens age 13 and older. Sandy is bilingual in Spanish and has lived temporarily in multiple countries including Brazil, Mexico and Japan.
The unique opportunity to circumnavigate the globe on a ship in 2008/2009 during a five month long voyage is one of Sandy's most treasured life experiences. While participating in a robust cultural and educational learning program, she had the privilege of visiting 14 different countries during 2-6 day long port stays with Semester At Sea (SAS). Sandy values diversity, social justice & equality and celebrates the ongoing cultural education she receives from maintaining relationships with friends and family around the world. As a native of Cincinnati, Sandy appreciates all the ways our local food traditions are celebrated including Goetta Fest, Taste of Cincinnati, Findlay Market, Taste of the World (and many others). In addition to travelling, she also enjoys spending time in nature (hiking and photography) and watching soccer, both the Premier League as well as our local MLS soccer team, FC Cincinnati.