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Keiko Sano, PhD

Antioch University
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Dr. Keiko Sano is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor, National Certified Counselor (NCC), EMDRIA certified Therapist, ADHD Certified Clinical Service Provider, and Washington State Approved Supervisor. Born and raised in Japan, she also worked in Australia and Hong Kong before moving to the United States, and she has worked closely with her students, clients, and local community members, particularly expatriates, immigrants, and their families. Her passion for counseling and counselor education in global contexts has fueled her research interest in exploring myths around the universality of counseling theories and practices. She focuses on the diversity of counselors, counselors-in-training, supervisors, and counselor educators. She has conducted research on international supervisors’ use of supervision theories, as well as on myths of resilience in international contexts. She is a food lover and enjoys traveling and trying new dishes with her friends.

Keiko Sano, PhD

Core Faculty

PhD in Counselor Education and Supervision

[email protected]

  • PhD Counselor Education and Supervision - Antioch University Seattle
  • MA Clinical Mental Health Counseling - Antioch University Seattle

Dr. Sano is committed to fostering a student-centered learning environment where learning co-occurs for her students and herself through sharing authentic and unique experiences and perspectives. Grounded in andragogy (Knowles, 1980), as well as the adaptation of constructivist and multicultural approaches, Dr. Sano believes every student brings invaluable experiences and perspectives to the learning community to grow together. She values building relationships with her students and engaging in various activities that help increase her self-awareness.

  • Sano, K., & Bevly, D. (2025). Cultural responsiveness in clinical practice. In S. Sisko, cultural responsiveness in practice: Psychology & counseling. Palgrave.
  • Sano, K., Dietz, S. S., Mwendwa, J., & Kirk, K. (2024). The international counselor educator and student. In D. Stalnaker-Shofner, A comprehensive guide for counselor educators: Training students and new educators for the counselor education and supervision field. Springer.
  • Ward, C., Sano, K., Fort, K., Kaur, O., Walters, E., & Guthery, A. (2023). Resilience as a collective experience. Indian Journal of Psychology, 2023, 1-8.
  • Sano, K. (2019). Foreign-born doctoral-level counselor supervisors' use and experience of supervision theories/models [Doctoral dissertation, Antioch University]. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=antioch1578356496063461
  • International
  • Sano, K., Walters, E., Kaur, O., & Lee, L. C. B. (2023/11). Cultural differences of resilience in counseling and supervision in the global context. NBCC International Capacity Building’s 2023 Mental Health Connections: Advancing Global Health Equity Conference.
  • Sano, K., Peng, Y., & Huang, R. (2023/03). Group counseling facilitation from the collectivist perspective. American Counseling Association Conference. Toronto, Canada.
  • Sano, K., Dietz, S. S., Kirk, K., & Mwendwa, J. (2021/12). Counselor training and supervision in international context: Roles of counselors and relationships with their clients. NBCC International Capacity Building’s 2021 Mental Health Connections: Cultivating Equity Digital Conference.
  • National
  • Sano, K. (2025/03_ Accepted_ Planning on presenting). Group counseling facilitation from the collectivist perspectives for BIPOC and International counselors, counselors-in-training, and supervisors. American Counseling Association, Orland, FL.
  • Sano, K., & Bevly, D. (2024/10). Group counseling and group supervision facilitations from the collectivist perspectives. Western Association for Counselor Education and Supervision. Tucson, AZ.
  • Sano, K., Ward, C., Byrd, M., & Banks, A. (2023/10). Stepping into the multicultural supervision from the global perspectives. Association for Counselor Education and Supervision. Denver, CO.
  • Sano, K., Gonzalez, M., & Fort, K. (2022/10). Does my research demonstrate multicultural and social justice sensitivity? Western Association for Counselor Education and Supervision. Portland, OR.
  • Sano, K., Ward, C., & Byrd, M. (2022/10). Deconstructing clinical supervision. Multicultural sensitivity in the global context. Western Association for Counselor Education and Supervision. Portland, OR.
  • Sano, K., Ward, C., Allert, T., & Spivey, S. (2021/10). Unveiling power dynamics and multiple parallel processes in cross-cultural supervision. Association for Counselor Education and Supervision. Atlanta, GA.
  • Sano, K., Fort, K., Gonzalez, M., & Dietz, S. S. (2021/10). Career Success for International and non-US-born counselor educators and supervisors. Association for Counselor Education and Supervision. Atlanta, GA.
  • Sano, K., & Ward, C. (2019/10). Introduction of a culturally sensitive supervision model: How minority counselor educators and supervisors utilize supervision models? Association for Counselor Education and Supervision Conference. Seattle, WA.
  • Sano, K. (2019/04). Integration of individualism and collectivism in strengths approach. Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Beyond. The Chicago School 2nd Annual Virtual Conference.
  • Sano, K., Byrd, M., & Baker, D. (2018/11). Culturally competent trauma counseling, counselor training, and supervision. Western Association for Counselor Education and Supervision Conference. Santa Rosa, CA.
  • Sano, K. (2017/10). Loss & grief in multi-generational Asian communities. Asian American Psychological Association Conference. Las Vegas, NV
  • American Counseling Association (ACA)
  • Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES)
  • Western Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (WACES)
  • National Board for Certified Counselors
  • International Faculty and Student Interest Network (ISFIN ACES)
  • Washington Mental Health Counselors Association (WMHCA)
  • Chi Sigma Iota International
  • EMDR International Association
  • Network for Antiracist Teaching in Counseling
  • Gilbert and Kathleen Wrenn Award for Humanitarian and Caring Person - American Counseling Association
  • Research Grant - American Counseling Association
  • Emerging Leader Fellowship - Western Association for Counselor Education and Supervisio