Sang Min Shin, PhD, NCC, LPC, RPT is an Associate Professor in the Mental Health Counseling Program of the Department of Counseling, Special Education and Educational Psychology in the College of Education at the University of Texas at El Paso. Dr. Shin earned her Ph.D. in Counseling & Counselor Education from the University of Florida in 2015. She is also a National Certified Counselor (NCC), Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in Texas, and Registered Play Therapist (RPT). She has more than ten years of clinical experience providing mental health services in school-based, community-based, and private practice settings; and teaching and supervising students in higher education. Dr. Shin is also an active researcher. Her research interests include play therapy, nature-based play therapy, child-parent relationship, counselor education, and multiculturalism in counseling. She has published articles in the Journal of Counseling and Development, the International Journal of Play Therapy, the Professional School Counseling Journal, the Family Journal, and the Journal for Specialists in Group Work. One of her co-authored articles was selected and won the Charles A. Lewis Excellence in Research Award 2017 from American Horticultural Therapy Association Conference (AHTA).

• Charles A. Lewis Excellence in Research Award 2017 - American Horticultural Therapy Association (09/08/2017)
• SACES Emerging Leaders Fellow - Southern Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (01/01/2014-12/31/2014)
• Glenda Ward Caro Fellowship Recipient - College of Education, University of Florida (01/01/2013-12/31/2013)
• Distinguished Alumni Scholarship Recipient - Sookmyung Women's University, Republic of Korea (01/01/2012-12/31/2012)
• Outstanding Doctoral Student Award Recipient - Chi Sigma Iota, Beta Chapter, University of Florida (01/01/2012-12/31/2012)
• Outstanding Stuent Award Recipient - College of Education & International Center, University of Florida (01/01/2012-12/31/2012)
• Robert O. Stripling Scholarship Recipient - College of Education, University of Florida (01/01/2012-12/31/2012)
• National Conference Travel Grant - Chi Sigma Iota, Beta Chapter, University of Florida (01/01/2011-12/31/2011)
• Outstanding Achievement Recipeint - International Center, University of Florida (01/01/2011-12/31/2011)
• Graduate School Alumni Fellowship Recipient - College of Education, University of Florida (08/01/2010-08/31/2010)
• Honor Alumni Scholarship Recipeint - Sookmyung Women's University, Republic of Korea (01/01/2006-12/31/2006)
• Honorable Graduation Recipient - Sookmyung Women's University, Republic of Korea (01/01/2005-12/31/2005)

• Ph D in Counseling and Counselor Education, University of Florida (2015)
• MS in Clinical Community Counseling, Johns Hopkins University (2009)
• BA in Child Welfare & Studies, Sookmyung Women's University (2005)

• Nature-Based Child Centered Play Therapy: Taking the Playroom Outside Routledge (2022), Jacqueline Swank, Sang Min Shin.
• Play Therapy Courses in School Counselor Training: A Content Analysis of Syllabi From CACREP-Accredited School Counseling Programs Professional School Counseling 23 1 (2021), Sang Min Shin, GoEun Na.
• Recommendations for School Counselors: Applying the Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling Competencies (MSJCC) in Assisting Korean Adolescent Students in the United States Professional School Counseling 23 1 (2020), Carleton H. Brown, Sang Min Shin.
• Indoor Nature-Based Play Therapy: Taking the Natural World Inside the Playroom International Journal of Play Therapy/International Journal of Play Therapy/American Psychological Association (APA) 29 2 (2020), Jacqueline Swank, Kimberly Walker, Sang Min Shin.
• Play Therapy in South Korea: History, Current Practices, Research, and Future Directions International Journal of Play Therapy/American Psychological Association (APA) 29 1 (2020), Sang Min Shin, Subin Choi, Soyoun Park.
• Understanding of Nature-Based Child-Centered Play Therapy (NBCCPT): Possibility of Its Application to Republic of Korea Korean Journal of Play Therapy 22 4 (2019), Sang Min Shin, Soyoun Park, Subin Choi, Misook Yoo.
• A child-centered play therapy workshop for professional elementary school counselors: An exploratory study International Journal of Play Therapy 27 3 (2018), Sang Min Shin, Jazmin Gonzalez.
• Nature-Based Play Therapy with Adolescents Rowman & Littlefield Publishers (2018), Sang Min Shin, Jacqueline Swank.

• What are counselors’ leadership roles in the event of a community crisis? (2023), Volume Toronto, Ontario, Canada, Sang Min Shin, Eunae Han, Sofia Montañez.
• Using Photovoice in Research Courses for Counselors-in-Training (2023), Volume Georgetown, TX, Eunae Han, Sang Min Shin.
• Nature-Based Interventions with Children and Adolescents across Diverse Cultures (2023), Volume Virtual, Sang Min Shin.
• Connecting with Nature as Counselors to Refresh and Recharge. (2022), Volume Virtual & Melbourne, Florida, Jacqueline Swank, Sang Min Shin.
• The Natural Playroom: Play Therapists Taking Their Sessions Outside (2022), Volume Virtual & Melbourne, Florida, Jacqueline Swank, Sang Min Shin.
• Preparation for job search in academia for international doctoral students (2022), Volume Baltimore, MD. , Olivia Chen, Sang Min Shin.
• Nature-Based Child-Centered Play Therapy in a Community Setting: A Case Example (2022), Volume St. Louis, MO, Sang Min Shin, Jacqueline Swank.
• Bringing Nature into the Playroom for Play Therapy (2022), Volume Virtual, Jacqueline Swank, Sang Min Shin, Kimberly Walker, Jo Weaver.
• Blooming in the Counseling Garden (2022), Volume Virtual, Jacqueline Swank, Sang Min Shin.
• Integrating Nature within Child Counseling in a Community Setting (2022), Volume Atlanta, GA, Sang Min Shin.
• Publishing a Manuscript in Peer-Reviewed Journals in the U.S. (2022), Volume Atlanta, GA, Goeun Na, Sang Min Shin.
• Bringing Nature into the Playroom for Play Therapy (2021), Volume Virtual, Jacqueline Swank, Sang Min Shin, Kimberly Walker, Jo Weaver.
• Nature-Based Child-Centered Play Therapy: Taking the Playroom Outside (2021), Volume Virtual, Jacqueline Swank, Sang Min Shin.
• A Content Analysis of Syllabi: Play Therapy in CACREP School Counseling Programs (2021), Volume Virtual , Sang Min Shin, Goeun Na, Mayra Ortega.
• Staying Healthy: Managing Stress when your parenting, teaching and working- Part 2 (2020), Volume Virtual, Sang Min Shin, Paul Carrola.
• Staying Healthy: Managing stress when you're parenting, teaching and working (2020), Volume Virtual, Sang Min Shin, Paul Carrola.
• Measuring Master’s Level Counseling Students' Self-efficacy and Attitudes Toward Research (2020), Volume San Francisco, CA (changed to virtual), Sarah Peterson, Arturo Olivarez, Sang Min Shin.
• Educating School Counselors-in-Training in Addressing Cultural Factors that Impact U.S. Korean Adolescent Students (2019), Volume Seattle, WA, Carleton H. Brown, Sang Min Shin.
• A Content Analysis of Qualitative Filial Therapy Studies (2019), Volume Dallas, Sang Min Shin, Brittnay Carreon, Maria Newbern.
• Nature-Based Group Counseling: An Innovative Approach for Promoting Wellness Among Children (2019), Volume New Orleans, LA, Sang Min Shin, Ashley Diaz, Karina Hernandez, Sedrick Deal.
• A Qualitative Study: Nature-Based Child-Centered Play Therapy Training for Mental Health Professional Trainees (2019), Volume Dallas, TX, Sang Min Shin, Ashley Diaz, Sandra D. , Erika Montoya.
• Integrating Technology Materials Toys in Play Therapy (2018), Volume Phoenix, AZ, Hannah Battafarano, Sang Min Shin.
• Play Therapy in Republic of Korea: History, Current Practice, Research and Future. (2018), Volume Phoenix, AZ., Sang Min Shin, Soyoun Park, Ashley Diaz.
• Development of a Play Therapy Training for Professional School Counselors. (2018), Volume Atlanta, GA. , Sang Min Shin, Ashely Diaz.

• A Qualitative Study: Counselor Training in Using Nature-Based Play Therapy. Research Grant