Sang Min Shin ,  Ph.D., NCC, LPC-S (TX), RPT

Dr. Sang Min Shin is an Associate Professor, a National Certified Counselor (NCC), a Licensed Professional Counselor–Supervisor in Texas, and a Registered Play Therapist (RPT), with extensive experience in both school-based and community-based settings. Before joining Kean University, she was Program Coordinator for the Mental Health Counseling Program at the University of Texas at El Paso.

Her research focuses on play therapy, play therapy training, child–parent relationships, multicultural counseling and counselor education, and nature-based counseling interventions. Her work has been published in leading journals, including the Journal of Counseling & Development (JCD), Professional School Counseling (PSC), International Journal of Play Therapy (IJPT), and Korean Journal of Play Therapy.

Dr. Shin’s research and teaching are closely intertwined, shaping the training of future counselors while advancing knowledge in the field. In recognition of this impact, she received the Outstanding Counselor Educator Award from the Texas Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (TACES) in 2025 and the Charles A. Lewis Excellence in Research Award from the American Horticultural Therapy Association (AHTA) in 2017 for a co-authored study.

She is also active in professional service, acting as a reviewer for multiple leading journals, including the Journal of Counseling & Development (JCD), Journal of Child and Adolescent Counseling, and Asian Pacific Counseling Journal. Additionally, she holds leadership roles as Chair of the Professional Development Committee for the Korean Counseling Association–International Chapter (KCA-IC) and as a board member for the Korean Association for Play Therapy and the Korean Association for Art Psychotherapy Study.