S. Kent Butler

Counseling Psychologist, Former Chief DEI Officer & Former President of the American Counseling Association (ACA)

S. Kent Butler

Counseling Psychologist, Former Chief DEI Officer & Former President of the American Counseling Association (ACA)

Add to List Availability & Fees

Biography

Dr. S. Kent Butler is a dedicated advocate for social justice and a passionate supporter of family, firmly believing in the power of community to uplift and inspire. As an esteemed educator and counselor, Dr. Butler emphasizes the importance of meeting individuals where they are, not to change them, but to provide pathways to self-discovery, self-love and a genuine desire for positive change.

Dr. Butler holds a Ph.D. in Educational Psychology with a concentration in Counseling Psychology from the University of Connecticut. He is a Nationally Certified Counselor (NCC) and a Nationally Certified School Counselor (NCSC). Currently, Dr. Butler serves as a Professor of Counselor Education at the University of Central Florida.

A former President of the American Counseling Association (2021-2022), Dr. Butler is also an ACA Fellow and previously hosted the ACA's weekly vodcast, "The Voice of Counseling." His leadership extends to the Association for Multicultural Counseling and Development (AMCD), where he served as President and ACA Governing Council Representative. Dr. Butler is a proud member of AMCD’s Multicultural Counseling Competencies Revisions Committee, which developed the Multicultural & Social Justice Counseling Competencies (MSJCC).

Dr. Butler has co-edited two influential textbooks: Introduction to 21st Century Counseling: A Multicultural and Social Justice Approach, which received the 2022 Most Promising New Textbook Award from the Textbook & Academic Authors Association, and the newly published Intersectional Counseling Skills: The Journey to Becoming a Culturally Inclusive Counselor. These works are seminal in guiding counselors to adopt multicultural and social justice perspectives in their practice.

Dr. Butler's extensive experience includes crisis management work in New Orleans post-Hurricane Katrina and impactful outreach initiatives in South Africa and Botswana. In 2012, he began creating mission opportunities for AMCD members and study abroad opportunities for students to support South African women affected by violence.

As a Faculty Fellow for Inclusive Excellence within the University of Central Florida’s Office of the Provost, Dr. Butler contributed significantly to equity, inclusion and diversity initiatives. He also served as the Chief Equity, Inclusion and Diversity Officer at UCF and is a National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education Fellow (2020-2021).

Dr. Butler’s research interests encompass Multicultural Counseling and Supervision, Social Justice Advocacy, Mentoring Black Males and International Group and School Counseling. He has served as Principal Investigator for The High-Risk Delinquent and Dependent Child Educational Research Project, which evolved into the UCF Young Knights Mentoring Project, supporting students at Hungerford Elementary School in Eatonville, Fla.

Dr. Butler continues to inspire and guide future counselors and thought leaders as the faculty advisor for Chi Sigma Iota International Honor Society, the Counselor Education Doctoral Student Organization, Project for Haiti Knights and the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). He remains steadfast in his belief that "all that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good people to do nothing," a sentiment that drives his commitment to social justice and community empowerment.

Dr. Butler's distinguished career is marked by his dedication to fostering a more inclusive and equitable society. His leadership, scholarship, and mentorship have left an indelible impact on the field of counseling, setting a high standard for future generations of mental health professionals and extending its influence on our global society at large.

Speaker Videos

Meeting Authentically

Showing Up

Building Trust Naturally

How to Connect with Other Individuals

Intersectional Counseling Skills

See Fewer Videos

Speech Topics

Intersectionality: Why Becoming Culturally Inclusive Matters

The journey to becoming a culturally competent and responsive human being starts with understanding the importance of cultural competence. Dr. S. Kent Butler empowers leaders from all professional backgrounds by combining traditional counseling practices with evidence-based techniques inspired by multicultural and social justice competencies. Dr. Butler’s unique perspective uplifts historically marginalized voices and encourages a shift from ethnocentric views.

The Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling Competencies (MSJCC) framework, which Dr. Butler helped develop, is infused throughout—focusing on building awareness, knowledge, skills and actions that encourages cultural humility and responsiveness.

Learning Objectives:

Cultural Competence: Recognize the significance of diverse worldviews and values and learn how cultural competence enhances your work environment using the MSJCC framework.
Self-Reflection and Growth: Through self-reflection, you’ll discover and understand your true self, enhancing your connection with others and aligning your personal and professional goals.
Develop People Skills: Build fundamental life skills, transition from theoretical knowledge to practical application and overcome imposter syndrome as you begin to embrace your own cultural identity.
Honor the Land: Take a moment to genuinely acknowledge that we stand on unceded ancestral homelands, moving beyond performative gestures to a meaningful recognition of our land’s history.

Fostering a Sense of Belonging in Times of Crisis: Sometimes You Must Forge Your Own Path

Dr. S. Kent Butler brings Realism, Authenticity and Wisdom (RAW) to this keynote, sharing his personal story to speak truth about the effects of privilege on his own mental wellness and resolve, while sharing best practices for removing culturally biased barriers.

Through his story, you will gain insights, wisdom and encouragement on how to intentionally get into “good trouble” and become an Antiracist co-conspirator—fighting with cultural humility against injustices on a global scale and working proactively on behalf of everyone.

Learning Objectives:

Analyze Power and Privilege: Explore and gain a meaningful understanding of the influences of power and privilege on society.
Implement Best Practices: Develop and integrate best practices for removing culturally biased barriers that impact the communities we serve.
Adopt Antiracist Resources: Learn how your values, attitudes and actions affect the communities you serve and adopt and utilize effective antiracist resources to support your social justice advocacy.
Honor the Land: Take a moment to genuinely acknowledge that we stand on unceded ancestral homelands, moving beyond performative gestures to a meaningful recognition of our land’s history.

Having Difficult Dialogues: Disrupting Negative Narratives

Get equipped with the tools you’ll need from Dr. S. Kent Butler to create safe and brave spaces where meaningful and courageous conversations on topics related to equity, inclusion and diversity can thrive—an essential skill for today’s global environment. “Difficult Dialogues” empowers you to learn strategies that will facilitate courageous conversations, ensuring safe and brave spaces for students, co-workers or peers to engage in these powerful discussions. Through an open and honest guided discussion, Dr. Butler provides you with an opportunity to share and process your own personal narratives in relation to ethnicity and culture.

Dr. Butler customizes his content for specific audiences, including:

Business: Gain valuable insights and get equipped to create inclusive and supportive environments where meaningful discussions on equity, inclusion and diversity can flourish.
Educators: Get the tools and strategies needed for students and staff to engage in these important conversations.
Healthcare: Improve patient care and foster teamwork by learning how to support a culture of empathy and cultural competence.
Non-profits: Learn how to cultivate meaningful connections and drive effective change to better serve your communities and team.

Humanizing DEI

Join Dr. S. Kent Butler as he breaks down the true meaning of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion by focusing on the human experience. Dr. Butler shares how deep, meaningful discussions can lead to different perspectives. You’ll learn why sharing and connecting with others’ life stories, help shape our understanding and influence the decisions we make. When learning about other people’s journeys in a positive and empathetic way, true change can begin. Dr. Butler will show you how to get started.

Learning Objectives:

Analyze Power and Privilege: Explore and gain a meaningful understanding of the influences of power and privilege on society.
Implement Best Practices: Develop and integrate best practices for removing culturally biased barriers that impact the communities we serve.
Adopt Antiracist Resources: Learn how your values, attitudes and actions affect the communities you serve and adopt and utilize effective antiracist resources to support your social justice advocacy.
Honor the Land: Take a moment to genuinely acknowledge that we stand on unceded ancestral homelands, moving beyond performative gestures to a meaningful recognition of our land’s history.