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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)
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. B 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, FL.
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 to our global society at large.
Speaker Videos
Meeting Authentically
Showing Up
Building Trust Naturally
How to Connect with Other Individuals
Intersectional Counseling Skills
Speech Topics
Intersectionality: Why Becoming Culturally Inclusive Matters
The journey to becoming a competent and culturally responsive human being begins with understanding the importance of cultural competence. Dr. S. Kent Butler aims to enhance and empower leaders from all professional backgrounds by integrating traditional counseling skills with evidence-based techniques inspired by multicultural and social justice competencies. Dr. Butler will offer unique perspectives, emphasizing historically oppressed voices and encouraging a shift from ethnocentrism. Recognizing that individuals have intersecting identities, the presentation aims to normalize diverse identities and help destigmatize those previously marginalized. It challenges Westernized ideologies and promotes embracing differences to better support personal wellness. The Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling Competencies he helped to develop are infused throughout, focusing on developing awareness, knowledge, skills, and actions that encourages cultural humility and responsiveness. Throughout this interactive presentation participants will engage in culturally-focused approaches that foster mindfulness and self-reflection leading to a deeper insight into themselves, others, and the world. Understanding oneself is the key to connecting!
Learning Objectives:
- Understand Cultural Competence: Participants will recognize the value of diverse worldviews and values and will learn the importance of cultural competence in in their work environments, supported by the Multicultural and Social Justice Counseling Competencies (MSJCC) framework.
- Self-Reflection and Growth: Participants will engage in self-reflection to discover and understand their true selves, enhancing their connection with others and aligning their personal and professional goals.
- Develop People Skills: Participants will build fundamental life skills, transitioning from theoretical knowledge to practical application, and overcoming imposter syndrome as they begin to embrace their own cultural identity.
- To honor the land that we are standing upon! We are not going to be performative and really take the time to acknowledge that we are on unceded ancestral homelands.
Fostering a Sense of Belonging in Times of Crisis: Sometimes You Must Forge Your Own Path
Dr. S. Kent Butler with a bit of “Realism” and “Authenticity” will use 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. This presentation provides participants with insights, “Wisdom”, and encouragement on how to intentionally get into “good trouble” as Anti-Racist co-conspirators fighting with cultural humility against injustices on a global scale and working proactively on behalf of everyone. Described by his audiences as authentic and real, RAW was developed during a moment of intense reflection of his life and an even deeper meditation related to the state of the world. RAW highlights how participants can effectively balance their careers and self-care with social justice advocacy.
Learning Objectives:
- Analyze Power and Privilege: Participants will explore and gain a meaningful understanding of the influences of power and privilege on society
- Implement Best Practices: Participants will learn to develop and integrate best practices for removing culturally biased barriers that impact the communities we serve
- Adopt Antiracist Resources: Participants will learn how their values, attitudes, and actions affect the communities they serve and will adopt and utilize effective antiracist resources to support their social justice advocacy
- To honor the land that we are standing upon! We are not going to be performative and really take the time to acknowledge that we are on unceded ancestral homelands.
Having Difficult Dialogues: Disrupting Negative Narratives in Times of National Unrest
“Difficult Dialogues” will afford participants the tools necessary to create safe and brave spaces to engage in meaningful and courageous conversations on topics related to equity, inclusion, and diversity, a critical skillset for today’s global environment. “Difficult Dialogues” empowers attendees to learn strategies that will help them facilitate courageous conversations, including how to create safe and brave spaces for students or co-workers engaging in these powerful discussions. Working from a pedagogy that embraces all worldviews and allows participants to visualize and empathize with those who have historically been dehumanized by institutional barriers and prejudices that impinge upon their lives. An open and honest guided discussion will provide attendees with an opportunity to share and process through their own personal narratives in relation to ethnicity and culture.
Learning Objectives:
- Evidence-Based Best Practices: Present evidence-based best practices for interactive engagement in difficult conversations related to ethnicity and culture.
- Historical Impact Understanding: Enhance participant understanding of the historical impact of ethnicity and culture on society.
- Model for Open Dialogues: Equip participants with a modeled framework for participating in open and honest dialogues.
- To honor the land that we are standing upon! We are not going to be performative and really take the time to acknowledge that we are on unceded ancestral homelands.
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