Isaac Burt

I hold a Ph.D. in Counselor Education, from the University of Central Florida (UCF). As part of my scholarship, I strive to implement an integration of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and multicultural counseling (STEMMC). One of the issues I came across is that scientific inquiry hopes to establish facts, yet tends to neglect cultural and societal impacts. It is this aspect that tends to isolate Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) from the scientific fields, and can lead to minimizing their existence in society. Aspects of my scholarship does something novel, in that it acknowledges cultural factors, and reiterates that culture and science intertwine, and are not independent units.

A further facet of my research focuses on examining racism and discrimination’s impact not only on feelings and behaviors, but how it also effects the brain. Literature is replete with information on how to detect racism, yet there is very little indicating what to do when encountering the phenomenon. The direction I am moving into now seeks to bridge this gap, by combining multiculturalism with neuroscience, detailing how the neuroscience concept of flow state can produce an altered state of conscious (ASOC) leading to optimal performance/enhanced living (wellness).

The work I am embarking upon will lead into a coherent, salient, and cogent modality that practitioners and researchers alike can utilize to help people and communities attain optimal experience, even in the face of systemic racism, discrimination, and oppression. This integration is unique, and something not currently in the field as I am one of the few to delve into this type of novel research.

My final sustained area of research is in using group work to redefine anger management methods that disproportionally identify BIPOC youth as angry. Instead of labeling adolescents as aggressive, mad, or delinquent, this strength-based approach reframes youth as potential leaders, who have obstacles such as anger that are impeding their development.

Clinically I have worked in a variety of therapeutic settings, such as a counselor in a correctional facility, a mental health therapist in a behavioral school, counselor in a community clinic, and as a training liaison for anger management groups in schools, teaching conflict resolution and peer mediation to diverse populations.

I currently serve as an associate editor for the premiere journal for multiculturalism in counseling, the Journal of Multiculturalism and Development (JMCD).

• Doctor of Philosophy in Education, University of Central Florida, Counselor Education (2010)
• Master in Education, University of Louisville, Mental Health Counseling (2006)
• Master of Public Administration, University of Louisville, Labor-management relations (2001)
• Bachelors of Arts, University of Louisville, Psychology (1999)

• Project CRYSTAL: Culturally Responsive Youth Services in Teaching, Adaptation, and Language.; Federal; US Department of Education.; Awarded; (12/01/2022-12/01/2027)
• Making it rain: A therapeutic financial literacy group for Black/African American teenagers; Local; Department of Counseling, Recreation, and School Psychology (CRSP) Collaborative Projects on Equity, Diversity, & Social Justice seed grant.; Awarded; (08/01/2021-08/01/2022)
• Strong and powerful: Unity and collaboration between HBCUs and HSIs.; Local; Department of Counseling, Recreation, and School Psychology (CRSP) Collaborative Projects on Equity, Diversity, & Social Justice seed grant; Awarded; (08/01/2021-08/01/2022)
• Reducing aggression in adolescents through a strength-based group leadership model.; Foundation and Research Organization; Association for Specialists in Group Work (ASGW) research grant.; Awarded; (05/01/2012-05/01/2013)
• Synthesizing leadership training and self-efficacy as change agents in reducing aggression in anger management groups.; Foundation and Research Organization; Association for Specialists in Group Work (ASGW) research grant; Awarded; (09/01/2010-09/01/2011)

• Meade, N.A., Branco, S., Burt, I., White, R., Hanks, A. (2022). Cultural appropriation, appreciation, and adaption: A rejoinder to “Effects of a Rite of Passage Ceremony on Veterans' Well-Being”. Journal of Counseling and Development, 100(1), 96-103. https://doi.org/10.1002/jcad.12400
• Burt, I. & Gonzalez, T. (2021). Flow state as an existential tool to increase optimal experience and life enjoyment. Journal of Humanistic Counseling, 60, 197-214. https://doi.org/10.1002/johc.12165
• Burt, I., Pham, A., &. Hyun, J. (2021). Reexamining Asian-American masculinity and the model minority myth through a school-based counseling group. Professional School Counseling, 25 (Ic), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.1177/2156759X211040032
• Pham, A.V., Goforth, A.N., Aguilar, L.N., Burt, I., Bastian, R., & Diaków, D. (2021). Dismantling systemic inequities in school psychology: Cultural humility as a foundational approach to social justice. School Psychology Review. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1080/2372966X.2021.1941245
• Burt, I. (2020). I get money: A therapeutic financial literacy group for Black teenagers. The Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 45(2), 165-181. https://doi.org/10.1080/01933922.2020.1740845
• Burt, I. (2019). Modern-day slavery in the U.S.: Human trafficking and counselor awareness. The International Journal for the Advancement of Counselling, 41, 187-200. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10447-018-9366-7
• Burt, I. (2018). Leadership-driven anger management groups for adolescents: Do they really work? The Journal for Specialists in Group Work, 43, 57-80. https://doi.org/10.1080/01933922.2017.1411409 This article received the Association for Specialists in Group Work’s (ASGW) 2018 Research Article of the year award
• Burt, I. (2018). Media and its influence on self-image and relationship decision-making in college-age clients: What mental health counselors should know. The Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, 13, 275-287. https://doi.org/10.1080/15401383.2018.1426508
• Vereen, L., Wines, L., Lemberger-Truelove, T., Hannon, M., Howard, N., & Burt, I. (2017). Black Existentialism: Extending the discourse. The Journal of Humanistic Counseling, 56, 72-84. https://doi.org/10.1002/johc.12045
• Burt, I., Russell, V.E.D., & Brooks, M. (2016). The invisible client: Ramifications of neglecting the impact of race and culture in professional counseling. VISTAS 1016, 1-10.
• Burt, I. (2015). Transcending traditional group work: Using the Brazilian martial art of Capoeira as a clinical therapeutic group for culturally diverse adolescents. The Journal for Specialists in Group Work. 40, 187-203. https://doi.org/:10.1080/01933922.2015.1017068
• Burt, I., & Abreu, R. (2015). Using mixed personal growth groups to reduce counseling students’ biases with same-sex couples and increase relational competencies. The Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, 10, 200-215. https://doi.org/10.1080/15401383.2014.962721 (30% acceptance rate per editor)
• Whitten, K.M., & Burt, I. (2015). Utilizing creative expressive techniques and group counseling to improve adolescents of divorce social-relational capabilities. The Journal of Creativity in Mental Health, 10, 363-375. https://doi.org/10.1080/15401383.2014.986594
• Burt, I. (2014). Addressing male anger: A school-based pilot study utilizing leadership groups with ethnic minority male adolescents. Journal of Counseling Research and Practice, 3, 21-26.
• Burt, I. (2014). Identifying male and female anger in an adolescent population. The Professional Counselor: Research and Practice, 5, 531-540. https://doi.org/10.15241/ib.4.5.531
• Pham, A., Goforth, A., Segool, N., & Burt, I. (2014). Social networking in school psychology programs: A survey of faculty and graduate students. School Psychology Forum, 8, 130-143.
• Young, T., & Burt, I. (2013). Exploring the predictive value of the ACT among undergraduate students on academic probation. The Journal of College Orientation and Transition, 21, 45-53.

• Burt, I. (2022). Flow state as an existential tool to increase wellness and optimal experience. Presentation accepted at the Southern Association for Counselor Education and Supervision Conference in Baltimore, MD.;
• Burt, I. (2022). Integrating the neuroscience concept of flow state with multiculturalism to increase wellness. Presentation accepted at the Southern Association for Counselor Education and Supervision Conference in Baltimore, MD.;
• Burt, I., Brooks, M. & Williams, C. (2022). The Black male experience. Presentation presented at the American Counseling Association Conference in Atlanta, GA.;
• Hines, E., Moore, J.L., Butler, S.K., Shillingford-Butler, A., Smith, V., Appling, B., Robinson, S., Burt, I., & Challenger, C. (2021, October). Males of color and school counseling: Major considerations and best practices. Presentation accepted at the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision Conference in Atlanta, GA.;
• Burt, I. & Gonzalez, T. (2021, April). Using the neuroscience idea of flow state with multiculturalism to increase wellness. Presentation presented at the American Counseling Association Conference in Orlando, FL.;