An interesting fact about Johnson Space Center’s Anika Isaac, MS, LPC, LMFT, LCDC, CEAP, NCC, is that there are more letters following her name than there are in it.
A licensed professional counselor, marriage and family therapist, and chemical dependency counselor with several other certifications, Isaac has been a fixture of Johnson’s Employee Assistance Program for the last 13 years. She provides confidential counseling and assessment, crisis response, referrals to community providers, and debriefing and support to Johnson’s workforce. Additionally, Isaac leads assertiveness skills training for employees, provides management consults, and presents on various mental health topics by request. She also coordinates the center’s Autism Support Group, which convenes monthly to offer networking, resource sharing, and support for caregivers of those with autism.
“My most favorite part of supporting the NASA mission and its workforce is what I do on a daily basis,” Isaac said. “I have the pleasure of being entrusted with supporting our amazing NASA humans with some of their most difficult experiences and moments. I also witness their triumphs and insights during the journey.”
Isaac’s invaluable counsel earned her a Silver Snoopy Award in 2022. Presented by Johnson Director Vanessa Wyche and NASA astronaut Jessica Meir, the award recognized Isaac’s exceptional efforts to support NASA’s ability to execute the tasks necessary for safe human spaceflight. “I taught, modeled, and empowered thousands to address critical issues and topics in the workplace, directly impacting mission success and safety,” she said.
Isaac has also proudly participated in and led authentic conversations within the Johnson community to continue supporting a psychologically safe workplace. “Having those bold conversations are necessary to foster a compassionate workplace culture,” she said. “Our Johnson family has many incredible people who routinely go above and beyond. I hope to honor that courage it can take to be vulnerable. I want our community to remember to give themselves the personal time, kindness, and grace that they would unquestionably give to others.”
Isaac said her work experiences prior to joining NASA not only affected her personally but also shaped her professionally. “The most troublesome challenges have been dealing with colleagues whom I saw be divisive in their comments and manipulative in their actions,” she said. “I overcame those challenges with faith, time, and talking to mentors and my trusted support system for perspective and guidance.”
Isaac’s career has also taught her to trust herself and give herself some grace. “In each moment I have everything I need to be successful and keep learning when I fall short of my expectations,” she said. She has come to appreciate the value of her unique experience and skillset, as well. “In an agency with so many experts in so many disciplines, in my respective discipline my expertise is as necessary and essential to the success of NASA’s mission,” she said. “I have also learned to stay persistent with my goals, since there are enough people to help me achieve them along the way.”
Isaac looks forward to a future of space exploration that combines the best of the commercial sector, international partnerships, and NASA’s strengths with incredible advances in artificial intelligence and other technologies to ensure crew safety while propelling humanity further into the cosmos. “The benefits of collaborating with key partnerships committed to the growth of space exploration are unquantifiable,” she said. “As NASA strives for the stars, the humans around the world that work for and support NASA on Earth will continue to evolve from the strength of galvanizing those dedicated persons.”
Isaac encourages the Artemis Generation to learn and incorporate key aspects of NASA and space exploration history into their work. “Trust yourself! Have you not usually recovered from setbacks? Those that came before you made similar mistakes,” she said. “Pay attention and learn from them. And build those crucial, reciprocal mentor and social relationships to enhance your ongoing personal and work journey.”