Rate My Professor Khym Isaac De Barros Isaac De Barros

Dr. Khym Isaac De Barros serves as an Adjunct Lecturer in the School of Psychology and the Foundations Program at Curtin University Dubai, having joined the institution in January 2025. She earned her Ph.D. in counselling psychology with a specialization in multicultural counselling from Indiana University, Bloomington, along with an M.A. and Ed.M. from Columbia University’s Teachers College. Her professional journey began at Lehman College of the City University of New York, where she assisted college students with academic writing challenges compounded by learning disabilities, financial difficulties, and emotional issues. As an Assistant Counsellor in the SEEK program, she cultivated a holistic approach to academic support. During her time at Indiana University, she worked as a Financial Aid Counsellor for both the Office of Admissions and the Kelley School of Business, and supervised a team of graduate counsellors supporting students at a local middle school.

Dr. De Barros has amassed extensive experience across prominent U.S. institutions. As Staff Psychologist at Colgate University, she pioneered the First Year Adjustment Group Program and the Sophomore Non-Traditional Student Retention Program. At the State University of New York at Oswego, she forged a collaboration between the University Counselling Center and the McNair Scholars Program, delivering personalized interpersonal counselling, supervising thesis research, and preparing students for academic conferences. She held leadership positions as Director of Counselling and Student Development at Bridgewater State University and Assumption College, managing counselling teams and delivering multicultural and sensitivity training to campus staff, including police and residential life personnel. Her teaching portfolio includes positions at the City College of the City University of New York, Ivy Tech State College, Indiana University Bloomington, and Liberty University, culminating in a role as Visiting Assistant Professor at the American University of Sharjah. Founder of the Paget T. & Sylvia G. Isaac Research Institute, she currently mentors 14 research assistants, offering research opportunities, graduate school advising, and academic guidance. Her research focuses on mood disorders including anxiety and depression, interpersonal relationships, cross-cultural help-seeking behaviours, the psychotherapy process, and multicultural counselling competence and assessment. She has presented at conferences such as the American Psychological Association, British Psychological Society, Emirates Society of Mental Health, International Psychology Conference Dubai, and Society of Psychotherapy Research. Her team earned the Best Presenter Award in the Advances in Mental Health and Well-being category at Curtin University’s International Conference on Innovation, Sustainability and Applied Sciences. Published works appear in Counselling American Minorities and Women and Therapy.