Patricia W. De Barbieri, Ed.D., LPC

Biography

Dr. Patricia De Barbieri is a licensed professional counselor with 45 years of experience in education. She began her career as a high school vocational education teacher, kindergarten and pre-school teacher, and elementary school counselor in public and private school settings. She has experience working in public and private education, not for profit social service agencies, private practice and institutions of higher education.

Her work in higher education began as adjunct instructor at Gateway Community Technical College, Albertus Magnus College, and Sacred Heart University. She served for 14 years as university student mental health counselor and director of a university student mental health counseling center. It was during these experiences that her professional interest in eating disorders began. Dr. De Barbieri is a past member of the National Board of Directors of the American Anorexia and Bulimia Association which later became the National Eating Disorders Association. As a member of the NCAA Speakers Bureau she has visited colleges and universities throughout the U S consulting with student athletes, coaches and athletic department administrators about support for athletes with eating disorders.

Dr. De Barbieri is Professor Emeritus of Marriage and Family Therapy with the Social Work Department and former Chair of the Department of Counseling and School Psychology at Southern Connecticut State University. She served as Coordinator of the graduate program in School Counseling for 10 years prior to becoming Chair of the Department of Counseling and School Psychology. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the State University of New York at Oneonta in Child Development and Family Relations and a Master of Science degree in Counselor Education from Southern Connecticut State University. Her Doctorate is in organizational behavior and leadership from Teachers College, Columbia University. She is published and has presented nationally and internationally on various aspects of human development and mental health and is coauthor of the North Star Program for building resiliency in school age girls which can be accessed at northstaryouthprogram.org. Her most current research focused on testing the efficacy of a treatment tool for use in recovery from bulimia and work as Parent Engagement Consultant with the Gear-Up Program in New Haven, CT.

Throughout her career, Dr. De Barbieri has consulted with: individuals and agencies on therapeutic issues; with schools and social service agencies about therapeutic, human development and educational concerns; with athletic and academic departments of higher education around matters of interest to them; and with professional organizations and independent companies on strategic and business planning. The focus of her current writing is Ageing: A Developmental Perspective. Dr. De Barbieri can be reached at pdebarbieri@gmail.com or through her website www.drdebarbieri.com.