Dr. Julio Sabater

Dr. Julio Sabater, a licensed clinical psychologist, has dedicated his career to serving individuals and families in Pawtucket, Rhode Island. With more than a decade of experience in counseling and school psychology, his work increasingly brought him face-to-face with adults carrying unresolved trauma. This experience highlighted the need for specialized, evidence-based treatment.

Through funding provided by the Gavin Farrell Foundation, Dr. Sabater was able to access advanced trauma training designed to meet the growing needs of his community. This opportunity allowed him to deepen his clinical expertise and expand the care he could offer to adult clients experiencing trauma-related challenges.

As part of this Foundation-supported training pathway, Dr. Sabater was introduced to Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), an evidence-based treatment for trauma. The structure, rigor, and research behind CPT aligned directly with his professional goals. “I had learned many treatment skills for children and adolescents,” he explains, “but I was now seeing more adult clients, and I needed an approach that truly fit their needs.”

The Gavin Farrell Foundation’s investment ensured that clinicians like Dr. Sabater were not only trained, but supported through a learning community that emphasized consultation, mentorship, and practical application. That ongoing support proved essential. “Having an expert available to talk through cases and support the work made all the difference,” Dr. Sabater shared.

Since completing the training, Dr. Sabater has seen meaningful, measurable change in his clients’ lives. He recalls one client whose trauma stemmed from a serious accident and who initially struggled with fear, dependency, and distorted beliefs about her future. Through CPT, she experienced a profound shift, not only in how she processed that event, but in how she approached other challenges in her life. “She started applying the skills on her own,” he said. “She would come in and tell me she was thinking about situations differently, even outside of therapy.”

For Dr. Sabater, the impact extended beyond individual sessions. “The experience no longer defined her,” he noted. “She was able to reclaim her life and communicate that in her own words.”

Reflecting on the experience, Dr. Sabater emphasizes the importance of access to high-quality training paired with sustained support. “There are always questions along the way,” he explains. “You want to be part of a learning environment where those questions are answered.”

By investing in clinician training and ongoing support, the Gavin Farrell Foundation helps ensure that mental health providers like Dr. Sabater are equipped to deliver effective, evidence-based trauma care. This approach strengthens clinicians, improves treatment quality, and expands access to care for individuals affected by trauma.ts’ lives.