Scott A. Sabella (he/him)

Research and Clinical Interest:
• Rehabilitation Counselor Supervision
• Program management within rehabilitation agencies
• Support needs for people with brain injuries
• The removal of barriers to community participation for individuals with disabilities
• Counseling strategies and techniques
• Group Work


Scott Sabella, PhD, is an associate professor in the Department of Counseling, School and Educational Psychology (CSEP) within UB’s Graduate School of Education. His primary research agenda focuses on counselor supervision, program management, and leadership within public rehabilitation agencies. Additionally, he has recently authored articles related to the removal of barriers to community participation of people with disabilities and the support needs of people with brain injuries. His clinical counseling interests include group work, motivational interviewing, and experiential counseling strategies and techniques to enhance quality of life for individuals with disabilities.

• BS, St. Lawrence University, Psychology (Mathematics Minor)
• PhD, University of Northern Colorado, Rehabilitation
• MA, University of Northern Colorado, Psychology (neuropsychology track)

• Sabella, S. A., Bernacchio, C. P., & Soldner, J. L. (2021). Constructive rehabilitation counselor evaluation in field settings. Journal of Rehabilitation Administration, 42(1), 21-36.

• Landon, T., Phillips, B., McKnight-Lizotte, M., Sabella, S. A., Kline, K. (2023). The impact of organizational factors and professional identity on turn over intent in state vocational rehabilitation agencies. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, advanced online publication. https://doi.org/10.1177/0034355223115
• Sabella, S. A., Landon, T., Pollack, S. (2022). Measurement of Clinical Versus Administrative Supervision (CVAS): Initial validation among rehabilitation counselors. The Clinical Supervisor, 41(1), 25-46. https://doi.org/10.1080/07325223.2021.1989641
• Landon, T. J., Sabella, S., McKnight-Lizotte, M., & Bernacchio, C. (2021). Rehabilitation counselor supervisors’ perceptions on counselor dispositions for rural service delivery. Rehabilitation Counseling Bulletin, 64(3), 145-157.

• Sabella, S.A., & Anderson, C. (2023). Program evaluation. In S. Gibson and T. Buser (Eds.), Reimagining research: Engaging data, research, and program evaluation in social justice counseling. Routledge.

• Sabella, S., Schultz, J., Henderson, R., Boland, B., Brinck, E. (Sept., 2022). Rehabilitation counseling supervision consortium (RCSC): Perspectives from a national research collaborative. Clinical Supervision Research Collaborative webinar session.;

• Sabella, S.A., & Friedman, K. (2022, April). Supervisor use of best practices in evaluation: A survey of practicing rehabilitation counselors [Poster Session]. 2022 National Council on Rehabilitation Education Spring Conference (San Diego, CA).;

• Behavioral Health Workforce Education and Training; Federal; Health Resources and Services Administration; Continuing; (01/01/2021-06/30/2025)

• S.M.A.R.T- Services, Mental Health, Assistive, Rehabilitation Technology Lab; Local; University at Buffalo Graduate School of Education; Awarded; (01/01/2024-12/31/2024)

• Serves as a "Summit Navigator," a steering committee that provides leadership for the Summit Group on Performance Management in Vocational Rehabilitation, a national community of practice consisting of over 450 members of state vocational rehabilitation agency administrators, technical assistance agencies, and rehabilitation educators.
  06/01/2022-05/26/2023
• Content expert for the federally funded National Clearinghouse of Rehabilitation Training Materials. This 5-year project will continue until 2020.
  05/26/2017-05/21/2018
• Research consultant for the Rocky Mountain Americans with Disabilities Act Education Center. This is a National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research project funded through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
  05/26/2017-01/01/2018
• I am serving as an advisory board member for the Workforce Innovation Technical Assistance Center. This is a federal Department of Education grant led by the Interwork Institute at San Diego State University which provides technical assistance and training to state vocational rehabilitation agencies in order to meet the requirements of the Workforce Innovation and Opportunity Act.
  02/29/2016-06/07/2016
• From 2014-current, I have served as a research consultant for the Rocky Mountain Americans with Disabilities Act Education Center. This is a National Institute on Disability, Independent Living, and Rehabilitation Research project funded through the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.
  12/01/2014-06/07/2016