Meet Our Team

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Dr Anton James

Founder and Director

FBPsS, CSci, CPsychol, BCBA, IBA, MCIEA, PhD, MSc, MEd

Chartered Scientist: UK
Chartered Educational Assessor: Chartered Institute of Educational Assessors, UK
Chartered Psychologist: UK
Chartered Behavioural Psychologist: Republic of Ireland
Fellow (FBPsS.): The British Psychological Society
Certified Behaviour Analyst: USA, UK, Ontario (Canada)
Full Member: Association for Behaviour Analysis International
Full Member: American Psychological Association, Division of Autism

Dr Anton James is a distinguished expert in special needs education and the Founder and Director of The Tree House International, Sri Lanka’s only international school dedicated exclusively to children with special needs.

With two decades of international experience in assessments, therapy, and therapist supervision, Dr Anton is recognised for advancing evidence based approaches that combine scientific precision with compassionate practice in special needs education. He is uniquely distinguished as Sri Lanka’s only professional to hold three Chartered titles, as a Chartered Behavioural Psychologist, Chartered Educational Assessor, and Chartered Scientist.

Dr Anton’s journey is deeply personal. As a child, he was unable to attend school in Sri Lanka due to sound sensitivity and other learning challenges. Determined to succeed, he chose to self study and later moved to Canada, where he decided to create a school for children like himself, a place where systemic changes in learning would be accessible, compassionate, and evidence based.

Pioneering Applied Behaviour Analysis in South Asia

Dr Anton began his professional journey in Applied Behaviour Analysis in Canada, working as a behaviour therapist before expanding his expertise across Europe. His work played a central role in introducing regulated Applied Behaviour Analysis, also known as behaviour therapy, in Sri Lanka.

Recognised for his pioneering contributions, Dr Anton was elected as a Chartered Scientist by the Science Council in 2025, becoming the only Sri Lankan educational scientist to receive this distinction. In 2024, he received the highest recognition from the British Psychological Society for his groundbreaking evidence based methodologies at The Tree House International.

He holds Chartered Psychologist status in both the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland and is a Licensed Psychologist in the Maldives. He was the first Sri Lankan to be certified as a Behaviour Analyst in the United States and remains the only Chartered Behavioural Psychologist in the nation. He is also certified as a Behaviour Analyst in the United Kingdom, Ontario in Canada, and the United States, and is Sri Lanka’s sole Chartered Educational Assessor.

Integrating Sensory Integration and Behaviour Science with Education

Dr Anton is widely recognised for pioneering the integration of sensory integration and Applied Behaviour Analysis with holistic education. He is passionate about uniting these disciplines to create comprehensive, evidence based interventions that address both behavioural and sensory challenges.

His approach supports functional independence, reduction in challenging behaviours, academic development, communication, and emotional regulation in children with neurodevelopmental conditions.

As a Subject Matter Expert in Applied Behaviour Analysis for the International Behaviour Analysis Organisation, he contributes to developing globally approved ABA curricula for higher education institutions. His influence extends far beyond Sri Lanka, shaping training standards and professional practices around the world.

Academic Excellence and Holistic Educational Leadership

Dr Anton began his academic journey at the University of Toronto, where he earned his undergraduate degree in Psychology. He pursued postgraduate training in Applied Behaviour Analysis at Pennsylvania State University in the United States, becoming the first Board Certified Behaviour Analyst of Sri Lankan origin more than fifteen years ago.

He later completed two masters degrees, one in Inclusive Education from the United Kingdom and another in Educational Research from the University of Manchester, before earning his Doctorate in Psychology from the same institution.

Vision for Inclusive and Evidence Based Education

At The Tree House International, Dr Anton leads a data driven and student centred model that blends behavioural science, sensory integration, and functional skills development. His framework for assessments, Individualised Education Plans, and progress monitoring ensures that every child’s learning journey is ethical, personalised, and measurable.

Dr Anton’s lifelong dedication to scientific integrity, innovation, and inclusion continues to transform the landscape of special needs education. His vision is to make Sri Lanka a regional hub for special needs education, where 82 percent of students currently relocate from around the world to study at The Tree House International.

Anchor Anton James

Chrystal Honsaker

Assistant Director

MEd, BCBA, LBA, IBA

• Board Certified Behaviour Analyst

• Licensed Behaviour Analyst (Hawaii)

• International Behaviour Analyst

Chrystal (CJ) Honsaker is a Board Certified Behaviour Analyst (BCBA) and international autism services consultant with 23 years of experience developing and leading Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) programmes. Her professional work spans diverse cultural and clinical environments, with a focus on strengthening the global ABA workforce through training, supervision, and organisational capacity building. CJ began her career in ABA in 2002 as a behaviour therapist, providing early clinical support to children and families across home, school, and community settings. Upon completion of her master’s degree in Youth and Family Education from The Pennsylvania State University (USA) in 2009, she transitioned into advanced clinical and leadership roles, first serving as a Behavioural Specialist Consultant (BSC) and later as a County Coordinator, where she directed ABA service delivery for an entire region. In these positions, she supervised clinical teams, developed and managed programme implementation, and provided intensive home-based intervention services, including parent education and training. During this period, CJ also completed her post-graduate certification in Autism Intervention through the University of Massachusetts (USA) as part of her BCBA training. CJ’s practice extended across multiple states in the United States, one of the most highly regulated environments for ABA practice, which significantly shaped her rigorous standards of clinical accountability, data-driven decision-making, and family-centered care. A key role in her professional practice is developing the field of ABA by training, supervising, and mentoring emerging behaviour analysts and early-career clinicians. CJ is currently a PhD Candidate in International Psychology at The Chicago School (USA), specialising in Organisations and Systems. Her doctoral research focuses on improving access to early intervention services for children with autism in underserved regions, with particular attention to caregiver barriers and culturally responsive service models. In addition to her ABA clinical expertise, CJ holds a graduate certificate in Organizational Behaviour from Harvard Extension School (USA), and is passionate about strengthening organisational culture, enhancing service quality, and supporting staff professional growth and retention. Her international work includes advancing ABA access and infrastructure in emerging service regions, particularly in South Asia, where she has lived for the past 10 years. CJ continues to contribute to the development of local ABA capacity, specifically through supervising and mentoring the first cohorts of registered behaviour therapists and behaviour analysts. Driven by a commitment to advancing equitable access to behavioural services globally, she is dedicated to expanding ABA through sustainable system development and culturally informed practice.

Anchor CJ

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Sharmaine Buscato

Clinical Coordinator

IBA, QASP-S, BSc

• International Behaviour Analyst

• Qualified Autism Service Practitioner-Supervisor

Sharmaine is a dedicated and compassionate Behaviour Analyst with over six years of international experience across the Philippines and the United Arab Emirates. Her commitment to supporting individuals with additional learning needs began during her university years, where she led a residential camp for children with special needs, creating meaningful experiences that inspired her career path. She began her journey as an ABA Therapist in the Philippines, providing one-to-one therapy in both school and home environments. Her passion for evidence-based practice led her to the United Arab Emirates, where she qualified as a Registered Behaviour Technician and worked across clinical and school inclusion settings. She went on to achieve the Qualified Autism Service Practitioner-Supervisor credential, which enabled her to supervise ABA therapists both in the UAE and in the Philippines, where she also served as a Programme Development Manager in a local ABA therapy centre. Building on this foundation, Sharmaine earned her International Behavior Analyst certification through the International Behavior Analysis Organisation. As a certified Behaviour Analyst, she has extensive experience working with individuals from early childhood through to adulthood, delivering and supervising ABA programmes across clinical, school, and home contexts. In addition to her work in ABA, Sharmaine has a strong background in socio-emotional learning and family support. In 2022, she collaborated with the New Zealand Aid programme to design and deliver parent training initiatives, equipping families with strategies to meet the social and emotional needs of their children. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Clinical Psychology and is currently completing her Master of Science in Clinical Psychology. At The Tree House International, Sharmaine contributes her international expertise and leadership in behaviour therapy, supervising therapists, coordinating clinical programmes, and ensuring the highest standards of evidence-based practice for our students.