Meet Our Team

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Dr Anton James

Founder and Director

FBPsS, CSci, CPsychol, CEA, PhD, MSc, MEd, BCBA, IBA, UKBA (Cert)

•⁠ ⁠Chartered Scientist: UK

•⁠ ⁠Chartered Educational Assessor: 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.

He has over twenty years of international experience in the psychological assessment and behaviour therapy of children with special needs, alongside educational leadership and therapist supervision. His work advances evidence based practice that combines scientific rigour with ethical and compassionate care. He is the only professional in Sri Lanka to hold Chartered status as a Scientist, Psychologist, and Educational Assessor.

Dr Anton’s professional mission is rooted in lived experience. As a child in Sri Lanka, he was unable to attend mainstream school and pursued self directed education before relocating to Canada, where he committed himself to developing inclusive and evidence based educational systems for children excluded by traditional models.

He began his career in Applied Behaviour Analysis in Canada, working clinically as a behaviour therapist before developing professional practice experience in Europe. In 2022, Dr Anton introduced regulated behaviour therapy to Sri Lanka and played a central role in establishing ethical and professional standards for the field. He has personally trained every certified behaviour therapist currently practising in Sri Lanka.

In recognition of his contributions, Dr Anton was elected as a Chartered Scientist by the UK Science Council in 2025. In 2024, he received the highest professional recognition from the British Psychological Society for innovative evidence based methodologies implemented at The Tree House International.

His approach integrates sensory processing science and Applied Behaviour Analysis within a holistic educational framework, addressing behaviour, sensory regulation, communication, emotional development, academic learning, and functional independence through structured and measurable interventions.

As a Subject Matter Expert in Applied Behaviour Analysis for the International Behaviour Analysis Organisation, Dr Anton contributes to the development of globally approved curricula for universities and professional training programmes, influencing professional education and practice beyond Sri Lanka.

Dr Anton completed his undergraduate studies in Psychology at the University of Toronto before undertaking postgraduate training in Applied Behaviour Analysis at Pennsylvania State University. He later completed two master’s degrees, one in Inclusive Education in the United Kingdom and another in Educational Research at the University of Manchester, where he also earned his Doctorate in Psychology.

At The Tree House International, Dr Anton leads a data driven and student centred educational model that integrates behavioural science, sensory processing, academics, and functional skills development. His assessment frameworks, Individualised Education Plans, and progress monitoring systems ensure that each student’s learning journey is ethical, personalised, and outcome focused.

Dr Anton’s work continues to shape special needs education at national and regional levels. His long term vision is to position Sri Lanka as a global hub for evidence based inclusive education, reflected in the fact that more than eighty percent of students enrolled at The Tree House International relocate from overseas to access its specialised programmes.

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.

RBT, IBT

Nazia Ramzi

Assistant Clinical Coordinator
Team Leader

• Special Needs Educator

• Registered Behaviour Technician

• International Behaviour Therapist

Nazia Ramzi is a practicing Registered Behavior Technician (RBT) and International Behavior Therapist (IBT) in Sri Lanka, with over 10 years of experience across preschool, sub-primary, mainstream education, and special educational needs, and three years of experience in Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA). She is currently completing a Postgraduate Diploma in Education Management and Leadership. At The Tree House International, Nazia supports clinical coordination, team supervision, and the consistent implementation of evidence-based practices. Her work is informed by strong counselling-based skills, allowing her to approach children, families, and teams with empathy, reflective listening, and a holistic understanding of individual needs. She specializes in early intervention and classroom-based ABA, and is committed to ethical, collaborative practice that supports meaningful and sustainable progress across educational and therapeutic settings.