Adithyan Rajaraman

Dr. Adithyan Rajaraman, known to most as Dithu, is a Licensed, doctoral-level Board Certified Behavior Analyst with over 15 years of experience providing ABA services, conducting research, and teaching. His work spans trauma-informed care, neurodiversity-affirming services, practical functional assessment, and choice- and skill-based interventions for severe problem behavior. He has co-authored more than 20 peer-reviewed journal articles and book chapters on these topics, with a consistent focus on teaching important life skills as a preventative approach to severe behavior in individuals with intellectual, developmental, and emotional differences.

Dithu is a South-Indian-American who grew up in Detroit and now lives in Philadelphia with his wife and longtime colleague, Dr. Holly Gover. When he is not working, he spends much of his time exploring the city on foot.

As an instructor and presenter, Dithu has built a reputation for translating complex behavior-analytic research into accessible, actionable lessons, blending humility, humor, and deep respect for the individuals he discusses. He has delivered more than 50 invited workshops, talks, and keynote addresses across the United States and internationally, and has brought that same approach to podcast appearances and other science communication work. At FTF, he serves as Lead Trainer, delivering on-site and virtual two-day trainings in practical functional assessment and skill-based treatment.

Dithu is FTF's lead trainer for two-day PFA-SBT workshops, delivered on-site or virtually for organizations and schools. He has given more than 50 invited workshops, talks, and keynote addresses across the United States and internationally, and is known for making the science of behavior analysis genuinely engaging for practitioners at every level. To schedule a training or workshop with Dr. Rajaraman, use the link below.

• Rajaraman, A., & Hanley, G. P. (2021). Mand compliance as a contingency controlling problem behavior: A systematic review. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 54(1), 103–121.
• Rajaraman, A., Hanley, G. P., Gover, H. C., Staubitz, J. L., Staubitz, J. E., Simcoe, K. M., & Metras, R. (2021). Minimizing escalation by treating dangerous problem behavior within an Enhanced Choice Model. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 1–24.
• Rajaraman, A., Austin, J. L., Gover, H. C., Cammilleri, A. P., Donnelly, D. R., & Hanley, G. P. (2022). Toward trauma-informed applications of behavior analysis. Journal of Applied Behavior Analysis, 55(1), 40–61.
• Rajaraman, A., Hanley, G. P., Gover, H. C., Ruppel, K. W., & Landa, R. K. (2022). On the reliability and treatment utility of the practical functional assessment process. Behavior Analysis in Practice.
• Rajaraman, A., Whelan, C. J., Jessel, J., & Gover, H. C. (2024). Promoting safety while addressing dangerous behavior via telehealth: A clinical case investigation serving the family of an autistic adolescent living in India. Clinical Case Studies.
• Fruchtman, T., Jessel, J., Pan, B., McLeod, S., & Rajaraman, A. (2025). The performance-based IISCA can inform effective and socially meaningful skill-based treatment. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 1–20.

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