Theresa Fiani

Dr. Theresa Fiani has been applying the principles of learning to improve socially significant behaviors of children with developmental disabilities for over 10 years. She began in research and direct-service roles supporting infants and children with autism and Down syndrome in New York and Lebanon, and has since served in clinical, instructional, and leadership roles across home-based services and outpatient clinics.

She earned her Master of Arts in Psychology with a specialization in Applied Behavior Analysis from Queens College, CUNY (2017), and her Ph.D. in Psychology from The Graduate Center, CUNY (2020), under the mentorship of Dr. Joshua Jessel. Her research has focused on the generalization of social-communication skills and on practical, efficient functional assessment models and skill-based treatment. She has published in Behavior Analysis in Practice, Behavior Modification, Research in Developmental Disabilities, Autism, and other peer-reviewed journals.

As Director of Research and Technology at FTF, Dr. Fiani leads research initiatives, develops on-demand clinical training content, and supports the data systems and strategic planning behind FTF's work. She has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in psychology and behavior analysis for nearly a decade and teaches FTF's live PFA-SBT courses. Across her research, teaching, and clinical work, she is committed to advancing compassionate, practical, and effective interventions for individuals with developmental disabilities and their families.

Dr. Fiani teaches FTF's live PFA-SBT courses and has delivered training, workshops, and invited talks across the United States and internationally. Her international work spans a two-day PFA-SBT workshop in Saudi Arabia, virtual consultation with professionals from Saudi Arabia and Nicaragua, and invited research presentations in Lebanon and the United Arab Emirates. She presents in both English and Arabic.

• Ghaemmaghami, M., Ruppel, K., Cammilleri, A. P., Fiani, T., & Hanley, G. P. (2024). Toward Compassion in the Assessment and Treatment of Severe Problem Behavior. Behavior Analysis in Practice, 1–14.
• Izquierdo, S. M., Jessel, J., Fiani, T., & Jones, E. A. (2024). Functional Analysis of Contextually Inappropriate Social Behavior in Children With Down Syndrome. Behavior Modification.
• Fiani, T., & Jessel, J. (2022). Practical Functional Assessment and Behavioral Treatment of Challenging Behavior for Clinically Based Outpatient Services: A Consecutive Case Series Evaluation. Education and Treatment of Children, 1–20.
• Fiani, T., Izquierdo, S. M., & Jones, E. A. (2021). Effects of mother's imitation on speech sounds in infants with Down syndrome. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 119, 104118.
• Jones, E. A., Fiani, T., Neil, N., Stewart, J., & Fienup, D. (2020). Randomized controlled trial of a sibling support group: Mental health outcomes for siblings of children with autism. Autism, 24(6), 1468–1481.

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