Dr. Charnas has been practicing and teaching for more than 30 years.   She has her B.A. from Barnard College, her M.S.W. from the University of Connecticut and her Doctorate in Social Work from the University of Utah.

She has been helping patients since 1974, in private practice as well as other settings including the court system and child and family clinics.

She was an Assistant Professor of Social Work for six years at the renowned University of Maryland School of Social Work and has published numerous articles on child custody, marriage and divorce.