The Parent Effect

How Parenting Style Affects Adolescent Behavior and Personality Development

Joanne E. Carlson, ACSW, LCSW, is a psychotherapist in Houston, Texas, who has specialized in treating adolescents and their families in a variety of settings for over 32 years. She graduated magna cum laude from the University of Texas at Austin with a BA in psychology in 1976 and received her MSW from the University of Houston in 1980.

Prior to starting her own practice in 1986, Carlson was program director at an inpatient adolescent psychiatric hospital from 1980 to 1986. She was on the board of directors of the Houston Advocates for Mental Health in Children from 1995 to 2000 and served as a consultant to the Special Education Department of the Fort Bend Independent School District for their emotionally handicapped student programs from 1991 through 1993. She also works closely with several family law attorneys, providing consultation and court-ordered family therapy for families dealing with difficult divorces. She is active in developing and presenting community education seminars.

Carlson has been married for 27 years and has two children—Michael, age 24, and a special needs daughter, Kelli, age 22—and three dogs. She lives with her family in Sugar Land, Texas.