Dr. Janet Geringer Woititz obtained her Bachelors Degree at Antioch College, a Masters Degree from Montclair State College and her Doctorate in Education from Rutgers University. Dr. Woititz's doctoral dissertation was on The Self Esteem of Children of Alcoholics.

As a Professor at Montclair State and In her private counselling practice she began to notice characteristics from individuals who were raised in Alcoholic homes. Dr. Woititz was among the first practicioners in the world that addressed and identifyed the impact on family members from exposure to chronic alcoholism and drug dependence. Subsequent research has shown that the same dynamics affecting the families of alcoholics also applies to dysfunctional family systems in general and transcends culture and age.

Dr. Woititz received international acclaim for her New York Times best seller, Adult Children of Alcoholics, that made her known as Dr. Jan, the mother of the A. C. O.A movement. Dr. Woititz was founder and president of the former Institute for Counseling and Training in West Caldwell, New Jersey. Dr. Jan lectured and taught all over the world and at The Rutgers Summer School of Alcohol Studies.