Dr. Hariton's undergraduate degree is from Goucher College. She received her Master's degree in Social Work from Columbia University, and her Ph.D. in clinical social work from N.Y.U. Her Ph.D. Practicum was at the Child and Adolescent Division of New York Hospital, Westchester Division. She completed Psychoanalytic Training from the Postgraduate center for Mental Health.

She is a Certified Group Psychotherapist. She has served on the Board of Directors of the Westchester Group Psychotherapy Society. She has presented her work at national meetings, and has written articles and book chapters on the topic of social skills training.