Dorothy Day Ciarlo was born December 16, 1933, in Little Rock, Arkansas. Dorothy married James Ciarlo on August 11, 1963, and they have two children: Catherine Ciarlo and David Ciarlo.

Ciarlo obtained her Doctor of Philosophy degree from the University of Chicago.

Ciarlo is a retired clinical psychologist. She worked in community mental health as a psychologist and clinical director and then worked in private clinical practice until her retirement.