Carla Johanns, MA, LMHC/S Chief Program Officer

As Chief Program Officer at Forty Carrots Family Center—a leading Sarasota non-profit in early childhood education, parenting support, and family therapy—Carla Johanns oversees the full spectrum of our agency’s programming. Since joining FCFC in 2016 as a Parenting Educator, she has advanced through roles of increasing responsibility, serving as Clinical Director of Mental Health from 2017 to 2021 before stepping into her current leadership post.

Carla holds a BA in Psychology from NYU and an MA in Counseling from Montclair State University, with a Post-Master’s specialization in Substance Abuse Counseling. A Florida-licensed Mental Health Counselor and Qualified Supervisor, she has worked in children’s counseling since 1999, guiding young clients and families through challenges ranging from behavioral concerns to trauma recovery.

Under her direction, Forty Carrots’ three program areas—preschool, parenting education, and child & family therapy—are grounded in evidence-based practices and tailored to Sarasota County’s diverse communities. Carla’s collaborative approach ensures that each initiative meets the highest standards of care, while her commitment to professional development keeps our team at the forefront of best practices in family mental health and early learning.