Hustling & Healing Others featuring Dana Carretta-Stein | Life Actually with Mary Belle Podcast – Part 2
- Dana Carretta-Stein
- Sep 12
- 4 min read
Updated: Sep 15
Dana Carretta-Stein shares how EMDR therapy helps reprocess trauma, reduce anxiety, and create lasting healing beyond talk therapy.
You can also watch the original release on Life Actually with Mary Belle’s YouTube channel here.
In part two of her conversation on the Life Actually with Mary Belle podcast, Dana Carretta-Stein dives into a topic many listeners may be hearing about for the first time: EMDR therapy.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) may sound complex, but at its heart it’s a powerful, evidence-based, trauma-informed therapy designed to help the brain reprocess unhealed experiences. Unlike symptom-focused approaches, EMDR doesn’t just treat surface-level anxiety or panic—it helps people get to the root of where those symptoms began and finally resolve them.
“If you have panic attacks, it’s not just about fixing the panic—it’s about finding out where it came from and processing it. Once your nervous system knows that memory is in the past, the symptoms no longer need to repeat themselves.” – Dana
What Makes EMDR Unique
Dana explains EMDR as a form of trauma therapy that works with the brain’s natural processing system. Traumatic memories can become “scattered” in the brain—like shards of glass—leading to triggers, anxiety, and symptoms that feel impossible to control. EMDR helps put those pieces back together, allowing the nervous system to recognize those memories as “old stuff” and stop reliving them in the present.
It’s not just about childhood trauma, though early attachment wounds often play a role. EMDR can be used for PTSD, depression, anxiety, and even performance-related challenges like sports or career stress.
Dana also highlights that trauma isn’t always about what happened—it’s also about what didn’t happen. A lack of nurturing, love, or validation in childhood can leave lasting imprints that EMDR can help untangle.
More Than Just Talk Therapy
One of the biggest takeaways from Dana’s interview is that therapy is not just about “talking it out.” True healing requires going beyond surface conversations into the body and nervous system. While traditional talk therapy has benefits, EMDR helps bridge the gap when clients intellectually “know” something (e.g., “It wasn’t my fault”) but still feel guilt, fear, or shame deep down.
Marriage, Parenting, and Personal Therapy
The conversation also touched on broader therapy topics: marriage counseling, personal therapy, and what makes therapy successful in the first place. Dana notes that therapy isn’t for everyone—and it requires a willingness to be uncomfortable.
“If you’re not ready to face your own discomfort, therapy might not feel useful. But for those who are, it can completely change the way you experience yourself and your relationships.”
The key, Dana emphasizes, is intention. Therapy works best when clients come in with goals, a willingness to explore their own patterns, and a commitment to the process.
Lightning Round: A Glimpse Into Dana’s World
To close out the conversation, Dana answered Mary Belle’s rapid-fire “Lightning Round” questions, revealing her Italian roots, love of family traditions, and even her favorite guilty-pleasure Backstreet Boys songs. It’s a warm reminder that therapists are humans too—parents, partners, and people who know firsthand that healing is messy but worth it.
Watch & Listen
A huge thank you to Mary Belle for having me on Life Actually with Mary belle Podcast. Be sure to check out their channel for more inspiring conversations.
🎥 Watch the full episode on YouTube:
🎙️ Listen to the full episode here:
📚 Learn more about host Mary Belle and her books: marybellebooks.com
Podcast Credits
🎙️ Podcast credits: Life Actually with Mary Belle Podcast
🎙️ Podcast produced by Claudio Valenzuela of Cayivisions: cayivisions.com
Book Therapy at Peaceful Living Counseling
Feeling ready to take the next step in your healing journey? Dana’s team at Peaceful Living Mental Health Counseling offers EMDR therapy and trauma-informed support both in-person (Scarsdale, NY) and virtually.
Start Healing at Home with The EMDR Therapy Progress Journal
Not quite ready for therapy? Dana’s EMDR Therapy Progress Journal is the perfect self-paced tool. It blends neuroscience-backed strategies, practical prompts, and actionable steps to help you:
✅ Track emotional triggers
✅ Build coping skills
✅ Understand how past experiences shape your present
Go Deeper in Your Healing Journey
📚 Check out my blogs at The EMDR Coach, where I break down EMDR concepts, trauma education, and practical healing strategies you can start today.
About Dana Carretta-Stein
Dana Carretta-Stein is a Licensed Mental Health Counselor and founder of Peaceful Living Mental Health Counseling, PLLC, and Carretta Consulting in Scarsdale, NY.
She is a certified EMDR therapist and EMDRIA Approved Consultant and is an expert in trauma-informed care in Westchester, NY.
Dana is also a skilled business coach for wellness practitioners who are looking to build and grow their private practice.
Check out Dana's website to learn more about her and EMDR Therapy:
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