Marriage, Motherhood & Maintaining Sanity | Dana Carretta-Stein on Life Actually With Mary Belle Podcast
- Dana Carretta-Stein
- Sep 2
- 3 min read
Marriage, Motherhood & Maintaining Sanity in Real Life
Balancing marriage, motherhood, and the never-ending mental load can feel overwhelming—but what if you could hear from someone who’s living it, building two businesses from scratch, and still finding ways to laugh (and cook big Sunday dinners)?
That’s exactly what Dana Carretta-Stein—trauma therapist, author, consultant, and founder of Peaceful Living Mental Health Counseling and The EMDR Coach—opens up about in her latest podcast appearance on the Life Actually With Mary Belle Podcast.
You can also watch the original release on Life Actually with Mary Belle’s YouTube channel here.
Life, Actually: When the Vision Meets Reality
We all grow up imagining what life will look like. But once real life sets in—marriage, kids, careers, responsibilities—the picture rarely matches the vision.
In this candid conversation with Mary Belle, Dana reflects on her own story:
Growing up in a big Italian family where food and connection were at the center of everything
Meeting her husband, building a life together, and navigating the ups and downs of marriage
Raising two little ones (ages two and five) while balancing the demands of motherhood, work, and self-care
Building not just one, but two thriving trauma-informed businesses from the ground up
It’s an honest, real look at what it means to juggle everything without pretending it’s easy—and how love, support systems, and intentional communication make it possible.
The Heart of the Conversation
In Part 1 of this interview, Dana and Mary Belle dive deep into themes every parent, partner, and entrepreneur can relate to:
✨ Marriage in Real Life – the challenges of partnership, what communication really looks like, and why balance is rarely 50/50.
✨ Motherhood Unfiltered – the chaos, the humor, the tears, and the importance of raising emotionally intelligent kids.
✨ Family as Foundation – the power of having a strong support system, and how family traditions keep us grounded.
✨ Maintaining Sanity – how to prioritize mental health, regulate emotions, and give yourself grace in hard seasons.
Dana’s perspective as both a therapist and a mom makes this episode especially powerful. It’s not just theory—it’s lived experience.
Why You Should Listen
If you’ve ever wondered how to:
Keep your marriage strong when life feels overwhelming
Manage motherhood without losing yourself
Balance career goals with family needs
Create systems of support and emotional resilience
…then this episode is for you.
It’s an invitation to drop the idea of perfection and embrace the real, messy, beautiful balance of life.
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
✨ Stay tuned for Part 2, where Dana dives even deeper into her work as a trauma therapist, her approach to EMDR therapy, and the tools she uses to help others regulate their nervous systems and heal.
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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