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Self-Employed Moms: The Realities of Running a Business and Raising Kids —What I Shared on Thoughts From the Couch

A candid podcast conversation on motherhood, entrepreneurship, mom guilt, and mental health.



I’m Dana Carretta Stein, trauma-informed therapist, EMDR consultant, and founder of Peaceful Living Mental Health Counseling and The EMDR Coach.


I recently joined host Justine Carino on the Thoughts from the Couch Podcast alongside three brilliant women for a transparent conversation about life as self-employed moms — the messy middle we don’t always talk about. From routines that shift week to week, to midnight emails, daycare drop-offs, boundaries, and the nervous system work that keeps us grounded… nothing was off limits.


As clinicians and helpers, we know this: perfection is dysregulating. What supports healing is attunement, flexibility, and compassionate boundaries. That’s true in therapy—and it’s true in entrepreneurship and parenting.


You can also listen the full conversation to the Thoughts from the couch podcast on Spotify and Apple Podcasts.


Meet the panel


  • Host: Justine Carino, LMHC, psychotherapist & anxiety treatment specialist — Thoughts from the Couch, Episode 93

  • Dana Carretta Stein — Therapist, EMDR Consultant; Founder, Peaceful Living Mental Health Counseling & The EMDR Coach; mom of 2

  • Andrea Merrill — Former behavior/trauma therapist turned Messaging Architect & Speaker Coach; has helped clients generate major revenue; mom of 5

  • Donna Stefans — Attorney & Wealth/Estate Planning Leader at Stefans Law Group; single mom of 2; three-generation family business story

  • Alessandra Cortina — Civil Litigator & Business Consultant supporting women-led businesses with contracts, HR compliance, and legal strategy; mom of 2


Why we became self-employed moms


  • Purpose + scale of impact. As a therapist, I can help 1:1—but building a team and consulting other clinicians multiplies care.

  • Flexibility for family. Several of us chose self-employment to align work with parenting realities—from school pickup to swim lessons.

  • Values-driven work. Trauma-informed practice means seeing the person beyond symptoms. Owning our work lets us practice how we believe.

“Your business is another child—no one will care for it like you do. The work is real, but so is the meaning.”

The real routines (and how we keep our nervous systems steady)


Honest answer? Routines shift. We shared everything from 5:45 a.m. workouts to midnight strategy sessions, school drop-offs to office-only hours.


What actually helps:


  • Move your body early (when you can). Exercise is a powerful down-regulator for anxiety and stress reactivity.

  • Plan for flexibility. Kids don’t care about your calendar. Micro-plans (AM/PM anchors) beat rigid schedules.

  • Protect white space. Creativity, regulation, and executive function need open time—even 20–30 minutes counts.

  • Weekends (mostly) off. Several of us hold weekends for family and recovery—a boundary we learned the hard way.


Mom guilt: where it shows up—and what works


We named it: emails at bedtime, missed towels on “read-on-the-lawn” day, the PTA comparison trap, and the pang when a little one says, “Mommy, are you working again?”


Trauma-informed reframe:


  • Guilt isn’t a directive; it’s a data point. Check the signal, then respond—not react.

  • Name the value conflict. “I value being present and providing.” When values collide, choose an aligned next step, not all-or-nothing.

  • Co-regulate first, problem-solve second. Regulated parent → regulated plan.

  • Teach self-efficacy. Sometimes letting kids problem-solve (hello, last-minute prom suit!) builds resilience better than perfect logistics.


Partnerships, friendships, and the elusive social life


Seasons change. Right now it might be pool-day potlucks, last-minute lunches, or date night twice a month. We get creative: notes in the shower, the “party house” strategy, and aligning girl’s night with a partner’s night shift.


Key reminder: Connection doesn’t need to be elaborate to be effective. Ten regulated minutes beat two distracted hours.


What I want EMDR therapists, clients, and mom-founders to remember


  • Flexibility is not a failure—it’s a nervous system strategy.

  • Boundaries are protective, not punitive. They preserve the parts of you your family actually needs.

  • Your story is a strength. As Andrea shared, integrating your lived experience can become a powerful message and mission.

  • Community is clinical. Your village—family, sitters, colleagues, mom friends—is part of your well-being plan.


Listen to the full conversation (and support the original show)


This panel originally aired on Thoughts from the Couch with Justine Carino, LMHC — Episode 93. I’m sharing it here with full credit because more moms and therapists deserve to feel seen in the both/and of business and caregiving.


🎧 Click here to listen on: Apple Podcasts or Spotify.


📚 Learn more about host Justine Carino, LMHC. Check out her website: carinocounseling.com


With gratitude to:



Continue Your Journey



Healing isn’t a race. It’s a relationship—with your nervous system, your values, and your life. Small steps count.

—Dana



Book Therapy at Peaceful Living Counseling


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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


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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



About Dana Carretta-Stein


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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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