Emily Delster, Therapist
LMFT, CSAT, CMAT
Welcome—I’m glad you’re here. Reaching out for therapy is rarely an impulsive decision, and if you’ve found your way to my practice, there’s a good chance you’ve been carrying more than you let others see.
Whether you’re navigating trauma, addiction, or simply feeling disconnected from the life you’ve worked so hard to build, I hope you’ll find this to be a place where meaningful change can begin.
My role is to help you understand the patterns beneath the surface so you can move forward with greater freedom, connection, and confidence.
My Philosophy
Healing begins with understanding.
I believe the behaviors that cause us the most pain often began as creative ways to survive. Rather than judging or trying to eliminate those patterns, I help you understand where they came from, what purpose they’ve served, and what they’re trying to protect. As we make sense of your story together, those patterns no longer have to define your future.
Lasting healing comes from integrating every part of yourself with compassion, honesty, and intention.
Who I Am
My career began in residential treatment and has taken me from direct clinical work to serving as Executive Clinical Director at The Meadows Malibu, one of the nation’s leading trauma and addiction treatment centers.
Along the way, I’ve had the privilege of learning from internationally recognized leaders in trauma, addiction, and attachment, while earning advanced training in approaches including IFS, ART, PIT, and sex addiction treatment. Today, I bring that depth of experience into my private practice, offering trauma and addiction therapy in Santa Monica and online throughout California.
More importantly, I bring a warm, direct approach that helps people feel understood while doing the meaningful work of lasting change.
My Approach
What working together looks like.
From our first conversation, my goal is to create a space where you can be fully honest without fear of judgment or shame.
Together, we’ll explore the experiences and patterns that have shaped your life, using evidence-based approaches like Internal Family Systems (IFS), Accelerated Resolution Therapy (ART), and Post Induction Therapy (PIT) when they support your goals. I’ll challenge you with honesty, compassion, and curiosity, always moving at a pace that feels thoughtful rather than overwhelming.
This work isn’t about becoming someone different—it’s about helping you reconnect with the healthiest, most authentic parts of yourself that have been there all along.
Considering Therapy
Is this a good fit?
You may be a good fit for my practice if you’re ready to move beyond simply managing symptoms and begin understanding what’s driving them. Many of the people I work with are high-achieving professionals who feel stuck in patterns related to trauma, addiction, intimacy, or money despite outward success. They value honest conversations, meaningful self-reflection, and practical change over quick fixes.
If you’re ready to do deep, thoughtful work in service of a more connected and fulfilling life, I’d be honored to walk alongside you.
Areas Served
Where healing finds you.