Conversations with Delaney McCaslin

Today we’d like to introduce you to Delaney McCaslin.

Hi Delaney, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself. 
My name is Delaney McCaslin. I was born and raised in the South Bay Area of L.A. I am survivor of addiction and Domestic Violence. I work as a Counselor for young women who struggle with Mental Health and Substance Abuse, as well as an Esthetician at a Medical Spa in Los Angeles. It has been my life’s passion to help men and women feel and become the best version of themselves. 

During my childhood, my parents struggled with addiction and mental health. At the age of 13, I started heading down the same path. I spent 5 years struggling with addiction and mental health issues. Right before my 19th birthday, my entire life changed. I was done living the way I was living and got sober. January 10th, 2010, is my sobriety date, and this year (2024), I celebrated 14 years of sobriety. At the time I got sober, I was living in Salt Lake City, UT, but I always dreamed about returning home to my family and friends. I reached 18 months of sobriety and decided it was time to start my life back in California. I sold everything I had in Salt Lake and arrived in Los Angeles with a suitcase and $100 to my name, living on a couch in a 650-square-foot apartment with my mom and brother. My first job returning home was at a local fusion cuisine restaurant, where I was making $8.25 an hour. After 6 months, I was offered a job working with teens in Adolescent Treatment, and finally, my life’s purpose came full circle. Over the last 12 years of working in this field, I have gotten the opportunity to be a part of so many individuals’ journey of improving their lives, and it has been one of the many blessings of mine. 

There has always been a passion for creativity as well that seemed to disappear as my addiction progressed. During the pandemic, working in the mental health field was taking a big toll on me. Something was telling me I needed to tap into my creativity, and I made the decision to go to school for Esthetics. At this time (2021-22), I was in a relationship with a man I thought was “the one.” I was working full-time and going to school full-time in the evenings. My days during the week were 16-hour days. My free time was spent focusing on a new relationship. After 8 months, my support system and world outside of my relationship and school became almost nonexistent. May 22, 2022, my toxic relationship went from emotional/mental abuse to physical, and my entire life flipped upside down. There were moments during the incident when I didn’t know if I would make it out of the house, and that day, I had to leave my home in a state of emergency. I had to completely start over while still working full-time and going to school. 

Over the last almost two years, my life is so beautiful. I started therapy right away, returned to work and school. I refused to let what happened to me get in the way of my hopes and my dreams. In September 2022, I graduated school. That November I passed my state exam and became a Licensed Esthetician by the state of California and have been consistently working in both fields since. 

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall, and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
The road to where I am now has been anything but smooth. I have 14 years sober. During these 14 years, I have experienced mental health struggles, loss of friends, and dealing with/overcoming Domestic Violence. 

My most recent struggle is now being diagnosed and living with PTSD after the incident that took place with my ex. I have been learning to navigate through my life and the world very differently than I ever did before. 

The most important thing I have learned over the years and more specifically the last two, is we can never underestimate our resilience. We are stronger than we give ourselves credit for and can walk through almost anything with the right people (and team) behind us. 

Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I absolutely LOVE working and consider myself very lucky to have two careers that I am extremely passion about. 

For the last 12 years, I have been working in treatment for Mental Health and Substance Abuse, and for the last 6 years, I have been a Counselor. The population I work with are young women from the ages 17-25. I am so grateful I get to do this work. I get to work with women who are experiencing the similar struggles I have had in my life. There is nothing more beautiful watching someone in the depths of their struggle come out on the other side and know there is a better way of life. I have always been and enjoyed being a creative person. Two years ago, I went to school to be an Esthetician. I personally did not have bad experiences with my skin until I hit the age of 30, which was one of the many reasons I went to school. Working in mental health can take a toll, and it is definitely nice to have a break during the week where I get to show up for others in a very different way. 

I have been told from a young age and believe myself that I am a healer and my purpose in life is to provide a level of healing to not only myself but to the people in my life and our community. 

Who else deserves credit in your story?
I’m not sure that the people in my circle would be comfortable being put on such a public platform, but I will say there are way too many to even name at this point. I have a tribe of women behind me that I wholeheartedly know I couldn’t have made it this far in my life without their love and support. 

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @thatesthie.delaney
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DelaneyAnnM/