Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Affordable Mental Health Counseling in Danville, CA
Founded in 1971, Discovery Counseling Center has been a cornerstone of mental health support in the San Ramon Valley. Our mission began with a community-driven initiative to address youth substance abuse and has evolved into a comprehensive clinic offering accessible, affordable care for all ages. We provide individual, couples, family, and group therapy, with services available on a sliding scale to ensure no one is turned away due to financial constraints. Our school-based programs and telehealth options extend our reach to diverse populations. Over 50 years, weve grown through community donations and volunteer efforts, including our Thrift Station, which funds our operations.Our team of licensed therapists, social workers, and psychologists brings decades of experience to personalized care. We prioritize early intervention and mental health awareness, partnering with local schools and organizations. Our training program for interns emphasizes hands-on learning and supervision, fostering the next generation of mental health professionals. Community support remains central to our model, with proceeds from the Thrift Station enabling us to serve over 2,000 clients annually. We are committed to innovation, adapting to challenges like the pandemic while staying true to our founders vision of compassionate, inclusive care.
Services
Individual Counseling
Couples Therapy
Family Counseling
Group Therapy
School Counseling
Telehealth Services
Details
- Year established: 1971
Highlights and features
- We offer sliding-scale fees to ensure mental health care accessibility for all income levels.
- Our team includes over 50 licensed therapists with expertise in diverse counseling specialties.
- We provide school-based programs reaching youth in 20+ local educational institutions.
- Community donations fund our services, ensuring cost never barriers care access.
- Our 50+ year legacy demonstrates sustained commitment to mental health advocacy.
What people say
Amazing support
Helpful staff
Great experience for interns
Knowledgeable and educational
Conducive learning environment
Services
Individual Counseling
Personalized mental health support addressing anxiety, depression, trauma, and life transitions. Our licensed therapists use evidence-based approaches tailored to each client's needs. Sessions focus on building coping skills and emotional resilience for long-term wellness.
School Counseling Program
On-site counseling services in 20+ local schools for students facing academic, social, or emotional challenges. Our specialists address issues like substance abuse, bullying, and family dynamics through age-appropriate interventions and crisis support.
Group Therapy
Structured group sessions for shared experiences including grief, LGBTQ+ identity, and parenting challenges. Facilitated by experienced clinicians, these groups foster connection and collective healing through guided discussions and activities.
Couples Therapy
Specialized therapy for partners improving communication and resolving conflicts. Our approach addresses trust issues, life transitions, and emotional disconnects using proven relationship-building frameworks and active listening techniques.
Telehealth Services
Secure virtual therapy sessions accessible from home. This option maintains continuity of care for clients with mobility challenges or scheduling constraints while preserving the same high-quality therapeutic experience as in-person visits.
People
Sumita Bhandari
Executive Director
With 25+ years in nonprofit leadership, Sumita oversees strategic operations and community partnerships. She expanded school programs and tripled volunteer engagement while maintaining fiscal responsibility for the 50-year-old organization.
Christopher Duerrmeier
Clinical Director
A licensed therapist with 15+ years in mental health, Christopher supervises clinical staff and ensures service quality. He developed trauma-informed protocols adopted across all school counseling sites and telehealth platforms.
Amy Dashner
Director of Finance
Managing financial operations for 12 years, Amy maintains fiscal transparency and oversees the Thrift Station's revenue. She implemented budgeting systems that sustain sliding-scale services while ensuring organizational stability.
Laura Melgosa
Training Program Manager
Supervising interns for a decade, Laura coordinates practicum placements and clinical training. Her mentorship program has prepared 200+ therapists, emphasizing school-based experience and diverse client populations.
Denise Webb
Office Manager
Handling daily operations for 8 years, Denise manages client intake and volunteer coordination. She streamlined appointment systems to improve access for over 2,000 annual clients seeking mental health services.
Questions
How do sliding-scale fees work?
Fees adjust based on income documentation, ensuring services remain accessible. Full-fee clients help subsidize reduced-cost options for those with financial constraints.
What counseling specialties are available?
We offer anxiety, depression, trauma recovery, LGBTQ+ support, couples therapy, and family counseling with both licensed professionals and supervised interns.
How does the Thrift Station support mental health?
Proceeds from donated goods sales fund counseling services, allowing us to serve 2,000+ clients annually regardless of their ability to pay.
Are internships available for therapists?
Yes, our accredited training program offers supervised practicum experiences with school placements, weekly didactics, and stipends for graduate students in mental health fields.
What telehealth options exist?
Secure video sessions available for individual and couples therapy, using HIPAA-compliant platforms accessible via smartphone, tablet, or computer with internet access.
Reviews (5)
Jay B.
Mar 25, 2021
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The ladies that work there are very rude! I will no longer be donating my items there and will be going to Walnut Creek where the thrift store appreciates my donations. Unacceptable
Anon Ymous
Mar 24, 2021
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Horrible place! A bunch of junk piled in that is over priced and mispriced when you get to the register. The ladies there were so rude! Arguining with eachother over the labeled price. I wont be back. They can keep their 10 year old sneakers for $10. Thanks though!
Edit to their response: there was no confusion over anything being half off. I support other thrift stores and will donate there. The price was on it cleAr and simple.
Edit to their response: there was no confusion over anything being half off. I support other thrift stores and will donate there. The price was on it cleAr and simple.
Ann OBrien
Nov 28, 2019
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The volunteer staff are truly amazing. The inventory of home goods, books, sporting equipment and clothing is always organized, clean and refreshed often.
Me
May 15, 2019
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My experience at The Thrift Station was a bit lackluster. The store is quite small and I didn't find anything I liked or needed. The staff was fine, but I don't think I'd come back. The store was somewhat disorganized, but not particularly dirty or anything. All the prices were super low but it was sort of a random selection like porcelain christmas knick knacks, kid's clothes, board games, toys, and books.
Mehrnoush Soroush
Jul 31, 2018
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Nice staff. Prices are low. But, the collection was pretty uninteresting and small. Maybe because it's popular?! It's certainly not deterring to visit.
