Business Details
50+ Years
experience
Emergency
services
Trusted Nonprofit Mental Health Counseling Services
Discovery Counseling Center was founded in 1971 by community members in San Ramon Valley who recognized the urgent need for mental health support among youth struggling with substance abuse. Over five decades, we have grown into a thriving nonprofit mental health clinic and training agency serving individuals, families, and communities. Our sliding-scale fee model ensures accessibility regardless of financial circumstances, with community donations subsidizing care costs. We offer in-person and telehealth counseling for anxiety, depression, trauma, LGBTQIA+ support, teen counseling, and family therapy. Our team of over 50 licensed and pre-licensed therapists, social workers, and psychologists provides compassionate care while training future mental health professionals.With offices in Danville and San Ramon, California, we remain committed to our founders' mission of accessible mental health support through community partnerships and advocacy for early intervention. Our 50th-anniversary celebration in 2021 highlighted our enduring impact on generations of clients, sustained by over 100 volunteers who operate our Thrift Station store. We continue evolving our services to meet changing community needs while maintaining our core values of dignity, respect, and shared support.
Services
Individual Therapy
Couples Counseling
Family Therapy
Group Therapy
Teen Counseling
Trauma Recovery
Grief Counseling
LGBTQIA+ Support
Anger Management
Depression Treatment
Details
- Year established: 1971
Highlights and features
- We offer sliding-scale fees based on ability to pay
- Our team includes over 50 licensed mental health professionals
- Community donations subsidize care costs for those in need
- We provide both in-person and telehealth counseling options
- 50+ years of continuous service to San Ramon Valley communities
Services
Individual Therapy
Individual therapy at Discovery Counseling Center provides one-on-one sessions addressing emotional, psychological, and behavioral challenges. Our therapists help clients develop coping skills and personal growth through exploring feelings, beliefs, and relational patterns. We treat anxiety, depression, anger management, trauma recovery, and bicultural identity issues in a safe, confidential environment.
Couples Counseling
Couples counseling focuses on improving relationship dynamics through effective communication and collaborative problem-solving. Our therapists address pre-marital preparation, marriage challenges, relationship enhancement, and divorce prevention. Sessions help couples reconnect, establish shared goals, and navigate conflicts while maintaining individual values and relationship integrity.
Family Therapy
Family therapy addresses relational patterns and conflicts within family units. Our approach improves communication, resolves conflicts constructively, and strengthens family bonds. Sessions focus on understanding negative behavior patterns, developing healthy communication skills, and creating supportive environments that foster individual and collective well-being through collaborative problem-solving.
Group Therapy
Group therapy offers a supportive environment for shared experiences with facilitated peer support. We provide senior support, LGBTQ+ teen groups, and grief counseling sessions. Danville residents attend free, while other communities pay $40/session after six free sessions. Financial assistance is available through our sliding scale program for ongoing group participation.
Teen Counseling
Specialized teen counseling addresses academic pressure, identity exploration, and mental health challenges during adolescence. Our therapists provide confidential sessions for individual concerns, family dynamics, and peer relationships. We offer LGBTQ+ affirming spaces and group therapy options to help teens develop resilience and coping strategies for navigating teenage years successfully.
People
Sumita Bhandari
Executive Director
Sumita Bhandari leads Discovery Counseling Center's strategic direction and community partnerships. With extensive nonprofit leadership experience, she oversees clinical operations and organizational development while maintaining commitment to accessible mental health care since joining in 2012.
Christopher Duerrmeier
Clinical Director
As Clinical Director, Christopher Duerrmeier supervises therapeutic services and professional development. A licensed Marriage and Family Therapist since 2005, he ensures clinical excellence across individual, couples, and family therapy programs while mentoring trainees in evidence-based practices.
Athena Torres
Training Program Manager
Athena Torres manages our therapist training initiatives and school-based counseling programs. With over 15 years in mental health education, she develops professional development curricula and supervises interns while maintaining active clinical practice in adolescent counseling.
Amy Dashner
Director of Finance and Human Resources
Amy Dashner oversees financial operations and HR functions for Discovery Counseling Center. With CPA credentials and nonprofit finance expertise, she manages budgeting, payroll, and organizational infrastructure to support sustainable growth of our community mental health services.
Dr. Noah Asch
Psychologist
Dr. Noah Asch provides specialized psychological assessments and therapy services. A licensed psychologist with expertise in trauma recovery, he contributes to clinical training programs while maintaining a caseload focused on complex mental health conditions and evidence-based treatment approaches.
Questions
What mental health services do you offer?
We provide individual, couples, family, and group therapy for anxiety, depression, trauma, LGBTQIA+ support, teen counseling, and grief recovery at our Danville and San Ramon locations.
How are therapy fees determined?
Our sliding-scale fees adjust based on clients' ability to pay, with community donations subsidizing care costs. Those who can pay full fees help support reduced-cost services for others.
Are services available for all age groups?
Yes, we offer counseling for children, teens, adults, and seniors through specialized programs including school-based therapy, adolescent counseling, and senior support groups.
How do I schedule an appointment?
Contact us at (925) 837-0505 during business hours Monday-Thursday 10AM-7PM or Friday 10AM-5PM to connect with our intake coordinator and begin therapy services.
Do you offer emergency mental health services?
For immediate crisis support, call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Our regular office hours provide access to urgent counseling referrals and community resources.
