PROGRAMS

2023-2024

Post-Masters or Second Year Students in MSW/MFT Programs &
Doctoral Practicum Students

Discovery Counseling Center of the San Ramon Valley is a community based non-profit organization serving the San Ramon Valley for over 50 years. Discovery Counseling Center pledges to be a mental health agency of full inclusion where staff, clients and members of our diverse community can thrive.

Discovery Counseling Center’s mission is to be the community’s leader in mental wellness by

  • Providing affordable, high quality, culturally informed and accessible counseling services and programs;
  • Offering excellent and highly regarded training for future mental health professionals;
  • Creating greater awareness of the prevalence of mental wellness issues in our community and the importance of early treatment;
  • Serving as the community’s advocate in securing adequate funding and resources for the treatment of mental wellness issues

School Based Track

Counselors in the School Counseling and Intervention Program (SCIP) work in the schools with at-risk youth in individual, group and parent counseling sessions. Associates are assigned to schools in the San Ramon Valley School District and will be affiliated with an elementary, middle school, high school or alternative school. The program is approximately 10-12 clinical hours (2 school days) plus 5 hours of training and supervision per week, with a 10-month commitment.

Applicants should have a minimum of one year’s experience involving children and be able to work independently during the school day. This option might be applied toward MFT/PPS hours as well. The program begins in late August and ends in mid- June. This is a paid position for Registered Associate MFT/PCC’s and a stipend is offered to Trainees.

Clinic Training Track

Counselors in this program work with adults, children, couples and families in our clinic. Additional responsibilities may include community outreach and participation in agency events. The program is 15-20 hours per week including a minimum of 10 clinical cases and 3 hours of supervision, with a 12-month commitment. Some evening and/or weekend hours are expected. Applicants must be a registered associate or third- year doctoral student with significant clinic experience.

Dual Track

Post-Masters or Second Year Students in MSW/MFT Programs
Doctoral Practicum Students

Associates or Doctoral Students may choose to work in both the schools and clinic. These associates will carry a caseload consisting of one school and five clinic clients. Training and supervision are the same as above. Associates must be post-masters and Doctoral students must be third- year.

SPP (Sports Psychology Program)

Similar to the SCIP or School Based Counseling Intervention Program which seeks to provide early and effective intervention on mental health, the Sports Psychology Counselor, supervised by a licensed therapist is placed at each of the district high schools in an effort to provide mental health support to athletes and athletic departments. The Counselor is available for a total of 10-15 hours per week to provide one-on-one assessment and mental skills/mental health counseling with student athletes, consultation with coaches, group work with and presentations to sports teams on an as-needed basis.

The agency provides individual and group supervision by licensed Psy.D. PhD., and MFT staff. Bi-weekly didactic trainings are conducted by staff and professionals from the community on a wide variety of topics relevant to the treatment of children and families.

Application Deadline: Until all positions are filled
Interviews begin in late January

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    “I have gotten so much out of my time at Discovery! The school placement has been very fulfilling and has taught me so much. The supervision has been awesome and the support incredible. I love the emphasis on a positive intern/staff community; I feel I can totally focus on my learning experience. The didactic training has been excellent as well. You can’t go wrong here!!” 

    -Doctoral Student

    Contact Us

    Phone (925) 837-0505

    Fax (925) 837-0568

    EMAIL: DiscoveryCounseling@discoveryctr.net

    Monday-Friday 10AM-5PM

    SCOTT LUCIA

    Wealth Management at Andrews, Lucia Wealth Management LLC

    Affiliation:

    • Tassajara Valley Little League

    ROBERT COMBS

    Real Estate Advisor, Compass

    Affiliations:

    • Town of Danville Planning Commissioner
    • Board Member, Leadership San Ramon Valley
    • President, Danville Rotary, Town of Danville Design Review Board Member
    • Board of Directors
    • League of California Cities, California State University at Chico Alumni Board of Directors
    • Parent Advisory Council
    • CSU
    • Past President

    MICHAEL COPELAND

    Managing Director, Cushman & Wakefield

    Affiliations:

    • San Ramon Valley Thunderbirds
    • San Ramon Valley Girls’ Athletic League Softball
    • Contributor to Alive Magazine

    MARK DAVIS

    Tri- Counties Bank- Senior Vice-President

    Affiliations:

    • American Heart Association
    • United Way
    • Habitat for Humanity
    • St. Anthony’s San Francisco
    • San Francisco and Sacramento Food Banks
    • Sacred Heart Community
    • Past Board Member California Symphony
    • Past

    JENISE FALK

    Retired San Ramon Valley Unified School District Principal

    Affiliations:

    • President of the Friends of Discovery(Thrift Station)
    • Kappa Kappa Gamma Alumni Association
    • San Ramon Valley Mental Health Advisory Council.

    NEWELL ARNERICH

    Town of Danville, Town Council Member, AD Architects, Inc., President & Co-founder

    Affiliations:

    • Leadership San Ramon Valley
    • Board Member & Past President
    • Danville-Sycamore Valley Rotary Club- Member & Past President
    • AIA
    • American Institute of Architects
    • NACRB
    • National Council of Architectural Registration Board
    • Danville Area Chamber of Commerce
    • San Ramon Valley Mental Health Advisory Council.

    KATHY CHIVERTON

    Retired Executive Director Discovery Counseling Center

    Affiliations:

    • Leadership San Ramon Valley Board of Directors
    • Rotary Club of Danville
    • Contra Costa County Measure X Community Advisory Board Member

    MARIE HALL

    • Licensed Social Worker; Retired Clinical Director
    • St. Anne’s Catholic Church

    Affiliation:

    • Friends of Discovery

    MITCHELL HOPSON

    Vice-President of Finance, Zearn

    Affiliations:

    • Diablo Black Men’s Group (past Treasurer)
    • San Ramon Valley Diversity Coalition (founding member)
    • Leadership San Ramon Valley
    • Board of Directors
    • Youth sports coach

    DAVID KRAVITZ

    Affiliations:

    • Director of Student Services
    • San Ramon Valley Unified School District

    N. S. LEE

    Retired Project Manager, Kaiser-Permanente

    Affiliations:

    • Toastmasters’ International
    • Project Management Institute

    Claire Humphrey

    Retired Pediatrician: Valley Community Health Center and Blackhawk Medical Group

    Affiliations:

    • Marriage Mentor Community Presbyterian Church
    • Spiritual Mentor CityTeam Oakland

    ANDY LI

    Board Member, Contra Costa Community College District

    Affiliations:

    • President
    • Civic Leadership USA
    • President
    • API Coalition, Board of Directors
    • Leadership San Ramon Valley
    • Steering Committee
    • San Ramon Valley Diversity Coalition
    • Rotary Club of Dougherty Valley/San Ramon

    NEAL MITCHELL

    Community Volunteer

    Affiliations:

    • Hall of Fame Board Member Animal Rescue Foundation
    • Board Member Love for Margot Foundation
    • Past Board Member Mercator Medical Systems
    • Past Board Member Injoy Media Corporation

    NISHI MOONKA

    Chief of Staff/Head of Purpose and Culture at Blue Beyond Consulting

    Affiliations:

    • Quail Run Learning Fund Vice President
    • PTA

    SARAH NIX

    Attorney, Certified Specialist in Estate Planning, Probate & Trust Law By the State Bar of California Board of Legal Specialization

    Affiliations:

    • Past President, Board of Diablo Valley of Estate Planning
    • Iron Horse Mother’s Club
    • AAUW, Volunteer St. Isidore’s Parish
    • East Bay Trust &amp, Estate Lawyers

    JILL PURCELL

    Owner Purcell International – Food Importing Business

    Affiliations:

    • San Ramon Valley YMCA- Past Board Member
    • Diablo Homeowner’s Association- Past Secretary
    • Dorris-Eaton School-Past PTA President
    • Green Valley School and Monte Vista High School- Past PTSA Member

    PAT WILSON

    Retired San Ramon Valley Unified School District Educator

    Affiliations:

    • Sons in Retirement (SIRS)
    • 100 Club of Contra Costa County
    • Community Presbyterian Church (CPC) Sponsor Program
    • San Ramon Valley Mental Health Advisory Council.

    MARY VERSTRAETE

    Retired from Banking

    Affiliations:

    • Member of the Friends of Discovery
    • Thrift Station

    GARY RIELE

    Affiliations:

    • Principal
    • Riele Commercial Real Estate

    ANN WILLOUGHBY

    Retired Chief of Staff, University of California Office of the National Laboratories

    Affiliations:

    • Treasurer Friends of Discovery Board (Thrift Station)
    • Quest Science Center Advisory Board
    • Livermore Lab Foundation
    • Expanding Your Horizons
    • Agape Village Foster Family Agency
    • American Association of University Women