Mental Health Services YMCA
The Mental Health Services YMCA is a branch of the YMCA of Greater San Francisco. We provide services across San Francisco and San Mateo Counties. Please see below for details regarding our San Francisco location and services.
Our intake personnel can provide services in Spanish.
A Holistic Approach to Behavioral Health
At the Mental Health Services YMCA, we believe that behavioral health starts with meeting the fundamental needs of physical health and safety.
Our Services
Youth & Adult Services
One-on-one counseling and therapy services, workshops, support groups, and Community Resources.
Traineeship Program
Clinician and social work programs for students seeking to fulfill pre-licensed requirements.
Local City & County Support
School partnerships, Probation and Police support services, and more.
Youth & Adult Services
Behavioral Health Clinics
We provide one-on-one counseling and therapy services, workshops, and support groups with pre-licensed and licensed clinicians to Medi-Cal-eligible and middle-income communities at multiple locations in San Mateo and San Francisco counties.
To get started, please contact us by calling our intake line at (650) 877-8642 or by emailing us at [email protected].
South San Francisco Community Resource Center
Located at 1486 Huntington Avenue, the San Mateo County Core Agency for South San Francisco, San Bruno, and Brisbane provides case management and service referrals, food security programs, housing diversion, transportation and utility assistance, crisis intervention supports, and access to legal aid services.
To learn more, please contact us by calling our intake line at (650) 877-8642 or by emailing us at [email protected].
CLINICIAN AND SOCIAL WORK TRAINING PROGRAMs
Undergraduate Social Work Traineeship
Hosted by the Youth Service Bureau, Serving South San Francisco, San Bruno, and Brisbane
The YMCA of Greater San Francisco offers a hands-on traineeship for undergraduate social work students within our Community Resource Center (CRC) serving the South San Francisco Core Service Agency region, including South San Francisco, San Bruno, and Brisbane.
Trainees work alongside experienced staff to support families and community members—primarily from immigrant communities in accessing essential services and supports.
This placement provides meaningful experience working with families who speak primarily Spanish and Cantonese, with a strong focus on cultural humility, language access, and community-centered care.
- Support intake and referral processes for mental health, social services, and basic needs.
- Assist families in accessing resources such as food, housing, healthcare, and school-based supports.
- Participate in weekly food distributions and engage directly with community members.
- Observe and support trauma-informed, culturally responsive care in community-based settings.
- Participate in outreach and engagement efforts across South San Francisco, San Bruno, and Brisbane.
- Participate in weekly trainings and professional development opportunities.
- Culturally responsive communication across multilingual communities.
- Understanding of immigrant family experiences and system navigation.
- Resource coordination and community-based problem solving.
- Group facilitation and community engagement.
- Professional documentation and service tracking.
- Weekly supervision from Community Resource Center staff.
- Guidance on applying trauma-informed and equity-centered approaches.
- Opportunities for reflection, skill-building, and professional development.
This program is ideal for undergraduate students focusing on Social Work, Psychology, Public Health, or related fields. Students who are interested in working with immigrant communities and family-serving systems, and individuals who are passionate about community impact, equity, and mental health access.
How to Apply
To apply for a traineeship, please submit a cover letter and resume to Youth Service Bureau Training at [email protected].
Bridging Care Across the Bay Area
Community & Clinical Services by Region
San Mateo County
The services listed below are operated at our community locations.
Mental Health Clinics
Located in San Mateo, South San Francisco, and Pacifica
School Partnerships
Services contracted in Daly City, South San Francisco, Pacifica, San Mateo, and Foster City, supporting elementary, middle, and high school levels.
Probation and Police Support Services
Providing probation and police support services involves direct referrals from probation officers, police, and schools to divert youth from the system.
Behavioral Health & Recovery Services
Programs such as Girls United and the Juvenile Sexual Responsibility Program
Community Resource Center
Located in South San Francisco, we provide services to San Mateo County residents through the San Mateo County Core Agency
If you are a local school looking to partner with the Mental Health Services YMCA for services listed above, please contact Margaret Hitchcock, Director of Clinical Services, at [email protected].
San Francisco County
The services provided below are locations we partner with throughout San Francisco.
Intensive Clinical Services
Our Intensive Clinical Services provide case management to probation-involved youth.
Outpatient and Educationally-Related Mental Health Services
Provides accessible, school-linked therapy and behavioral health support to help students improve emotional well-being, succeed academically, and stay connected to their school communities.
Local Clinics
Clinic locations at the Potrero Hill Family Resource Center, Western Addition Family Resource Center, Buchanan YMCA Family Resource Center, Ocean Mission Ingleside (OMI) Family Resource Center
For more information regarding our programs, or if you are a local county service or school looking to partner with the Mental Health Services YMCA for services listed above, please contact Jane Chandler, Director of Clinical Services, at [email protected].
About Us
Our Mission
Our mission is to support youth, adults, and families in San Francisco and San Mateo County through Mental Health and Social Services that increase access to skills and resources for wellness in Mind, Body, and Spirit, enabling them to achieve healthy and fulfilled lives.
Our History
The first YMCA of its kind in the country, the Mental Health Services YMCA servers more than 10,000 individuals each year through 20-30 school-based intervention, prevention, and treatment programs; one-on-one counseling, and therapy, along with workshops and support groups at four mental health clinics; clinical training and professional development programs for therapists and youth development specialists; and social safety net services and crisis intervention services at the South San Francisco Community Resource Center.
Led by Dr. Deidra Somerville, we are the first YMCA Mental Health Branch in the nation. Our services include on-site, in-person care for youth, adults, and families across the Bay Area.
We deliver therapeutic approaches to serve the community, rooted in evidence-based mentoring and mental health practices.
At the YMCA of Greater San Francisco, we believe wellness is essential and achieved through a healthy spirit, mind, and body. Our holistic approach enables us to deliver critical mental health resources to youth through afterschool programs and to families through our comprehensive resource centers across San Francisco, San Mateo, and Marin.
Some of the programmatic examples of how the Y is delivering Mental Health Services include the individual and group counseling sessions via our Early Periodic Screening and Diagnostic Testing (EPSDT) program in schools, family counseling sessions in our Family Resource Centers, trauma recovery mental health services in community and via home visit, domestic violence counseling, and a host of mental health services provided by the San Mateo Youth Services Bureaus.
We are committed to supporting and nurturing families in developing connected, productive, and healthy youth who can navigate the future and contribute to the community by delivering therapeutic approaches grounded in evidence-based mentoring practices and mental health modalities.
FAQs
GENERAL
Our services are available to youth and families in San Francisco and San Mateo County, including those connected to schools, community programs, or referred by partners such as SFDPH, schools, or community agencies. Eligibility depends on the program and referral source, and our team can help determine the best fit.
After contacting us, you can expect a timely follow-up from a trained staff member, typically from our intake team.
An intake coordinator or trained staff member will follow up to gather information and help connect you to services.
We aim to respond to calls and emails within 1–3 business days, depending on volume.
The first conversation includes basic intake questions to understand your needs, preferences (including language), and how we can best support you.
After intake, we work to match you with the most appropriate clinician or program based on availability, language needs, and level of care. There may be a short wait depending on demand, but we will keep you informed and support you during the process.
INSURANCE & PAYMENT
Many of our services are funded through partnerships with the San Francisco Department of Pubic Health, local schools, and community programs, which means services are often provided at no cost to eligible participants.
We primarily serve clients with Medi-Cal or program-based eligibility, and we can help you understand your options.
We encourage you to reach out to our intake team at [email protected] or by calling (650) 877-8642.
Our team will work with you to explore available programs, referrals, and low-cost options tailored to your situation.
Some programs may offer low-cost or sliding-scale options, depending on funding and availability. Please contact our intake team at [email protected] or by calling (650) 877-8642 to learn more.
CONFIDENTIALITY & PRIVACY
We are committed to protecting client privacy and to complying with HIPAA and applicable state laws. Information shared in therapy is confidential, with some exceptions required by law (such as safety concerns).
We prioritize youth privacy while also supporting safety and care coordination.
Information may be shared only with appropriate consent or when required for safety. We will always explain confidentiality and its limits clearly at the start of services.
MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES & BASIC NEED SUPPORT
Yes. You can speak with any staff member during services, such as food distribution, and we will connect you directly to our intake team or help you get referred—you do not have to navigate the process alone.
Questions? Contact Us!
For more information about our services, please contact us at (650) 877-8642 or by email at [email protected].
Before & After School Care
Before & Afterschool Programs
Kids, Teens Bayview Hunters Point YMCA, Buchanan YMCA, Chinatown YMCA, Marin YMCA, Mission YMCA, Peninsula Family YMCA, Presidio Community YMCA, Richmond District YMCA, Shih Yu-Lang Central YMCA, Stonestown Family YMCA, Treasure Island Community YMCA, Urban Services YMCAEarly Childhood Education
Early Childhood Education
3 months old to 5 years old (varies per site) Alice Chalmers Preschool, Edwin & Margaret Lee Tung Lok Early Childhood Learning Center, Gateway Child Development Center, Lutheran Church of our Savior, Mission YMCA Preschool, Villa de Kapuso Child Development CenterHealth & Wellness
