Adolescent Counseling Services

About Us

Founded in 1975, ACS currently implements four core programs in Santa Clara and San Mateo County communities: the On-Campus Counseling Program, providing bilingual on-site individual and family counseling, crisis intervention, mental health education, and support at no cost to students/families attending local middle and high schools; the Adolescent Substance Abuse Treatment Program, a State-certified outpatient facility providing treatment to teens and families struggling with drug and/or alcohol abuse, as well as community prevention education; the Community Counseling Program, providing outpatient mental health assessment, treatment and education for teens and their families in the general community and at local Boys and Girls Clubs of the Peninsula; and Outlet, serving Bay Area Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Questioning (LGBTQQ) teens and supportive allies with support group counseling, leadership training, and education in both Spanish and English. ACS provides Silicon Valley youth with direct and timely access to – often life-saving – professional mental health services, support, and treatment. Over the past 40 years, the agency has served hundreds of thousands of children and their family members, primarily exceeding all measurable objectives. Youth in our programs ended their use of drugs and alcohol, increased their grades, decreased their feelings of stress, depression and isolation, and increased their psycho-social functioning.