Received a civil action letter on behalf of Discover...where do I begin? Debt counselor, find an attorney, or contact their attorney?

When you are sued, you should call a lawyer immediately.  You need to protect your rights which could include filing a defense.  Also, many times clients refer to an original creditor, but it's actually a debt buyer.  I don't believe that Discover sells its debt, so it is probably actually them.  But the answer is the same. One option may be a chapter 7 bankruptcy which all depends on your circumstances.  If you pass the means test and have little or no disposable income, you will likely be able to eliminate much, if not all of your unseucred debt.