Mondie Gonzales
LISW-S | EMDR CertifiedOwner/Founder. 30+ years. Couples and family systems, trauma, LGBTQ+ affirming, first responder families.
Couples Counseling
Couples Counseling in Strongsville, Lakewood & Chagrin Falls, Ohio
Couples counseling at Oasis Counseling Solutions gives both partners a space where they are heard equally and progress is actually possible. We work with couples navigating communication breakdown, conflict, disconnection, trust issues, and major life transitions. LGBTQ+ affirming. Research consistently shows that couples who begin therapy earlier achieve better outcomes. You do not need to wait for a crisis. Free 15-minute consultation for all new clients.
What It Is
What Is Couples Counseling?
Couples counseling is therapy in which both partners work with a licensed therapist to improve their relationship. Sessions address communication patterns, trust, emotional connection, and recurring conflict. The therapist's role is not to take sides or assign blame — it is to help each partner feel heard and to identify the patterns keeping the relationship stuck.
At Oasis Counseling Solutions, couples counseling begins with a joint consultation where both partners describe their experience and goals. From that starting point, the therapist develops a plan that addresses the specific dynamics affecting this relationship, not a generic curriculum. Some couples focus on communication skills; others on processing a breach of trust; others on reconnecting after a period of distance. The approach is tailored to what you actually need.
Research in couples therapy consistently supports one finding: earlier is better. Couples who seek therapy at the first signs of significant distress tend to achieve faster and more durable results than those who wait years for things to deteriorate. If you have been thinking about couples therapy, that thought itself is a signal worth acting on.
Who It Helps
Who Benefits from Couples Counseling?
Couples counseling at Oasis Counseling Solutions is appropriate for a wide range of relational challenges, at every stage of a relationship. All relationship structures and orientations are welcome.
- Communication breakdown — arguments that go nowhere, conversations that feel impossible
- Recurring conflict — the same fight, over and over, with no resolution
- Emotional disconnection — feeling like roommates rather than partners
- Trust and infidelity — rebuilding after a betrayal, or preventing further erosion
- Parenting disagreements — differing values, styles, or expectations around children
- Major life transitions — relocation, career change, new parenthood, loss, retirement
- Pre-marital or pre-commitment counseling — building a strong foundation before formalizing
- Divorce or separation support — navigating an ending with dignity and clarity
- LGBTQ+ couples — fully affirming at all stages and in all relationship structures
Our Approach
How We Approach Couples Counseling
Oasis Counseling Solutions couples therapists draw from Solution-Focused Brief Therapy, Cognitive Behavioral approaches, family systems theory, and mindfulness-based techniques. The specific approach depends on what the couple is working through — a breach of trust requires different techniques than communication skill-building, which requires different techniques than navigating a major transition together.
One principle is consistent across all couples work at Oasis: both voices matter equally in the room. The therapist is not an arbitrator who decides who is right. The therapist is a guide who helps each partner express what is true for them, hear what is true for the other, and identify what patterns are sustaining the disconnection. This is not a comfortable process — real change rarely is — but it is a productive one when both partners are willing to engage honestly. If one partner is hesitant about starting, the free consultation is a low-stakes way to experience what the process feels like before committing. Family therapy is also available when children are part of the dynamic you want to address.
Your Therapists
Couples Counseling Therapists at Oasis
Three therapists at Oasis Counseling Solutions specialize in couples work. Meet all six therapists.
Katharine Bussert
LSWACT, Mindful Self-Compassion, TF-CBT. Couples navigating anxiety, life transitions, and communication breakdown.
Emily Davis
LISW | Telehealth OnlyTelehealth only. Trauma-informed, CBT, strengths-based. Couples work for clients anywhere in Ohio via secure video.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions About Couples Counseling
What is couples counseling?
Couples counseling is therapy in which both partners work with a licensed therapist to improve their relationship. Sessions address communication patterns, trust, conflict resolution, and emotional connection. The therapist's role is not to take sides or assign blame — it is to help both partners feel heard and to identify the patterns keeping the relationship stuck. Oasis Counseling Solutions is fully LGBTQ+ affirming and welcomes all relationship structures.
How do I know if we need couples therapy?
If you and your partner are stuck in repetitive arguments, feeling emotionally disconnected, struggling with trust, or facing a major transition together, couples therapy can help. You do not need to be in crisis. Research in relational therapy consistently shows that couples who begin therapy earlier achieve better and more lasting results. If you have been wondering whether therapy might help, that question itself is worth exploring in a free consultation.
What happens in the first couples counseling session?
Your therapist will meet with both of you to understand each partner's perspective, identify recurring patterns, and clarify what you each hope to achieve. The first session is exploratory — it is your opportunity to experience the process and the therapist before committing to ongoing work. There is no pressure to share more than you are comfortable with, and no plan is finalized in the first session.
How long does couples therapy take?
Most couples see meaningful progress in 12 to 20 sessions, though the timeline depends on the complexity of the issues and how actively both partners engage. Some couples come for a focused course of sessions to address a specific conflict or transition. Others benefit from longer-term work on deeper relational patterns. Your therapist reviews goals and progress with both partners regularly throughout treatment.
Does insurance cover couples therapy at Oasis Counseling Solutions?
In many cases, yes. Coverage depends on your specific plan and whether a mental health diagnosis is involved. Oasis Counseling Solutions accepts Medicaid, Medicare, Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna / Evernorth, UnitedHealthcare, and over 20 additional plans. The self-pay rate is $145 per session. Contact us or visit our insurance and fees page to verify your specific coverage before your first appointment.
Fees & Insurance
Couples Counseling Rates
$145
Per session — couples counseling, in-person and telehealth
Sliding scale available for eligible clients. Most clients pay significantly less with insurance. Oasis Counseling Solutions accepts Medicaid, Medicare, Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, CareSource, Buckeye, Medical Mutual, Humana, and 20+ plans total. Coverage for couples therapy varies by plan.