Mondie Gonzales
LISW-S | EMDR CertifiedOwner/Founder. 30+ years. Motivational Interviewing, CBT, trauma-informed, EMDR. Substance use across the lifespan, co-occurring conditions. Strongsville in-person + telehealth statewide.
Substance Abuse Support
Substance Abuse Therapy in Strongsville, Lakewood, and Chagrin Falls, Ohio
Substance abuse therapy at Oasis Counseling Solutions is compassionate, judgment-free, and open to clients at every stage — from questioning whether your use has become a problem, to active use, to early recovery, to long-term maintenance. We use Motivational Interviewing, CBT, trauma-informed care, and EMDR to address both the substance use and the emotional and psychological conditions that underlie it. Medicaid accepted. Telehealth available statewide. Free 15-minute consultation.
What It Is
What Is Substance Abuse Therapy?
Substance abuse therapy is professional mental health support for people whose relationship with alcohol, drugs, or other substances has become a source of harm or concern. At Oasis Counseling Solutions, substance abuse therapy treats the whole person — not just the substance use itself, but the underlying trauma, anxiety, depression, grief, or life circumstances that substance use has been managing or masking.
Substance use rarely exists in isolation. The majority of people who seek help for substance use have at least one co-occurring mental health condition. At Oasis, these conditions are treated simultaneously rather than in sequence. Treating depression and substance use separately, as if one will resolve the other, is less effective than addressing both together within the same therapeutic relationship. Our therapists are trained to hold both in the same clinical frame.
All stages of the change process are welcome at Oasis. You do not need to have already decided to stop. Ambivalence about change — simultaneously wanting things to be different and not wanting to give up the thing that has been coping for you — is the most common starting place for people who eventually achieve lasting recovery. Motivational Interviewing, the primary approach used at Oasis for substance abuse work, was specifically developed to meet that ambivalence with respect rather than confrontation. Where you are right now is a valid starting point. Learn more about individual therapy at Oasis.
Who It Helps
Who Benefits from Substance Abuse Therapy?
Substance abuse therapy at Oasis Counseling Solutions is appropriate for anyone whose relationship with substances is creating difficulty in their life — at any point on the spectrum from concern to active crisis.
- Alcohol misuse — from problematic drinking through alcohol use disorder at any severity
- Drug use — recreational, habitual, or compulsive use of any substance creating difficulty
- Prescription misuse — opioids, benzodiazepines, stimulants, or other prescription medications
- Marijuana dependency — for clients whose cannabis use has become habitual and hard to stop
- Relapse prevention — for clients already in recovery who want clinical support for maintaining it
- Co-occurring conditions — substance use alongside trauma, depression, anxiety, grief, or ADHD
- Family members affected by a loved one's substance use — individual therapy to process and cope
- Identity and recovery — processing who you are without substances after long-term use
Our Approach
How We Approach Substance Abuse Therapy
The primary therapeutic approach for substance abuse work at Oasis Counseling Solutions is Motivational Interviewing (MI), an evidence-based approach developed specifically to work with people who are ambivalent about change. MI treats ambivalence not as resistance to be overcome but as a normal, predictable, and clinically important part of the change process. The therapist's role in MI is to explore that ambivalence with curiosity rather than judgment, and to help the client find their own reasons for change rather than having reasons imposed on them from outside.
Alongside Motivational Interviewing, therapists at Oasis use Cognitive Behavioral Therapy to address the thoughts, beliefs, and behavioral patterns that sustain substance use, and to build practical relapse prevention skills. Trauma-informed practice recognizes that a substantial portion of substance use — particularly heavy or compulsive use — is rooted in past trauma, and that treating the trauma is as important as treating the use itself. When trauma and substance use are intertwined, EMDR can produce significant improvement in the trauma component of the work, which often allows the substance work to progress more rapidly. Learn more about EMDR at Oasis.
Family therapy is also available as a component of substance abuse treatment when a client's family members want to participate. Substance use affects the entire household, and family therapy provides a structured space for family members to process their own experiences, improve communication, and support recovery without enabling use. Learn more about family therapy.
Important Note: OCS Does Not Provide Detox or MAT
Oasis Counseling Solutions does not provide medical detox services or medication-assisted treatment (MAT) such as Suboxone, Vivitrol, or Methadone. These are medical services requiring a prescribing provider. If detox or MAT is part of what you need, we can help connect you with appropriate providers in the area. Our therapy services work effectively in combination with MAT and can be scheduled alongside medical treatment.
Your Therapists
Substance Abuse Therapy Specialists at Oasis
Two therapists at Oasis Counseling Solutions specialize in substance abuse support. Meet all six therapists.
Erin Feldman
LSW20+ years. CBT, DBT, systems theory. Substance use alongside anxiety, depression, and family dynamics. Strongsville in-person + telehealth statewide.
Common Questions
Frequently Asked Questions About Substance Abuse Therapy
Do I need a diagnosis to get help at OCS?
No. You do not need a formal diagnosis to start therapy at Oasis Counseling Solutions. Many clients come in at the earliest stages of recognizing that their substance use is affecting their life. Ambivalence about whether to change — questioning whether the use is actually a problem, or whether you want to stop — is a completely valid starting place. You do not need to have already decided to stop using in order to benefit from therapy, and you will not be pressured to make that decision before you are ready.
Does Oasis Counseling Solutions offer detox or medication-assisted treatment?
No. Oasis Counseling Solutions does not provide medical detox or MAT such as Suboxone, Vivitrol, or Methadone. These are medical services requiring a prescribing provider. If detox or MAT is part of what you need, we can help connect you with appropriate providers in the area. Our therapy services work effectively alongside MAT and can be combined with medication-supported treatment for comprehensive care. The therapy and medication components address different aspects of the same condition and are not mutually exclusive.
Can therapy help with relapse prevention?
Yes. Relapse prevention is one of the core focuses of substance abuse therapy at Oasis. Your therapist will help you identify your specific triggers, develop practical coping strategies for high-risk situations, strengthen your support system, and build a concrete plan you can use when situations become challenging. Therapy addresses the emotional and psychological patterns that sustain use so that recovery is built on durable change rather than ongoing effort to suppress cravings.
Does insurance cover substance abuse therapy at OCS?
Yes. Substance use disorder is a covered diagnosis under most major insurance plans, including Medicaid and Medicare. Oasis Counseling Solutions accepts Medicaid, Medicare, Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna / Evernorth, UnitedHealthcare, CareSource, Buckeye, Medical Mutual, Humana, and over 20 additional plans. The self-pay rate is $145 per session. A sliding scale is available for eligible clients. Contact us to verify your specific coverage before your first session.
Can family members get support at OCS too?
Yes. Substance use affects the entire household, and family members often carry significant emotional weight that benefits from professional support. Family members of someone in recovery or active use can pursue individual therapy at Oasis to process their own experiences independently. Family therapy is also available as a shared component when a client and their family members want to work together on communication and recovery support. Learn more about family therapy.
Fees & Insurance
Substance Abuse Therapy Rates
$145
Per session — substance abuse therapy, in-person and telehealth
Medicaid and Medicare accepted. Sliding scale available for eligible clients. Oasis Counseling Solutions accepts Aetna, Blue Cross Blue Shield, Cigna, UnitedHealthcare, CareSource, Buckeye, Medical Mutual, Humana, and 20+ plans total. Substance use disorder is a covered diagnosis under most major insurance plans.