Who We Are
Our Mission
Founded on the belief that substance use and mental health disorders require personalized treatment, Essential Behavioral Health provides individualized care for every client. Through counseling, experienced medical staff, and a lifelong support system, our mission is to give every client the tools they need to sustain recovery after treatment.
A Team of Award-Winning Healthcare Providers
Hands-on experience at every level fuels our passion for mental health.
Our Team
Our team of clinicians, mental health professionals and medical experts bring more than 40 years of experience in the field. The hands-on approach of our leadership staff adds a level of compassion and first-hand knowledge that sets us apart as a truly client-first team.
Andrew Mendonsa
Psy. D., MBA
C.O.O.
Dr. Andrew Mendonsa currently serves as the Chief Operational Officer for Essential Behavioral Health, a subsidiary of Sprout Health. He earned his doctorate and master’s degrees in Clinical Psychology from California School of Professional Psychology, and a MBA from Texas A&M University – a top tier and highly ranked business school. Andrew is licensed in California as a Clinical Psychologist and is also a recognized Qualified Medical Evaluator (QME). He has earned various professional and community accolades including the prestigious 40 Under 40 Award and a Congressional Medal for community service.
Dr. Mendonsa’s vision and business skills have earned him a well-documented history of proven success in leadership within the mental health and substance abuse treatment industries. He is a recognized media expert appearing on various local and national media networks discussing topics around treatment and recovery. Before leading Essential Behavioral Health, Dr. Mendonsa maintained a thriving private practice, worked for a large healthcare system, and oversaw contract forensic treatment programs for local and state law enforcement agencies.
Dr. Mendonsa’s vision and business skills have earned him a well-documented history of proven success in leadership within the mental health and substance abuse treatment industries. He is a recognized media expert appearing on various local and national media networks discussing topics around treatment and recovery. Before leading Essential Behavioral Health, Dr. Mendonsa maintained a thriving private practice, worked for a large healthcare system, and oversaw contract forensic treatment programs for local and state law enforcement agencies.
Jody Ressio
MA, LAADC, IS
Executive Director
Jody serves at the Executive Director at Essential Behavioral Health. She brings extensive administrative experience working in private, nonprofit, and medically assisted substance abuse treatment facilities. She has a MA in Psychology, is a Licensed Advanced Alcohol and Drug Counselor, and is a certified interventionist. Jody has over 18 years of her own sobriety and has chosen this field to give hope and success to people who are suffering with addiction. Jody brings both passion and expertise to program oversight at Essential Behavioral Health and is dedicated to ensuring that our clients receive the highest quality services on their road to recovery.
Jacquline Gonzales
MBA, CADC I
Alumni Coordinator
Jacquline, "Jackie" is our Alumni Coordinator at Cedar Point Recovery and Essential Behavioral Health. Jackie has a great love for helping people in recovery - she was a clinician at Cedar Point for 4 years before becoming alumni coordinator. In addition to her warm and empathetic nature, Jackie is a CCAPP certified CADC-II and has a Bachelor’s Degree in Substance Abuse with a Master's Degree in Business Administration. Jackie has a talent for creating a safe and trusting environment that encourages people to feel comfortable, be vulnerable and continue to thrive in their recovery process, long after leaving our campus. Jackie enjoys connecting with our alumni on a regular basis to help them stay on track, thrive, reach their goals, and sometimes help pick them back up when they stumble. We are grateful to have her on our team.