GIMBHI‘s Q&A with Oasis’ Co-Founder, Sam Harper

Why was Oasis started? 

Oasis began with a simple yet profound question in response to the rising number of school shootings: Could offering all students the chance to reach out for help during their moments of need— to someone who is trained, nonjudgmental, empathetic, and able to understand their motivations—make a difference? 

This question sparked a six-year journey to build a clinically led team focused on early intervention and value-based care. We aimed to create a Motivational Interviewing approach to empower students to make positive, transformative decisions. Alongside this, we developed the software to bring our vision to life. As our work expanded to K-12 schools, we recognized the growing challenges faced by counselors and student support teams, who are often stressed and understaffed. Our solution provided these teams with the intervention tools needed to be more effective while offering data transparency to school administrators. 

What does Oasis do? 

Oasis provides a continuum of comprehensive mental health care tailored to meet the evolving needs of individuals, schools, and organizations through an integrated SAAS platform. Our offerings range from professional development training and evidence-based content to moderated peer support, support counseling, teletherapy, crisis intervention, and MTSS management software. This approach ensures we address mental health challenges across all levels, from prevention and early intervention to more intensive clinical services. By leveraging technology and a stepped-care model, Oasis bridges the gap between traditional mental health systems and scalable solutions that prioritize accessibility, effectiveness, and affordability. 

What is Oasis's flagship product? 

In Higher Education: Oasis Support Counseling is our flagship product, setting a new standard for accessible mental health care. Available 24/7, it connects individuals with trained mental health professionals under the supervision of licensed clinicians. This service acts as an intermediate level of care, providing timely, cost-effective support to address stress, offer guidance, and develop actionable solutions. Ideal for use between or before therapy sessions, it significantly reduces wait times and provides immediate relief. Our stepped-care model ensures that care is scalable and affordable, meeting users where they are, when they need it most, while maintaining high clinical standards. 

In K-12, Thrive Compass is our flagship product, an all-in-one student mental health management system designed to enhance the Multi-Tiered System of Supports (MTSS) by providing school Risk Management, and HIPAA/FERPA complaint Communication. Schools can effectively monitor and manage student mental health through an integrated platform, including Student Information Systems, ensuring timely and personalized support interventions.  

How is Oasis different from competitors? 

Oasis stands out by offering a comprehensive continuum of care, integrating prevention, early intervention, and clinical services under one unified platform. Unlike competitors who often focus on specific services or tiers of care, we provide a full spectrum—from peer support to crisis intervention—ensuring no need goes unmet. Our value-based pricing model further distinguishes us, making quality mental health care affordable and sustainable for schools, organizations, and individuals. Additionally, Oasis's proprietary Tier 2.5 Support Counseling model addresses a critical gap in care, providing timely and effective interventions that reduce the burden on traditional mental health systems. 

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