Frequently Asked Questions

  • I am currently accepting new patient inquiries for patients ages 6 and up. Prospective patients typically begin with a brief conversation to discuss what they are looking for and whether my practice may be a good fit. When appropriate, new patients then begin with an initial consultation series to better understand their concerns, history, and goals before deciding on next steps together.

  • I work with children, adolescents, and adults ages 6 and up seeking help for emotional, behavioral, or relationship concerns. I provide comprehensive psychiatric consultations, psychotherapy, and medication management when appropriate.

  • My work is grounded in psychodynamic psychotherapy and psychodynamic psychopharmacology, which means we look together at both the conscious and unconscious aspects of your experience—how your feelings, thoughts, and relationships connect to one another. I also integrate humanistic and developmental perspectives, emphasizing curiosity, compassion, and genuine collaboration.

  • My office is at 291 Whitney Avenue, Suite 103, New Haven, Connecticut. I also offer telehealth appointments for patients physically located in Connecticut, Maine, or Michigan at the time of their session.

  • Yes. I am a double board-certified psychiatrist in general psychiatry and in child and adolescent psychiatry through the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology.

  • I offer in-person sessions at my office on Whitney Avenue in New Haven, as well as telehealth visits for patients in Connecticut and certain other states. Many people choose a combination of both.

  • Yes. I am currently licensed to practice medicine in Connecticut, Maine, and Michigan. For telehealth appointments, patients must be physically located in a state where I am licensed at the time of the session.

About the Practice

  • My practice is self-pay and does not participate directly with insurance plans. However, I provide superbills (detailed statements) that you can submit to your insurance company for possible out-of-network reimbursement. Many patients are able to receive partial reimbursement this way.

  • All visits are billed by me based on time:

    • $250 for 25 minutes

    • $400 for 45 minutes

    Before starting treatment, you’ll receive a Good Faith Estimate that outlines the expected costs for care.

  • Payment is due at the time of service. I accept credit cards, debit cards, and HSA/FSA cards.

  • Dr. Sondalle has opted out of Medicare and does not bill Medicare for services. Patients with Medicare may receive care on a self-pay basis under a private contract. Medicare does not reimburse for services provided by opted-out physicians.

Fees and Insurance

  • Please call (475) 455-3351 to arrange an initial consultation. I personally return calls to help determine whether my practice is a good fit for your needs.

  • The initial consultation is usually a series of two or more sessions, rather than a single visit. This allows time for a thoughtful, comprehensive understanding of your history, current concerns, and goals. After completing the consultation, I’ll review my impressions and discuss recommendations for next steps. These may include ongoing psychotherapy and/or medication management in my practice, or referrals to other clinicians or programs if a different setting would be more appropriate. This multi-session approach helps ensure that any treatment that follows is well-informed, individualized, and collaborative.

  • Most people meet once per week, but frequency can be adjusted based on your goals and circumstances. Some patients choose to meet more or less often as treatment progresses.

Scheduling and Appointments

  • Psychodynamic psychotherapy helps people understand how patterns of feeling, thinking, and relating develop over time. By bringing awareness to these patterns in a supportive relationship, lasting change and emotional growth become possible.

  • Humanistic psychotherapy emphasizes the inherent worth, potential, and individuality of each person. It focuses on fostering authentic self-understanding, helping you connect with your feelings, values, and sense of meaning. The therapeutic relationship itself becomes a space for genuine encounter, one in which empathy, honesty, and acceptance create the conditions for growth. In this approach, symptoms are understood not only as problems to fix, but also as signals of deeper needs, conflicts, or longings that can be explored and transformed.

  • Psychodynamic psychopharmacology is an approach to medication that considers not just biology, but also the psychological and relational meanings of taking or not taking medication. The goal is to use medication thoughtfully and collaboratively, within the context of the whole person.

  • Yes. When appropriate, I provide both psychotherapy and medication within the same integrated treatment. My goal is always to use medication in the least intrusive, most meaningful way possible.

    I rarely offer medication management alone and generally reserve this arrangement for exceptional circumstances in which ongoing psychotherapy is already well established with another trusted therapist.

Clinical Approach

  • I see patients ages 6 and up, including children, teens, college students, and adults of all ages.

  • Yes. With your permission, I collaborate closely with therapists, pediatricians, primary care doctors, and other professionals involved in your care. Good communication and coordination often make treatment more effective.

  • That’s completely okay. The initial consultation is a space to explore your situation together and decide what kind of help, or combination of approaches, might be most beneficial for you or your child.

Other Common Questions

Contact

Phone: (475) 455-3351
Office: 291 Whitney Ave, Suite 103, New Haven, CT 06511
Email: s.sondalle@sondalle.care

If you’d like to learn more or schedule your first appointment, please call to get started.