Use the links below to navigate throughout our frequently asked questions.
Getting Started
How do I start services at Solstice Behavioral Health & Consulting?
Enrollment follows four steps: an initial inquiry where you meet our parent engagement team, learn about services, and complete insurance verification; an intake phase with a parent interview and in-person behavioral and skills assessment; development of an individualized treatment plan; and then treatment itself, where your child is matched with their team of experts for 1:1 ABA therapy, group therapy, and parent training.
How long does it take to get seen?
Families are typically seen within 4 weeks of their initial inquiry — little to no wait time compared to many providers in the area.
Do I need an official autism diagnosis before reaching out?
No. We recommend families seek help at the first signs of concern, even before receiving an official diagnosis — early treatment is essential to long-term outcomes.
What insurance does Solstice accept?
We accept most major insurance plans, including Magellan, UnitedHealthcare, Optum, Anthem, Aetna, and Beacon Health. Call (203) 900-4720 to verify your specific plan.
Autism Services
What is a developmental evaluation, and what does it involve?
Our evaluation process has three parts: developmental monitoring (observing your child’s milestones over time), developmental screening (structured questionnaires on emotional, behavioral, cognitive, linguistic, and movement development), and a comprehensive developmental evaluation with in-depth observation and structured tasks. Evaluations take place over a few visits with our clinical team.
What are early signs of autism that Solstice looks for?
Common early indicators include avoiding eye contact, limited interest in others, delayed language development, and resistance to changes in routine.
Why does early diagnosis and intervention matter?
Because autism has no single medical test to confirm it, early identification is key to getting support started during critical developmental windows. Early intervention combines office-based lessons with reinforcement at home to help a child learn to process their environment.
At what age can autism be detected, and when should screening happen?
The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends developmental and behavioral screening at 9, 18, and 30 months, with autism-specific screenings at 18 and 24 months. Autism can be detected as early as 18 months, though many children aren’t diagnosed until later in childhood or even adulthood.
What types of evaluations does Solstice conduct?
Our clinical team conducts several distinct evaluations depending on what a family or school needs: an Autism Diagnostic Evaluation to determine whether a child meets criteria for autism spectrum disorder; an Educational Program Review, which examines how well a student’s current program is meeting their needs; a Functional Behavior Assessment, which identifies the purpose behind a specific behavior; an Ecological Assessment, which looks at how a child’s environment supports or hinders their progress; a Transition Assessment, covering readiness for a new classroom, school, or life stage; and a Social Skills Assessment, which evaluates a child’s social functioning and relationship-building skills.
What is a transition assessment?
A transition assessment is a multi-disciplinary evaluation of a child’s strengths, communication, adaptive functioning, behavioral needs, and readiness for change — used to guide decisions like classroom placement, life skills development, vocational readiness, and long-term educational planning.
Does Solstice offer individual and family therapy?
Yes. Individual and family therapy helps build communication between family members, giving parents and caregivers new tools for understanding their child’s triggers, key behavioral concepts, and how the home environment can shape challenging behavior. Sessions focus on improving communication and coping skills and reducing the frequency of challenging behaviors, and active parental involvement is essential to the therapy’s success.
Does Solstice offer support for parents, not just children?
Yes. Parent training is a core part of treatment, covering day-to-day strategies, managing challenging behavior, communication techniques, and life skills — and we welcome other caregivers too, including teachers, siblings, and grandparents.
What is the Ridgeview Farm Learning Environment?
The Ridgeview Farm Learning Environment is a partnership between Solstice Behavioral Health & Consulting and Ridgeview Farm in Fairfield County, CT. Clients, parents, coaches, and Ridgeview staff collaborate on individualized, farm-based learning experiences — caring for animals, harvesting plants, preparing goods for sale, and participating in the daily operations of the farm — in a safe, understanding, experiential setting focused on growth, acceptance, and long-term success.
Is telehealth available at Solstice?
Yes. Telehealth is offered as part of our services, and parent and caregiver training specifically is available via telehealth, in-person, or within the community.
Early Intervention
What ages does the Early Learners program serve, and what does a day look like?
Our Early Learners program serves toddlers through preschool-age children with one-on-one instruction from ABA specialists in a treatment-oriented, play-based environment, including a sensory table, STEM lab, and imaginative play centers. Families can choose full-day (9am–3pm), morning (9am–12pm), or afternoon (12pm–3pm) scheduling, and the program is staffed by Connecticut-licensed BCBAs and Registered Behavior Technicians, including Spanish-speaking team members.
Is there an afterschool program for school-aged children?
Yes. Our Afterschool Program serves school-aged children diagnosed with autism, using evidence-based ABA methodology delivered by Registered Behavior Technicians and overseen by Board Certified Behavior Analysts. It targets communication, social skills, behavior, daily living skills, and cognitive development through an individualized treatment plan.
Does Solstice offer a social skills group?
Yes, through two programs: Nature’s Explorers, focused on learning opportunities that promote growth and independence for children with autism and related neurodevelopmental disabilities, and the Wynter Thyme Friendship Group, which centers on relationship-building, trust, consistent routines, and emotional safety, tailored to each child’s developmental level and interests.
Educational Services
What is Solstice Academy, and how is it different from a typical school?
Solstice Academy is a dedicated educational program for children with autism and related neurodevelopmental disorders, serving students ages 3 through 13 across three cohorts: early learners (3–5), elementary (6–9), and upper elementary with transition support (10–13). Therapies like speech-language pathology, occupational therapy, and physical therapy are embedded directly into the daily classroom routine rather than delivered as pullout sessions, with academics ranging from modified 1:1 instruction up to grade-level or advanced work depending on the student.
Consultation
Does Solstice work directly with schools?
Yes, through School Consultation services. We support students with autism, Down syndrome, anxiety, depression, ADHD, ODD, and OCD through functional behavior assessments, ecological and social skills assessments, student observations, transition evaluations, and program reviews. Schools can also request a full Autism Program Audit, which evaluates fourteen program components using the Autism Program Quality Indicators (APQI) framework, includes interviews with teachers and administrators, and results in a detailed report with actionable recommendations.
What does School Consultation actually include?
Consultations are tailored to what a school or district needs. Case-Specific Consultation supports a school team working through a single student’s clinical picture, troubleshooting behavioral interventions, data collection, and teaching techniques. Clinical Rounds brings a similar, structured process to more complex cases, typically including an observation, an initial consultation session, and a follow-up meeting with the school team, ending in student-specific recommendations.
Supervision and Mentorship provides ongoing coaching to a district’s own BCBA team as they navigate complex cases. Professional Development offers didactic training to multi-disciplinary school teams, including psychologists, social workers, special education teachers, and BCBAs, on assessment, program development, data collection, and behavior management. Administrative consultation works at the systems level, helping school leadership identify areas of growth across an entire special education program.
ABA Therapy
What does ABA therapy actually help with?
Applied Behavior Analysis at Solstice focuses on four areas: building foundational skills like listening, imitating, reading, and conversation; increasing language and communication so children can use it appropriately across situations; improving attention, focus, and social skills for school and relationships; and decreasing problem behaviors through positive reinforcement and structured intervention.
Is ABA therapy available near me in Fairfield or New Haven County?
Yes. We offer dedicated ABA therapy programs for both Fairfield County and New Haven County, Connecticut, including families in New Haven, Hamden, Branford, Meriden, Waterbury, Ansonia, and surrounding towns, in addition to center-based services at our Shelton office.
Location & Contact
Where is Solstice Behavioral Health & Consulting located?
Our office is at 14 Progress Drive, Shelton, CT 06484. We serve families throughout Fairfield County and New Haven County.
What are your hours?
Monday through Thursday, 8:30 AM–5:30 PM, and Friday, 8:30 AM–3:30 PM.
How do I contact Solstice?
Call (203) 900-4720 or email info@solsticebhc.org.