Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
Anxiety Treatment in Kailua-Kona
West Hawaii's psychiatric access problem is geographic to the point of absurdity: a months long wait in Kona, a drive across the saddle, or a flight to Honolulu. When care requires an itinerary, people skip care, and the skipping compounds. That pattern has a name and a well proven treatment. shrinkMD treats anxiety across Kailua-Kona by video, with board certified clinicians, measured care, and appointments as soon as availability allows instead of months.
Medically reviewed by Shariq Refai, MD, MBA, FAPA, board certified psychiatrist · Published June 7, 2026 · Last reviewed July 7, 2026 · Editorial policy
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Why shrinkMD
shrinkMD in Kailua-Kona, on your terms
From Kailua-Kona to the coffee belt to Waimea, visits happen by video from home, office, or farm, deleting the itinerary entirely, with island economic rhythms respected.
We bill no insurance, fees are flat, published, and predictable through tourism's seasonal swings, with HSA and FSA accepted and superbills provided.
What's included
Anxiety care, done properly
Anxiety is a body event as much as a mind event, racing heart, tight chest, restless gut, thinned sleep, so treatment addresses both. After a full evaluation rules out the imitators, your plan combines what the evidence ranks first: SSRI or SNRI medication where indicated and cognitive behavioral work that interrupts the avoidance cycle keeping the alarm sensitive.
Expect visible movement in your scores within weeks, with follow ups every two to four weeks until the trend is unmistakable, then maintenance spacing. You'll have usable tools immediately, and a clinician who tracks results instead of assuming them. We're equally clear about what we won't do: no benzodiazepines, which trade an hour of relief for a stronger long term anxiety.
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Care and next steps in Kailua-Kona
Frequently asked questions
Good questions, clear answers
Do you serve the whole Big Island?
Yes: Hilo side and Kona side identically, Waikoloa to Hawi to Captain Cook, by video.
Internet up the mountain is spotty. Will visits hold?
Usually yes on modest bandwidth, and a phone on cellular works; if the connection drops, your clinician calls and the visit continues.
How fast does anxiety treatment start working?
Skills help immediately, and medication typically begins working within two to six weeks. We measure scores at every visit so progress is visible, not guessed.
Do you treat panic attacks specifically?
Yes. Panic disorder gets targeted care: medication that lowers the baseline plus breathing and interoceptive skills that take the terror out of the attacks themselves.
Can I do anxiety treatment alongside my current therapist?
Yes, and we encourage it. We handle evaluation and medication, coordinate with your therapist with your permission, and the combination outperforms either alone.
About Kailua-Kona
Kailua-Kona is home to about 20,000 people. It's the main town on the Big Island's west (Kona) side. Our patients here range across west-side island residents, retirees, and workers in healthcare, hospitality, and small business.
Serving Kailua-Kona
Care should reach every corner of Kailua-Kona. As the heart of the Big Island's sunny Kona coast, Kailua-Kona stretches from Kailua Bay, Hulihee Palace, and Mokuaikaua Church, and shrinkMD brings board-certified telepsychiatry to all of it by secure video, with the same psychiatrist over time.
What it costs
Transparent, published pricing
Our self-pay prices are the same in every state where we practice. No insurance billing, and no surprise statement later.
| Service | Self-pay price | What's included |
|---|---|---|
| Initial evaluation | From $295 | A full 50 to 60 minute evaluation, diagnosis, and written plan. |
| Follow-up visits | $110 to $215 | Per visit, depending on length and complexity. Member rates are lower. |
| Membership (optional) | $49 per month | Priority scheduling, member rates, and the Unstuck and QuitScrolling apps. First month free. |
Your care team
Who you will see
Your care is delivered by shrinkMD clinicians, and you keep the same one over time. You meet by secure video with a clinician licensed in your state.
- Shariq Refai, MD, MBA, FAPA, founder and board certified psychiatrist (ABPN), dual board certified in psychiatry and in sports and performance psychiatry.
- Matthew George, PMHNP-BC, ANP-BC, dual board certified psychiatric nurse practitioner with more than two decades of clinical experience.
Learn more
More from a trusted source: Anxiety Disorders - National Institute of Mental Health.
Your next step in The Shrink Network
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Each site in the network has one job. No matter where you enter, we help you find the next step that makes sense.
Get clinical care with shrinkMD
Want to understand more first?
Start anxiety treatment in Kailua-Kona
Call 1-877-747-4656 now, appointments are available as soon as availability allows for Kailua-Kona residents, by secure video from home.
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