St Petersburg, Florida
Anxiety Treatment in St Petersburg
St. Pete has reinvented itself, but psychiatric access has not kept up: Pinellas waitlists run long, half the specialists are across the bay, and the bridge is its own appointment. Whether you are a retiree tired of being handed another pamphlet, a service worker on Central Avenue hours, or a remote worker who moved for the sunshine and brought the anxiety along, waiting months for care is the local default we exist to break. Anxiety that persistent isn't a personality trait, it's the most treatable condition in psychiatry. shrinkMD treats anxiety in St Petersburg by secure video, with board certified clinicians and first appointments as soon as availability allows.
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
Made to fit life in St Petersburg
Our visits happen by video anywhere in Pinellas, from a Kenwood bungalow to a condo near the pier, at hours that respect restaurant shifts and gallery weekends. No Howard Frankland, no parking, no waiting room.
Many of our St. Pete patients are retirees, and we make the technology easy: tap a link, and if anything goes sideways we finish by phone. We do not bill Medicare or any insurance, fees are flat and published, and HSA, FSA, and superbills are all supported.
What's included
From spiral to skills
The work begins by mapping your specific pattern, when the worry spikes, what it costs your sleep and your decisions, and whether panic, social fear, or constant background dread leads the picture. That map decides the plan: medication when it earns its place, typically helping within two to six weeks, and skills training matched to your pattern, exposure for avoidance, interoceptive work for panic, containment for rumination.
Every follow up measures your progress on validated scales, every two to four weeks while we tune, then monthly or quarterly as you stabilize. You learn tools that work in real time, in traffic, before meetings, at 3 a.m., and the plan keeps adjusting until the numbers and your life both say better. No controlled substances, stated before you book.
Keep exploring
Care and next steps in St Petersburg
Frequently asked questions
Good questions, clear answers
Can you work around service industry hours on Central?
Yes, late morning, afternoon, and early evening slots fit bar and restaurant rhythms, and short video follow ups do not burn a whole day off.
I am retired and not technical. Is video care realistic for me?
Very. If you can tap a link in a text or email, you can do this, and our team will walk you through the first connection by phone. Most retirees tell us it beats the office within two visits.
My anxiety is mostly physical symptoms. Is that normal?
Extremely. Racing heart, chest tightness, stomach trouble, and dizziness are anxiety's most common costumes, and we screen carefully in both directions before treating.
Why do you not prescribe Xanax or other benzodiazepines?
Because they relieve an hour and reinforce the disorder, with real dependence risk. The durable path, SSRIs or SNRIs plus skills, actually shrinks anxiety, and that's what we practice.
What if it's anxiety and depression together?
Common, and treatable together. The evaluation maps both, and first line treatments overlap enough that one coherent plan usually covers the pair.
About St Petersburg
St Petersburg is a major Tampa Bay city served by several large hospitals. It's home to about 258,000 residents. The people we see here include retirees, working families, and hospital staff.
Serving St Petersburg
St Petersburg is a waterfront city on the Pinellas peninsula at Tampa Bay, and reaching a psychiatrist here shouldn't take a long drive. shrinkMD sees adults across St Petersburg by secure video, whether you're near the St. Pete Pier, Central Avenue, and the downtown waterfront. You keep the same clinician each visit, with no commute and no waiting room.
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.
Related reading
More from a trusted source: Anxiety Disorders - National Institute of Mental Health.
Nearby areas
Anxiety Treatment in nearby Florida cities
Your next step in The Shrink Network
You are here: shrinkMD, the clinical care layer of The Shrink Network.
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 St Petersburg
Call 1-877-747-4656 now, appointments are available as soon as availability allows for St Petersburg residents, by secure video from home.
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