Alexandria, Virginia
Depression Treatment in Alexandria
Alexandria's brick sidewalks lead to federal grade pressure: Pentagon staff, contractors, and Hill commuters whose calendars have no slot for a clinic with a three month wait. Northern Virginia psychiatry quietly closed its panels years ago; the demand never closed. Two weeks or more of that pattern is clinical depression, and it's one of the most treatable conditions in medicine. shrinkMD treats depression in Alexandria by secure video, with board certified clinicians and 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 Alexandria
From Old Town to the West End to Mount Vernon, visits happen by video from rowhouse, office, or parked car, with early and evening slots for Pentagon and Hill schedules.
We bill no insurance, so no diagnosis or prescription enters insurer databases, which matters to the many Alexandrians who hold or pursue security clearances.
What's included
From flat to forward
The first visit establishes what we're actually treating, depression's severity and subtype, any seasonal pattern, and the medical or bipolar mimics that change everything, plus your full medication history with doses, durations, and responses. Treatment then starts immediately: a thoughtfully chosen antidepressant when indicated, an activity plan built for low fuel days, and therapy folded in where it strengthens the result.
Follow ups every two to four weeks measure your scores and adjust the plan while the medication takes hold, energy usually moves first, mood follows, most often within four to six weeks. As you recover, visits space out and the focus shifts to prevention: consolidating sleep, protecting the habits that lifted you, and writing the relapse plan that keeps the next episode from ever getting traction.
Keep exploring
Care and next steps in Alexandria
Frequently asked questions
Good questions, clear answers
Will psychiatric care affect my security clearance?
For the overwhelming majority, no: adjudicative guidelines explicitly treat seeking care as favorable, and our cash pay model keeps records out of insurance databases. We treat clearance holders weekly.
Can appointments fit Pentagon hours?
Yes: early morning and evening slots exist for exactly those calendars, with 15 to 30 minute follow ups between obligations.
How long until depression treatment works?
Typically two to six weeks for medication, with energy improving before mood. We track scores at every visit so neither of us is guessing.
What if antidepressants have failed me before?
Bring the history, names, doses, durations, responses. Past trials are a map, not a verdict, and structured re evaluation often finds the path earlier prescribers missed.
Will I be on medication forever?
Often no. Many patients treat for a defined period after recovery, then taper with a plan. Some conditions warrant longer treatment, and we're honest about which is which.
About Alexandria
With about 159,000 people, Alexandria is a community we're glad to serve. It's a historic Washington DC commuter suburb in Northern Virginia, just across the Potomac from the District. We care for federal workers, government contractors, and DC-area commuters.
Serving Alexandria
Across Alexandria, from the Torpedo Factory Art Center, the George Washington Masonic Memorial, and Old Town, residents can meet a board-certified psychiatrist by secure video with shrinkMD. Alexandria is a historic riverfront city just south of Washington, DC, so virtual care means no drive and no waiting room, just steady follow-up with one clinician.
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.
Helpful guides to read next
More from a trusted source: Depression - National Institute of Mental Health.
Nearby areas
Depression Treatment in nearby Virginia 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 depression treatment in Alexandria
Call 1-877-747-4656 now, appointments are available as soon as availability allows for Alexandria residents, by secure video from home.
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