Auburn, Maine
Depression Treatment in Auburn
Auburn shares Lewiston's river and its psychiatric shortage, with an extra layer of distance: the lake roads and rural Androscoggin towns where the nearest opening is a season away and an hour's drive behind it. Out here, people tend to wait until symptoms are loud, and anxiety and depression do their compounding quietly in the meantime. That's depression talking, and it responds to treatment. shrinkMD brings evidence based depression care to Auburn as soon as availability allows, by secure video, with progress measured at every visit.
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
Why Auburn chooses shrinkMD
shrinkMD reaches every corner of Androscoggin County identically, by video that runs fine on a phone connection, with phone backup protocols when rural internet does rural internet things. Appointments within days, not seasons.
Scheduling respects commutes across the river and shift work alike, and privacy is structural: no insurance billing, no databases, records only with your authorization, useful in towns where everyone knows your truck.
What's included
What depression treatment includes
Treatment begins with a full evaluation, because depression has imitators, thyroid disease, sleep apnea, anemia, and the bipolar low that makes antidepressants alone risky, and each one redirects the plan. We confirm what this is, then combine what the evidence ranks highest: antidepressant medication matched to your trial history, behavioral activation scaled to the energy you actually have, and structured therapy where it multiplies results.
Your PHQ-9 score is tracked at every visit, so improvement shows on paper within weeks. Follow ups run every two to four weeks while we tune, then space out. Expect energy to return before mood, that's the normal sequence, and expect a written relapse prevention plan once you're well, because staying well is the actual goal.
Keep exploring
Care and next steps in Auburn
Frequently asked questions
Good questions, clear answers
My internet out by the lake is shaky. Will visits work?
Almost always, video runs on modest connections, and if it drops we finish by phone so the appointment still counts.
Can I be seen before or after my commute?
Yes, early and evening slots exist for exactly that, and visits happen wherever you are private, including a parked car.
How do I know it's depression and not burnout?
Burnout lifts with rest and distance from its cause; depression follows you everywhere. The evaluation tells them apart, and the treatments differ.
Can I do treatment if I can barely get off the couch?
That's exactly who video care is for: 15 to 30 minute visits from wherever you are, and a plan built for the energy depression leaves you, not the energy it takes.
What if I'm having thoughts of suicide?
Call or text 988 now, that line exists for this exact moment. Then let treatment start, because depression this heavy is still treatable, and you should not carry it alone.
About Auburn
With about 23,000 residents, Auburn is a community we're glad to serve. It's an Androscoggin River city that, with neighboring Lewiston, forms Maine's second-largest metro area. We care for working families across the twin-city area.
Serving Auburn
Across Auburn, from the Auburn Commercial Historic District, downtown, and New Auburn, residents can meet a board-certified psychiatrist by secure video with shrinkMD. Auburn is Lewiston's twin city across the Androscoggin River, 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 Maine 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 Auburn
Call 1-877-747-4656 now, appointments are available as soon as availability allows for Auburn residents, by secure video from home.
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