Augusta, Maine
Depression Treatment in Augusta, ME
Augusta carries two quiet barriers to care: state employment, where people fear a mental health record near their job, and Kennebec Valley geography, where the towns between Gardiner and Waterville share a psychiatric supply that was never enough. Both barriers produce the same result, capable people running on empty and calling it normal. That's depression talking, and it responds to treatment. shrinkMD brings evidence based depression care to Augusta 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
Made to fit life in Augusta
The privacy barrier we remove structurally: no insurance billing, so nothing enters the state plan or any database, and records move only with your written authorization. Appointments flex around session calendars and agency hours.
The geography we remove entirely: video visits reach Winthrop, Gardiner, Sidney, and the rural towns identically, within days, with phone backup when connections wobble.
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 Augusta
Frequently asked questions
Good questions, clear answers
I work for the state. Can this ever surface at work?
No. No claims, no state plan visibility, no employer reporting, ever. Your care is between you and your clinician.
How fast can someone in a surrounding town be seen?
Within days, same as downtown Augusta. Distance stopped mattering the moment care went video.
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.
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.
About Augusta
Augusta is Maine's state capital and a center of government employment on the Kennebec River. It's home to about 19,000 residents. The people we see here include state employees, government staff, and families throughout the Kennebec Valley.
Serving Augusta
Augusta is Maine's state capital, on the Kennebec River, and reaching a psychiatrist here shouldn't take a long drive. shrinkMD sees adults across Augusta by secure video, whether you're near the Maine State House, Old Fort Western, and Capitol Park. 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: 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 Augusta
Call 1-877-747-4656 now, appointments are available as soon as availability allows for Augusta residents, by secure video from home.
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