Fairfax, Virginia
Depression Treatment in Fairfax
Fairfax County crowds 1.1 million residents, a forty thousand student university, and federal commuters in every direction onto a psychiatric supply built for far fewer. Old Town's charm does not shorten anyone's waitlist; months out is the local standard. Depression is biology, not a failure of will, and biology responds to treatment. shrinkMD treats adults in Fairfax by video, with board certified clinicians, measured care, and first visits 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
Why Fairfax chooses shrinkMD
From Old Town Fairfax to Burke to Centreville, visits happen by video from townhouse, office, or between classes at the university, with early and evening slots for federal schedules.
We bill no insurance, fees are flat and published, HSA and FSA funds work, and investigation adjacent households are familiar, comfortable territory.
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 Fairfax
Frequently asked questions
Good questions, clear answers
Is this realistic on a graduate stipend?
Fees are flat and published, follow ups cost less than evaluations, and the evaluation itself is honest about whether you need psychiatry, therapy, or both.
Our jobs involve background investigations. Concerns?
Voluntarily seeking outpatient care is treated favorably under current adjudicative guidance, and our no insurance model keeps care out of insurer databases.
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.
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.
About Fairfax
With about 26,000 people, Fairfax is a community we're glad to serve. It's a Northern Virginia city in the Washington DC suburbs and the seat of Fairfax County. We care for federal workers, government contractors, and DC-area commuters.
Serving Fairfax
Across Fairfax, from Old Town Square, George Mason University, and Old Town Hall, residents can meet a board-certified psychiatrist by secure video with shrinkMD. Fairfax is the historic seat of Fairfax County in Northern Virginia, 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 Fairfax
Call 1-877-747-4656 now, appointments are available as soon as availability allows for Fairfax residents, by secure video from home.
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