Honolulu, Hawaii
Depression Treatment in Honolulu
Hawaii carries one of the worst psychiatric shortages in the nation, and Oahu feels it as months long waits and providers leaving for the mainland, while local culture keeps struggles inside the house and military families add visibility worries on top. Paradise weather never treated anyone's depression. That's depression talking, and it responds to treatment. shrinkMD brings evidence based depression care to Honolulu 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 Honolulu chooses shrinkMD
Mainland supply on island schedules: board certified clinicians within days, early island mornings and evenings set in your time zone, from Kaimuki to Kapolei to Mililani, with family and cultural context honored in planning.
Nothing bills to TRICARE or any insurer, records move only with written authorization, and one clinician stays with you visit after visit.
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 Honolulu
Frequently asked questions
Good questions, clear answers
Do you honor local and family culture in treatment?
Yes, family context and cultural considerations shape matching and planning. Tell us what fits your household when booking.
Does anything touch TRICARE around the bases?
No. We bill no insurance including TRICARE, no claims exist, and records release only with your authorization.
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 Honolulu
Honolulu is home to about 350,000 people. It's the capital and largest city in Hawaii, on Oahu's southeast coast. Our patients here range across longtime island residents, military families, students, and healthcare and service workers.
Serving Honolulu
Care should reach every corner of Honolulu. As Hawaii's state capital, on the south shore of Oahu, Honolulu stretches from the Diamond Head area, Ala Moana Beach Park, and Waikiki, and shrinkMD brings board-certified telepsychiatry to all of it by secure video, with the same psychiatrist over time.
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.
Learn more
More from a trusted source: Depression - National Institute of Mental Health.
Nearby areas
Depression Treatment in nearby Hawaii 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 Honolulu
Call 1-877-747-4656 now, appointments are available as soon as availability allows for Honolulu residents, by secure video from home.
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