Lihue, Hawaii
Depression Treatment in Lihue
Kauai has never sustained much psychiatric capacity: residents needing more than primary care could offer have flown to Oahu, waited months, or gone without. The going without is what telepsychiatry exists to end, on the Garden Isle as much as anywhere in America. That's depression talking, and it responds to treatment. shrinkMD brings evidence based depression care to Lihue 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 Lihue chooses shrinkMD
From Lihue to Hanalei to Waimea, visits happen by video on island, no flight required, with hospitality shift schedules and island cost of living realities respected.
We bill no insurance, fees are flat and published, superbills are provided, and the same Hawaii licensed clinician sees 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 Lihue
Frequently asked questions
Good questions, clear answers
Did seeing a psychiatrist really require flying to Oahu?
For many specialized needs, historically yes. Telepsychiatry ends that: the same board certified evaluation from your living room within days.
I work hotel shifts on the South Shore. When do visits happen?
Around your rota: early mornings, midafternoon breaks, and evenings, with 15 to 30 minute follow ups and one consistent clinician.
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 Lihue
Lihue is home to about 8,000 people. It's Kauai's main town and the county seat, home to the island's airport and harbor. Our patients here range across Kauai residents, county and healthcare workers, and families who travel there for the island's main services.
Serving Lihue
Care should reach every corner of Lihue. As Kauai's government and commercial center, Lihue stretches from downtown along Rice Street, Kalapaki Beach, and Nawiliwili Harbor, 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 Lihue
Call 1-877-747-4656 now, appointments are available as soon as availability allows for Lihue residents, by secure video from home.
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