Orlando, Florida
Depression Treatment in Orlando
Orlando runs on hours the rest of the world sleeps: theme park closes, hotel turnovers, hospital nights, and an I-4 commute that eats whatever energy is left. Add a metro full of transplants who never found a doctor here, and it is no surprise that getting psychiatric care feels impossible, the practices from Lake Nona to Winter Garden quote waits measured in months. Two weeks or more of that pattern is clinical depression, and it's one of the most treatable conditions in medicine. shrinkMD treats depression in Orlando by secure video, with board certified clinicians and appointments 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
Made to fit life in Orlando
Care here has to fit hospitality schedules, which is why our appointments run early, late, and between shifts, by video from your apartment near Mills 50, a break room backstage, or a parked car in a Disney cast lot. New to Orlando with no local doctor network yet? You do not need one to start.
We bill no insurance, so nothing about your care reaches an employer plan or insurer database. One flat fee shown before booking, the same clinician every visit, and prescriptions sent electronically to any Orlando pharmacy the same day.
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 Orlando
Frequently asked questions
Good questions, clear answers
Can appointments fit theme park and hotel shift schedules?
Yes, that is normal here. Early mornings after overnights, gaps between split shifts, and evening slots all work, and visits run 15 to 30 minutes by video so they fit inside a break.
I just moved to Orlando and have no local doctors. Is that a problem?
Not at all. You can start with us directly, and when you do find a primary care doctor, we coordinate with them with your permission. Transplants without a care network are half this city.
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.
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.
About Orlando
Orlando is home to about 320,000 residents. It's a major Central Florida metro and home to the Lake Nona Medical City health campus. Our patients here range across working families, commuters, students, and hospital staff.
Serving Orlando
Care should reach every corner of Orlando. As the heart of Central Florida, Orlando stretches from Lake Eola Park, Thornton Park, and downtown, 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 Florida 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 Orlando
Call 1-877-747-4656 now, appointments are available as soon as availability allows for Orlando residents, by secure video from home.
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