Richmond, Virginia
Depression Treatment in Richmond
Richmond's renaissance outran its prescribers: a creative class on irregular income, VCU's student and medical masses, and state careers wary of records, all sharing waitlists that quote next quarter while the anxiety compounds daily interest. 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 Richmond 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
Care built around Richmond
Freelancers get flat published fees and cadence that flexes with the budget; state workers get structural privacy, no insurance billing, no databases; VCU students keep continuity through breaks and past graduation across our ten states.
Visits happen by video from the Fan, Church Hill, Short Pump, or a quiet hospital corner, within days, with one clinician and measured progress throughout.
What's included
How we treat depression
Precision first: an evaluation that separates depression from burnout, grief, medical causes, and bipolar lows, because each calls for different treatment. Then the plan runs on evidence: medication chosen against your complete history of past trials with doses and responses, activity scheduling that starts smaller than feels worth it because that's what depression allows, and therapy coordinated when the combination earns it.
Progress is measured, not assumed, validated scores at every visit, follow ups every two to four weeks during the climb, monthly or quarterly once you hold. Most patients feel energy shift before mood, usually inside four to six weeks. The final step is the one most practices skip: a relapse prevention plan with your early warning signs and the playbook for them.
Keep exploring
Care and next steps in Richmond
Frequently asked questions
Good questions, clear answers
Can VCU students keep their clinician after graduation?
Yes, anywhere in Virginia and across our other states afterward. Nothing touches university systems or family insurance.
My income is irregular. How do I plan for treatment?
Fees are flat and published, HSA and FSA work, and visit cadence flexes once you are stable. We plan the schedule with you.
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 Richmond
Richmond is Virginia's capital and a regional medical hub anchored by VCU Health. It's home to about 234,000 people. The people we see here include state government workers, hospital staff, and healthcare professionals.
Serving Richmond
Richmond is Virginia's capital, on the James River, and reaching a psychiatrist here shouldn't take a long drive. shrinkMD sees adults across Richmond by secure video, whether you're near Carytown, the Fan District, and Shockoe Bottom. 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 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 Richmond
Call 1-877-747-4656 now, appointments are available as soon as availability allows for Richmond residents, by secure video from home.
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