San Antonio, Texas
Depression Treatment in San Antonio
Military City USA runs on service: active duty families across Lackland, Randolph, and Fort Sam, a huge veteran community, and the medical complexes serving them all. Every group navigates systems with their own waits and visibility worries, and the civilian waitlists offer no refuge either. That's depression talking, and it responds to treatment. shrinkMD brings evidence based depression care to San Antonio 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
shrinkMD in San Antonio, on your terms
We sit outside every system that worries you: nothing billed to TRICARE or any insurer, records that move only with written authorization, and adult family members, veterans, and civilians seen within days by video.
Care honors language and family culture in matching and planning, flexes around base rhythms and medical center shifts, and keeps one clinician with you throughout.
What's included
Depression care that compounds
Depression maintains itself through a loop, less activity, fewer rewards, lower mood, less activity, and effective treatment attacks the loop from every side at once. Medication lifts the floor, typically within four to six weeks. Behavioral activation restarts momentum in five minute increments. Therapy, where indicated, rebuilds the thinking patterns depression distorts.
We track your PHQ-9 at every follow up so the trend is visible to both of us, and we adjust until the numbers and your life agree. Once recovered, treatment continues for the months that protect against relapse, and you leave maintenance with a written plan: your warning signs, your responses, and exactly when to call. Recovery is the goal; staying recovered is the standard.
Keep exploring
Care and next steps in San Antonio
Frequently asked questions
Good questions, clear answers
Does anything touch TRICARE or military systems?
No. We bill no insurance at all, so no claims exist, and nothing reaches military or VA systems unless you authorize records in writing.
Can care be conducted with sensitivity to language and culture?
Yes, tell us your preference when booking; both shape clinician matching and treatment planning.
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 San Antonio
With about 1.4 million people, the second-most-populous city in Texas, San Antonio is a community we're glad to serve. It's a major metro with a deep military presence, home to Joint Base San Antonio. We care for military families and veterans, healthcare workers, and a large Hispanic community.
Serving San Antonio
Across San Antonio, from downtown, the River Walk, and the Alamo, residents can meet a board-certified psychiatrist by secure video with shrinkMD. San Antonio is a historic South Texas city on the San Antonio River, 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 Texas 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 San Antonio
Call 1-877-747-4656 now, appointments are available as soon as availability allows for San Antonio residents, by secure video from home.
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