San Jose, California
Depression Treatment in San Jose
San Jose ships product on schedules psychiatry ignores: release cycles, on-call rotations, and the highest cost of living in America, with South Bay psychiatrists booked out months or closed entirely. Burnout is treated as a job perk; it shouldn't be. 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 San Jose 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 San Jose
From Japantown to Almaden to Milpitas, visits happen by video from home offices, booked meeting rooms, or parked cars, with follow ups short enough to fit between standups.
We bill no insurance, so nothing about your care exists in any employer adjacent system, with flat published fees and PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores tracking real progress.
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 San Jose
Frequently asked questions
Good questions, clear answers
Can I be seen without my employer ever knowing?
Yes, structurally: no insurance billing means no claims or codes in any system an employer or benefits provider touches.
Do you treat burnout, ADHD, or depression, and how do you tell?
All three, and distinguishing them is the evaluation's purpose: they overlap in symptoms and differ in treatment.
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 San Jose
With more than 970,000 residents, the third-largest city in California, San Jose is a community we're glad to serve. It's a Silicon Valley tech hub. We care for tech and professional workers, immigrants, and families.
Serving San Jose
Across San Jose, from San Pedro Square, downtown, and Santana Row, residents can meet a board-certified psychiatrist by secure video with shrinkMD. San Jose is the largest city in Silicon Valley, 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 California 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 Jose
Call 1-877-747-4656 now, appointments are available as soon as availability allows for San Jose residents, by secure video from home.
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