South Portland, Maine
Depression Treatment in South Portland
South Portland lives in the practical lane: retail and airport shifts, hospital schedules across the bridge, and family calendars that leave no margin for a waiting room hour, never mind the months long waits greater Portland quotes. So the panic before shifts and the flat, heavy evenings get filed under tired, and the file keeps growing. Depression is biology, not a failure of will, and biology responds to treatment. shrinkMD treats adults in South Portland by video, with board certified clinicians, measured care, and first visits 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 South Portland
Our visits fit inside actual South Portland days: after school drop off, between Maine Mall shifts, or once the kids are down, by video from Ferry Village to Cash Corner. Fifteen to thirty minutes, on time.
Everything stays outside employer and insurer systems because we bill no insurance. Flat fee up front, records that move only with your signature, and the same clinician visit after visit.
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 South Portland
Frequently asked questions
Good questions, clear answers
I have two jobs and kids. When would appointments even happen?
In the seams, that is the design. Early, evening, and lunch break video visits, and follow ups short enough to fit a break room.
Will my employer's insurance ever show a mental health claim?
No, because no claim ever exists. We bill nothing to any insurer, which keeps your care entirely yours.
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.
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.
About South Portland
South Portland is a commuter city directly across the harbor from Portland. It's home to about 26,000 residents. The people we see here include commuters, families, and workers just across the harbor from Portland.
Serving South Portland
South Portland is the city across the harbor from Portland, and reaching a psychiatrist here shouldn't take a long drive. shrinkMD sees adults across South Portland by secure video, whether you're near Willard Beach, Knightville, and Ferry Village. 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 Maine 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 South Portland
Call 1-877-747-4656 now, appointments are available as soon as availability allows for South Portland residents, by secure video from home.
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