Tampa, Florida
Depression Treatment in Tampa
Depression doesn't care that Tampa is booming. While the cranes go up over Water Street, you're running on fumes: workdays survived rather than lived, weekends spent recovering from nothing, a patience deficit your family feels first in Brandon or Carrollwood. Two weeks or more of that pattern is clinical depression, and it's exceptionally treatable. shrinkMD treats adults across Tampa Bay by secure video, with board certified clinicians, measured care, and first appointments as soon as availability allows instead of next quarter.
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
Depression care on your side of the bay
Whichever side of the Howard Frankland you wake up on, treatment comes to you, because depression plus bridge traffic is how appointments get skipped. Scheduling respects hospital rotations at Tampa General and Moffitt, hospitality hours, and MacDill family rhythms.
Privacy is structural: no insurance claims, no diagnosis in an employer plan, records that move only with your authorization. For professionals whose industries gossip, that's often the deciding factor in finally starting.
What's included
What depression treatment includes at shrinkMD
Your evaluation sorts depression from its imitators, burnout, thyroid disease, sleep disorders, and bipolar lows, because each one redirects treatment. The plan then combines what the evidence ranks highest: an antidepressant selected against your complete medication history, behavioral activation that rebuilds momentum in five minute increments, and structured therapy where it multiplies results.
Progress gets measured, PHQ-9 at every visit, follow ups every two to four weeks while we adjust, so you can watch the line move. Energy typically lifts before mood does, often within four to six weeks. And once you're well, we do the part most practices skip: a written relapse prevention plan with your early warning signs and exactly what to do when they show.
Keep exploring
Care and next steps in Tampa
Frequently asked questions
Good questions, clear answers
How quickly can I start depression treatment in Tampa?
Within days, both sides of the bay. The regional waitlists are measured in months, and depression makes every one of those months heavier.
Is it burnout from my job or actual depression?
Burnout improves with rest and distance from work; depression follows you on vacation. The evaluation tells them apart, and the treatments are different.
What if getting motivated for appointments is the whole problem?
We know, that's depression's signature move. Video visits from your couch, 15 to 30 minutes, designed for low fuel days.
Do you coordinate with my therapist or primary care doctor in Tampa?
With your permission, yes, both. Medication, therapy, and medical care work best as one conversation.
What happens if my depression has psychotic features or I'm in crisis?
Crisis means 988 or 911 now. For severe presentations, we evaluate honestly and help arrange the right level of care, then provide follow up once outpatient treatment is appropriate.
About Tampa
Tampa is the third-largest city in Florida and a West Central Florida medical hub anchored by Tampa General Hospital. It's home to about 400,000 residents. The people we see here include working families, commuters, professionals, and hospital staff.
Serving Tampa
Tampa is the largest city on Florida's Gulf coast, on Tampa Bay, and reaching a psychiatrist here shouldn't take a long drive. shrinkMD sees adults across Tampa by secure video, whether you're near Ybor City, Hyde Park, and the Channel District. 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 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 Tampa
Call 1-877-747-4656 now, appointments are available as soon as availability allows for Tampa residents, by secure video from home.
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