The Woodlands, Texas
Depression Treatment in The Woodlands
The Woodlands was master planned for everything except the regional psychiatric shortage: energy corridor careers, I-45 commutes, and high expectations carry a quiet load, and the local supply books out like everywhere else in greater Houston. The pines deserve better. That's depression talking, and it responds to treatment. shrinkMD brings evidence based depression care to The Woodlands 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
Care built around The Woodlands
From Town Center to Creekside Park, visits happen by video from home or a Hughes Landing office, with no drive to the Medical Center and no waiting room.
We bill no insurance, fees are flat and published, and oil and gas cycle stress is treated without judgment, including the household strain of downturn years.
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 The Woodlands
Frequently asked questions
Good questions, clear answers
I split time between The Woodlands and downtown Houston. Does that work?
Seamlessly: video visits happen wherever you are in Texas that day, with the same clinician and plan.
Can you tell burnout from depression?
That is precisely the evaluation's job: the two overlap in symptoms and differ in treatment, and you leave with a clear answer.
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.
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.
About The Woodlands
With around 118,000 people, The Woodlands is a community we're glad to serve. It's a large master-planned community about 30 miles north of Houston. We care for professional families, corporate workers, and commuters tied to the Houston metro.
Serving The Woodlands
Across The Woodlands, from The Woodlands Waterway, the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion, and Town Green Park, residents can meet a board-certified psychiatrist by secure video with shrinkMD. The Woodlands is a master-planned community north of Houston, 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 The Woodlands
Call 1-877-747-4656 now, appointments are available as soon as availability allows for The Woodlands residents, by secure video from home.
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