Locations / Texas / El Paso
Online psychiatry for El Paso, Texas
El Paso sits at the far west end of Texas and at the far end of its psychiatric map, hundreds of miles from the nearest major metro. shrinkMD brings board certified online psychiatry to the Borderland, with evaluations within days by secure video.
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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Care in El Paso
Real psychiatry, without the local waitlist
El Paso is one of the largest cities in America to face a true psychiatric access gap: the Borderland has a fraction of the psychiatrists its 700,000 residents need, and the next options are a long drive through the desert. Soldiers transitioning at Fort Bliss, medical workers, and families across the Mission Valley all wait on the same short list of local providers.
shrinkMD removes the distance. You meet a board certified clinician licensed in Texas by secure video from your home on the Westside, your office downtown, or your living room in Horizon City, usually within days of booking. Sun Metro schedules and I-10 traffic stop being part of your treatment plan.
We treat the full adult range, including anxiety, depression, PTSD, bipolar disorder, and insomnia, with particular experience serving veterans and military families. Care is measured visit to visit with PHQ-9 and GAD-7 scores, and prescriptions go to your local pharmacy.
What we treat
Conditions we treat
Evaluation, diagnosis, and ongoing care for the full range of adult outpatient conditions.
Sleep & Insomnia
Chronic insomnia and disrupted sleep, treated without controlled substances.
Learn more →
From the Franklin Mountains to the Mission Valley, expert care is a few days away.
Getting started
Getting started in El Paso
Complete the secure intake
A few minutes online so we can match you with the right clinician.
Meet your clinician by video
A full 45 to 60 minute evaluation from anywhere private in the area, as clinician availability allows.
Get your plan the same day
A working diagnosis, clear next steps, and prescriptions to your local pharmacy when appropriate.
Follow up that actually happens
Short measured visits with the same clinician, scheduled around real life in El Paso.
Local resources
Mental health resources in the El Paso area
The Borderland has dedicated crisis and support resources.
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988
- Emergency: 911 or the nearest emergency department, including University Medical Center and Del Sol
- Emergence Health Network operates the regional crisis line for El Paso County
- NAMI El Paso offers support groups and family education
Access
Insurance, access, and appointment availability in Texas
shrinkMD operates as a transparent cash pay practice: we don't bill insurance, which is what keeps evaluations a full hour, follow ups consistent, and your records entirely out of insurer databases. Fees are flat and published before you book, HSA and FSA funds work, and superbills are available for possible out of network reimbursement.
Our clinicians are licensed in Texas and see patients by secure video anywhere in the state, as clinician availability allows. If we're ever not the right level of care, we say so plainly and help you find what is.
Where we serve
El Paso and nearby areas we serve
We serve the entire Borderland by video, identically:
- The Westside, Kern Place, and UTEP area
- Downtown, Central, and the Mission Valley
- The Northeast and the Fort Bliss area
- The Eastside, Horizon City, and Socorro
- The Upper Valley, Canutillo, and Anthony
Keep exploring
Related care and next steps
Related conditions
- Psychiatric evaluation in El Paso
- Medication management in El Paso
- Anxiety treatment in El Paso
- Depression treatment in El Paso
- All of Texas
- Online psychiatry in Houston
- Online psychiatry in Dallas
- Online psychiatry in Austin
- Online psychiatry in San Antonio
- Online psychiatry in Fort Worth
- Online psychiatry in Corpus Christi
- Online psychiatry in Plano
- Online psychiatry in Frisco
- Online psychiatry in The Woodlands
- Online psychiatry in Sugar Land
Helpful next steps
Frequently asked questions
Good questions, clear answers
Is telepsychiatry available in El Paso?
Yes. shrinkMD provides licensed online psychiatry for adults across Texas, including El Paso, by secure video, with evaluations usually available as soon as availability allows.
Do you prescribe controlled medication in El Paso?
No. shrinkMD doesn't prescribe controlled substances anywhere, including stimulants and benzodiazepines. We're upfront about this and effective with the evidence based alternatives.
How fast can I be seen in El Paso?
Usually as clinician availability allows, compared to the months long waits common locally. Early treatment is easier treatment.
Will I see the same clinician each time?
Yes. Continuity is a core standard: one clinician who knows your history, your scores, and your goals, visit after visit.
What number do I call in El Paso for a mental health emergency?
Call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or call 911. shrinkMD is an outpatient practice, not an emergency service, and we want you safe first.
Does insurance cover telepsychiatry in El Paso?
We don't bill insurance. You pay a transparent flat fee per visit, HSA and FSA funds work, and we provide superbills you may submit for possible out of network reimbursement.
Where do appointments take place?
Wherever you've privacy and a connection: home, an office, or a parked car. There's no clinic to drive to and no waiting room.
Do I need a referral?
No referral is needed. Book directly, and with your permission we coordinate with your primary care clinician afterward.
Do you work with soldiers and veterans from Fort Bliss?
Yes. Veterans mental health is one of our specialty populations, and we understand the realities of transition, deployment stress, and PTSD. We do not bill TRICARE, but fees are flat and transparent and superbills are provided.
Is online psychiatry realistic this far from other Texas cities?
It is exactly where telepsychiatry matters most. Your clinician is fully licensed in Texas, the video platform is secure, and the distance to Dallas or Houston becomes irrelevant.
About El Paso
With about 680,000 people, El Paso is a community we're glad to serve. It's a West Texas border city on the Rio Grande across from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. We care for working families, a large Hispanic community, and military families connected to Fort Bliss.
Serving El Paso
Across El Paso, from downtown, San Jacinto Plaza, and Franklin Mountains State Park, residents can meet a board-certified psychiatrist by secure video with shrinkMD. El Paso is a West Texas border city at the foot of the Franklin Mountains, 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: Mental health - MedlinePlus.
Nearby areas
Other Texas cities we serve
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 online psychiatry in El Paso
Call 1-877-747-4656 or book online. Appointments are available as soon as availability allows for El Paso residents, by secure video from home.
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