Locations / Hawaii / Lihue
Online psychiatry for Lihue, Hawaii
Kauai is the most psychiatrically underserved island in Hawaii, where seeing a specialist has long meant a flight to Honolulu. shrinkMD brings board certified online psychiatry to Lihue and all of Kauai, 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
Already know your state is active? Skip to the waitlist.
Care in Lihue
Real psychiatry, without the local waitlist
The Garden Isle's beauty obscures a hard clinical fact: with a small population spread across one island, Kauai has never sustained much psychiatric capacity. Residents needing more than primary care could offer have flown to Oahu, waited months, or gone without, and the going without is what telepsychiatry exists to end.
shrinkMD serves Kauai identically to Honolulu. You meet a board certified clinician licensed in Hawaii by secure video from your home in Lihue, Kapaa, or Hanalei, usually within days of booking. No flight, no months, no gap between deciding to get help and getting it.
We treat depression, anxiety, PTSD, insomnia, and the full adult outpatient range with care that respects island rhythms: hospitality shifts, the cost of living far from everything, and the isolation that can shadow even the most beautiful place on earth.
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 Coconut Coast to Waimea, expert care is a few days away, on island.
Getting started
Getting started in Lihue
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 Lihue.
Local resources
Mental health resources in the Lihue area
Kauai has crisis resources every resident should know.
- Hawaii CARES: 988 or 1-800-753-6879, statewide crisis support
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988
- Emergency: 911 or Wilcox Medical Center in Lihue
- NAMI Hawaii provides island support programs and education
Access
Insurance, access, and appointment availability in Hawaii
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 Hawaii 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
Lihue and nearby areas we serve
We serve all of Kauai by video, identically:
- Lihue and Puhi
- Kapaa, Wailua, and the Coconut Coast
- Princeville, Hanalei, and the North Shore
- Koloa, Poipu, and the South Shore
- Waimea, Hanapepe, and the West Side
Keep exploring
Related care and next steps
Related conditions
- Psychiatric evaluation in Lihue
- Medication management in Lihue
- Anxiety treatment in Lihue
- Depression treatment in Lihue
- All of Hawaii
- Online psychiatry in Honolulu
- Online psychiatry in Hilo
- Online psychiatry in Kailua
- Online psychiatry in Kahului
- Online psychiatry in Pearl City
- Online psychiatry in Kailua-Kona
Helpful next steps
Frequently asked questions
Good questions, clear answers
Is telepsychiatry available in Lihue?
Yes. shrinkMD provides licensed online psychiatry for adults across Hawaii, including Lihue, by secure video, with evaluations usually available as soon as availability allows.
Do you prescribe controlled medication in Lihue?
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 Lihue?
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 Lihue 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 Lihue?
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.
Has psychiatry on Kauai really required flying to Oahu?
For many specialized needs, historically yes, between costs, scheduling, and a day lost to travel. Telepsychiatry ends that: the same board certified evaluation happens from your living room within days.
I work hotel shifts on the South Shore. When do visits happen?
Around your schedule. Early mornings before shift, midafternoon breaks, and evenings all work, follow ups take 15 to 30 minutes, and your clinician stays the same no matter how your rota changes.
About Lihue
Lihue is home to about 8,000 people. It's Kauai's main town and the county seat, home to the island's airport and harbor. Our patients here range across Kauai residents, county and healthcare workers, and families who travel there for the island's main services.
Serving Lihue
Care should reach every corner of Lihue. As Kauai's government and commercial center, Lihue stretches from Kalapaki Beach, Nawiliwili Harbor, and the Kauai Museum, and shrinkMD brings board-certified telepsychiatry to all of it by secure video, with the same psychiatrist over time.
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.
Learn more
- our psychiatry services
- which mental health professional is right for you
- is online psychiatry effective
More from a trusted source: Mental health - MedlinePlus.
Nearby areas
Other Hawaii 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 Lihue
Call 1-877-747-4656 or book online. Appointments are available as soon as availability allows for Lihue residents, by secure video from home.
Get StartedAlready know your state is active? Skip to the waitlist.