Irvine, California
Medication Management in Irvine
Irvine optimizes everything, but Orange County psychiatry resists optimization: months long waits, quietly closed panels, and fees quoted only by phone, while the pressure of high achieving households keeps compounding behind master planned hedges. Psychiatric medication deserves an owner, not an autopilot. shrinkMD provides board certified medication management to Irvine by secure video, with follow up that happens on schedule and decisions driven by measured results.
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
Made to fit life in Irvine
From Woodbridge to the Spectrum to Great Park, visits happen by video from home or office, with the one hour evaluation followed by 15 to 30 minute follow ups that respect packed calendars.
We bill no insurance, so care never touches an insurer database, with flat published fees, HSA and FSA accepted, and measurement based progress tracking.
What's included
From handoff to dialed in
Many patients arrive mid treatment, a prescriber retired, moved, or simply stopped paying attention. After an evaluation and records review we can usually continue your non controlled medications without missing a refill, then begin actually optimizing: one change at a time, tracked with validated scores until the numbers and your life agree.
Visits run 15 to 30 minutes by video on a cadence your treatment sets, every two to four weeks while tuning, stretching to quarterly once stable. Side effects, interactions, and the question of whether you still need each medication all stay on the table at every visit. Labs are coordinated locally when needed, and nothing here ever touches an insurance database.
Keep exploring
Care and next steps in Irvine
Frequently asked questions
Good questions, clear answers
Does care show up in background checks or insurer records?
No insurance billing means no insurer records at all, and voluntarily seeking outpatient care is widely viewed as responsible.
Do you serve neighboring cities?
Yes: Tustin, Lake Forest, Costa Mesa, and all of Orange County, identically by video.
Do you prescribe stimulants or benzodiazepines?
No, anywhere. We're upfront about it before you book, and skilled with the non controlled options the evidence supports.
How do labs work with a telehealth practice?
We coordinate orders through your local clinic or lab, lithium levels, metabolic panels, thyroid checks, and review results together. Telehealth changes the visit, not the monitoring standard.
Can you take over prescriptions from my previous provider?
Usually yes, for non controlled medications, after an evaluation and records review. Switching shouldn't mean starting over or missing a refill.
About Irvine
With about 320,000 residents, Irvine is a community we're glad to serve. It's a master-planned Orange County city and home to the University of California, Irvine. We care for students, tech and professional workers, and families.
Serving Irvine
Across Irvine, from University Park, the Irvine Spectrum Center, and the Great Park, residents can meet a board-certified psychiatrist by secure video with shrinkMD. Irvine is a master-planned city in Orange County, 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
- psychiatric medications, explained
- questions to ask your prescriber
- how long antidepressants take to work
More from a trusted source: Mental health medications - MedlinePlus.
Nearby areas
Medication Management in nearby California 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 medication management in Irvine
Call 1-877-747-4656 now, appointments are available as soon as availability allows for Irvine residents, by secure video from home.
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