Palo Alto, California
Medication Management in Palo Alto
Palo Alto concentrates more pressure per square mile than almost anywhere: founders against runway, researchers against tenure clocks, students against impossible baselines. Stanford's clinics overflow, private practices quote months and four figures, and the mid-Peninsula keeps performing instead of healing. Medication that affects your brain should be managed, not merely refilled. shrinkMD brings board certified medication management to Palo Alto by video, with appointments as soon as availability allows and progress tracked 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
Why Palo Alto chooses shrinkMD
From Crescent Park to Sand Hill Road to Mountain View, visits happen by video from home or office at published flat fees, with discretion built into the structure rather than promised.
We bill no insurance, so no diagnosis exists in any database a board, investor, or diligence process could reach, and records stay between you and your clinician.
What's included
How medication management works here
Everything starts with your medication story: what you take now and every psychiatric medication you've tried, each with dose, duration, and response, because that history is the strongest predictor of what will work next. Changes are then made one at a time, at sensible doses, and judged against validated symptom scores rather than impressions.
Expect visits every two to four weeks while adjusting and every one to three months once stable. Side effects get adult guidance, what fades, what to report, and how to switch safely, and tapers are planned rather than abrupt. We deprescribe when a medication stops earning its place, we don't prescribe controlled substances, and labs, when needed, are coordinated through your local clinic or lab.
Keep exploring
Care and next steps in Palo Alto
Frequently asked questions
Good questions, clear answers
Can you coordinate with my existing therapist?
Yes, with your permission, and therapist plus psychiatrist is often the strongest configuration.
Do you cover Menlo Park and Mountain View?
The whole mid-Peninsula, identically: Atherton, Portola Valley, Los Altos, and beyond, by video.
What if my medication causes side effects?
You get clear guidance on what fades within two weeks, what deserves a message, and what means call now, and switches are planned rather than abrupt.
Will you coordinate with my primary care doctor?
With your permission, yes, in both directions, so interactions get caught and both plans pull the same way.
How often will I be seen?
Every two to four weeks while starting or adjusting, then every one to three months once stable. The cadence follows your response, not a fixed grid.
About Palo Alto
With about 68,000 residents, Palo Alto is a community we're glad to serve. It's a Silicon Valley city next to Stanford University. We care for tech and professional workers, students, and families.
Serving Palo Alto
Across Palo Alto, from University Avenue, downtown, and the California Avenue district, residents can meet a board-certified psychiatrist by secure video with shrinkMD. Palo Alto is a Silicon Valley city and home to Stanford University, 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 Palo Alto
Call 1-877-747-4656 now, appointments are available as soon as availability allows for Palo Alto residents, by secure video from home.
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