St Petersburg, Florida
Medication Management in St Petersburg
St. Pete has reinvented itself, but psychiatric access has not kept up: Pinellas waitlists run long, half the specialists are across the bay, and the bridge is its own appointment. Whether you are a retiree tired of being handed another pamphlet, a service worker on Central Avenue hours, or a remote worker who moved for the sunshine and brought the anxiety along, waiting months for care is the local default we exist to break. That's what unmanaged medication looks like, and it's fixable. shrinkMD delivers real medication stewardship to St Petersburg: board certified clinicians, measured follow up, and visits that fit your actual schedule.
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
shrinkMD in St Petersburg, on your terms
Our visits happen by video anywhere in Pinellas, from a Kenwood bungalow to a condo near the pier, at hours that respect restaurant shifts and gallery weekends. No Howard Frankland, no parking, no waiting room.
Many of our St. Pete patients are retirees, and we make the technology easy: tap a link, and if anything goes sideways we finish by phone. We do not bill Medicare or any insurance, fees are flat and published, and HSA, FSA, and superbills are all supported.
What's included
What careful prescribing actually involves
Choosing a medication is reasoning, not reflex: your specific diagnosis, your past trials and their outcomes, family response patterns, side effect profiles, interactions with what you already take, and your own priorities, sleep, weight, energy, focus, all weigh in. We explain the tradeoffs and decide together.
Then we manage it like it matters: measured follow up every two to four weeks during changes, honest side effect guidance, planned tapers instead of cold stops, and deprescribing when something is no longer pulling its weight. Monitoring labs run through your local lab with results reviewed together. We don't prescribe stimulants or benzodiazepines, and we're direct about that up front.
Keep exploring
Care and next steps in St Petersburg
Frequently asked questions
Good questions, clear answers
Do I have to cross the bay for anything?
No. Evaluation, follow ups, prescriptions to your Pinellas pharmacy, and coordination with your local doctors all happen without a bridge.
Can you work around service industry hours on Central?
Yes, late morning, afternoon, and early evening slots fit bar and restaurant rhythms, and short video follow ups do not burn a whole day off.
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.
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.
About St Petersburg
With about 258,000 residents, St Petersburg is a community we're glad to serve. It's a major Tampa Bay city served by several large hospitals. We care for retirees, working families, and hospital staff.
Serving St Petersburg
Across St Petersburg, from Central Avenue, the downtown waterfront, and the Dali Museum, residents can meet a board-certified psychiatrist by secure video with shrinkMD. St Petersburg is a waterfront city on the Pinellas peninsula at Tampa Bay, 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 medications - MedlinePlus.
Nearby areas
Medication Management in nearby Florida 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 St Petersburg
Call 1-877-747-4656 now, appointments are available as soon as availability allows for St Petersburg residents, by secure video from home.
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