Locations / California / Newport Beach
Online psychiatry for Newport Beach, California
Newport Beach looks like the picture of wellbeing, which makes asking for psychiatric help here strangely hard. shrinkMD brings board certified online psychiatry to Newport and coastal Orange County, with evaluations within days and complete discretion.
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 Newport Beach
Real psychiatry, without the local waitlist
Coastal Orange County carries a particular pressure: when the setting is this beautiful and the household this accomplished, struggling feels like a personal failure rather than a medical condition. It is neither. Anxiety, depression, and insomnia are as common on the harbor as anywhere, just better dressed.
shrinkMD makes getting help simple and private. You meet a board certified clinician licensed in California by secure video from your home on the peninsula, your office in Fashion Island's towers, or anywhere quiet, usually within days of booking.
Finance, real estate, and medicine dominate the local economy, and their rhythms shape our scheduling: early mornings before the market opens, short follow ups between patients or closings. Fees are flat and published, nothing touches insurance databases, and progress is measured rather than assumed.
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 harbor to Crystal Cove, expert care is a few days away, quietly.
Getting started
Getting started in Newport Beach
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 Newport Beach.
Local resources
Mental health resources in the Newport Beach area
Coastal Orange County has strong mental health resources.
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988
- Emergency: 911 or the nearest emergency department, including Hoag Hospital Newport Beach
- OC Links connects residents to county behavioral health services
- NAMI Orange County offers support groups and family programs
Access
Insurance, access, and appointment availability in California
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 California 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
Newport Beach and nearby areas we serve
We serve coastal Orange County by video, identically:
- The peninsula, Lido Isle, and Balboa Island
- Newport Heights, Eastbluff, and the Back Bay
- Corona del Mar and Crystal Cove
- Newport Coast and Pelican Hill
- Costa Mesa, Huntington Beach, and Laguna Beach
Keep exploring
Related care and next steps
Related conditions
- Psychiatric evaluation in Newport Beach
- Medication management in Newport Beach
- Anxiety treatment in Newport Beach
- Depression treatment in Newport Beach
- All of California
- Online psychiatry in Los Angeles
- Online psychiatry in San Diego
- Online psychiatry in San Francisco
- Online psychiatry in Sacramento
- Online psychiatry in San Jose
- Online psychiatry in Fresno
- Online psychiatry in Irvine
- Online psychiatry in Palo Alto
- Online psychiatry in Beverly Hills
Helpful next steps
Frequently asked questions
Good questions, clear answers
Is telepsychiatry available in Newport Beach?
Yes. shrinkMD provides licensed online psychiatry for adults across California, including Newport Beach, by secure video, with evaluations usually available as soon as availability allows.
Do you prescribe controlled medication in Newport Beach?
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 Newport Beach?
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 Newport Beach 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 Newport Beach?
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.
Markets open at 6:30 here. Do you have appointments before that?
Early morning follow ups exist precisely for finance schedules, and the 15 to 30 minute format fits before the open. Your evaluation can land on a lighter day, by video, wherever you are.
Everyone knows everyone here. Will I run into someone in your waiting room?
There is no waiting room. Care happens behind your own closed door by encrypted video, we never bill insurance, and no one sees you arrive or leave. Discretion is structural, not promised.
About Newport Beach
Newport Beach is home to about 81,000 residents. It's an affluent Orange County coastal city. Our patients here range across professionals, business owners, and retirees.
Serving Newport Beach
Care should reach every corner of Newport Beach. As a harbor city on the Orange County coast, Newport Beach stretches from Fashion Island, Newport Pier, and Newport Harbor, 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 California 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 Newport Beach
Call 1-877-747-4656 or book online. Appointments are available as soon as availability allows for Newport Beach residents, by secure video from home.
Get StartedAlready know your state is active? Skip to the waitlist.