Locations / California / Palo Alto
Online psychiatry for Palo Alto, California
Palo Alto practically invented the modern achievement culture, and it pays the psychological bill for it. shrinkMD brings board certified online psychiatry to Palo Alto and the mid-Peninsula, 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
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Care in Palo Alto
Real psychiatry, without the local waitlist
Few places concentrate more pressure per square mile: founders running out of runway, researchers stacked against tenure clocks, and households where excellence is the baseline. Stanford anchors world class psychiatry, but its clinics fill far beyond capacity, and private practices on the mid-Peninsula quote months and four figures.
shrinkMD is the direct path. You meet a board certified clinician licensed in California by secure video from your home in Crescent Park, your office on Sand Hill Road, or anywhere private, usually within days of booking, at published flat fees.
We treat what this ecosystem produces: anxiety calibrated to fundraising cycles, depression that hides behind shipped product, insomnia, ADHD evaluation needs, and burnout that needs differentiating from all of the above. Progress is measured, follow up is consistent, and nothing enters an insurance database.
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 University Avenue to Sand Hill Road, expert care is a few days away, in confidence.
Getting started
Getting started in Palo Alto
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 Palo Alto.
Local resources
Mental health resources in the Palo Alto area
The mid-Peninsula has strong mental health resources.
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988
- Emergency: 911 or the nearest emergency department, including Stanford Health Care
- Santa Clara County Behavioral Health operates a 24 hour call center
- NAMI Santa Clara County and CHC offer local support 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
Palo Alto and nearby areas we serve
We serve the mid-Peninsula by video, identically:
- Downtown, Professorville, and Crescent Park
- College Terrace, Barron Park, and Midtown
- Stanford and Sand Hill Road
- Menlo Park, Atherton, and Portola Valley
- Mountain View, Los Altos, and Los Altos Hills
Keep exploring
Related care and next steps
Related conditions
- Psychiatric evaluation in Palo Alto
- Medication management in Palo Alto
- Anxiety treatment in Palo Alto
- Depression treatment in Palo Alto
- 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 Beverly Hills
- Online psychiatry in Newport Beach
Helpful next steps
Frequently asked questions
Good questions, clear answers
Is telepsychiatry available in Palo Alto?
Yes. shrinkMD provides licensed online psychiatry for adults across California, including Palo Alto, by secure video, with evaluations usually available as soon as availability allows.
Do you prescribe controlled medication in Palo Alto?
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 Palo Alto?
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 Palo Alto 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 Palo Alto?
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.
I'm a founder. Investors can never know I'm being treated. Is that safe here?
Yes, structurally. We never bill insurance, so no diagnosis or prescription exists in any database an investor, board, or diligence process could touch. Treatment happens behind your own closed door at published fees.
Can you coordinate with a Stanford therapist I already see?
Yes, with your permission. Therapist plus psychiatrist is often the strongest configuration: weekly therapy for process, psychiatry for diagnosis and medication, coordinated so the plan stays unified.
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 Stanford University, University Avenue, and downtown, 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
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 Palo Alto
Call 1-877-747-4656 or book online. Appointments are available as soon as availability allows for Palo Alto residents, by secure video from home.
Get StartedAlready know your state is active? Skip to the waitlist.