Athens, Georgia
Psychiatric Evaluation in Athens
Athens concentrates the highest risk age window for first psychiatric episodes by the tens of thousands, then offers a counseling center at capacity and local practices quoting next semester. Between exams, downtown service shifts, and the counties around Athens with no coverage at all, treatable conditions get a full academic year to dig in. A psychiatric evaluation is how the guessing ends: one structured hour with a board certified clinician that produces a real diagnosis and a real plan. shrinkMD brings that hour to Athens by secure video, as clinician availability allows.
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 Athens
Students 18 and older are seen within days, from a dorm or an apartment off Milledge, with continuity through summers anywhere in Georgia and across our other states after graduation. Nothing touches campus systems or family insurance.
Townies get the same speed: musicians on tour calendars, service workers on downtown hours, and the surrounding counties by video that does not care about county lines.
What's included
The evaluation, start to finish
Before the visit, you gather the short list that sharpens everything: current medications, your pharmacy, and any past psychiatric medications with dose, duration, and response. The appointment itself runs 45 to 60 minutes by secure video, covering your history, screening tools, medical contributors, and goals, in plain conversation rather than interrogation.
By the end you know three things: what this is, what we recommend, and what to expect in the first six weeks. Validated scores from this visit become the baseline every follow up is measured against, prescriptions go to your pharmacy the same day when indicated, and therapy is coordinated when it strengthens the plan. The next appointment is on the calendar before you close the laptop.
Keep exploring
Care and next steps in Athens
Frequently asked questions
Good questions, clear answers
Will my parents or UGA ever see anything about my care?
No. At 18 your care is legally yours, no claim appears on a family plan because we bill no insurance, and nothing reaches university systems.
Can I keep my clinician after graduation?
Yes, anywhere in Georgia automatically and across our other states if you move. Treatment started at 20 should not end with a diploma.
What should I've ready for the appointment?
Current medications and doses, your pharmacy, any past diagnoses, and most importantly every psychiatric medication you've tried with dose, duration, and response. That history guides everything.
What if I need more than telehealth can provide?
Then we tell you plainly and help arrange the right level of care. Knowing our limits is part of the clinical standard, not an exception to it.
Will I get a diagnosis at the first visit?
Usually yes, a working diagnosis and plan the same day. When something genuinely needs more information or records first, we say exactly what and why.
About Athens
Athens is a college town home to the University of Georgia and a regional medical center for northeast Georgia. It's home to about 127,000 people. The people we see here include students, university and hospital staff, and working families.
Serving Athens
Athens is a college town and home to the University of Georgia, and reaching a psychiatrist here shouldn't take a long drive. shrinkMD sees adults across Athens by secure video, whether you're near downtown, the UGA North Campus, and Five Points. You keep the same clinician each visit, with no commute and no waiting room.
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.
Related reading
- the psychiatric evaluation
- what to expect at your first evaluation
- your first appointment, step by step
More from a trusted source: What is psychiatry? - American Psychiatric Association.
Nearby areas
Psychiatric Evaluation in nearby Georgia cities
Your next step in The Shrink Network
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Each site in the network has one job. No matter where you enter, we help you find the next step that makes sense.
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Want to understand more first?
Start psychiatric evaluation in Athens
Call 1-877-747-4656 now, appointments are available as soon as availability allows for Athens residents, by secure video from home.
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