Augusta, Maine
Psychiatric Evaluation in Augusta, ME
Augusta carries two quiet barriers to care: state employment, where people fear a mental health record near their job, and Kennebec Valley geography, where the towns between Gardiner and Waterville share a psychiatric supply that was never enough. Both barriers produce the same result, capable people running on empty and calling it normal. The way out starts with an accurate diagnosis. shrinkMD provides full psychiatric evaluations to Augusta by secure video, with a board certified clinician and a first appointment withwithout the typical months-long wait.
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 Augusta chooses shrinkMD
The privacy barrier we remove structurally: no insurance billing, so nothing enters the state plan or any database, and records move only with your written authorization. Appointments flex around session calendars and agency hours.
The geography we remove entirely: video visits reach Winthrop, Gardiner, Sidney, and the rural towns identically, within days, with phone backup when connections wobble.
What's included
What your evaluation includes
Plan for 45 to 60 minutes of real clinical work, two to four times the length of a rushed intake. Your clinician maps your symptoms and their timeline, screens the conditions that imitate one another, including bipolar patterns hiding behind depression and anxiety masking trauma, reviews medical contributors like thyroid problems and sleep loss, and documents every psychiatric medication you've tried with its dose, duration, and response.
You leave with a working diagnosis explained in plain language, validated baseline scores so progress can be measured, and a concrete plan covering medication and therapy options. Prescriptions reach your local pharmacy the same day when medication is part of the plan, and your follow up is booked before you sign off. If we aren't the right level of care, we say so and point you to what is.
Keep exploring
Care and next steps in Augusta
Frequently asked questions
Good questions, clear answers
I work for the state. Can this ever surface at work?
No. No claims, no state plan visibility, no employer reporting, ever. Your care is between you and your clinician.
How fast can someone in a surrounding town be seen?
Within days, same as downtown Augusta. Distance stopped mattering the moment care went video.
What happens after the evaluation?
Treatment starts: same day prescriptions when appropriate, a booked follow up, therapy coordination when it belongs in the plan, and measured progress from visit one.
Do I need a referral to book an evaluation?
No. You book directly, and with your permission we coordinate with your primary care clinician afterward so the whole picture stays connected.
Is a video evaluation as accurate as in person?
Yes. Psychiatric evaluation is history, conversation, and structured screening, all fully intact over secure video, and the research consistently shows equivalence.
About Augusta
With about 19,000 residents, Augusta is a community we're glad to serve. It's Maine's state capital and a center of government employment on the Kennebec River. We care for state employees, government staff, and families throughout the Kennebec Valley.
Serving Augusta
Across Augusta, from the east side along the Kennebec, downtown, and the Maine State House, residents can meet a board-certified psychiatrist by secure video with shrinkMD. Augusta is Maine's state capital, on the Kennebec River, 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
- which mental health professional is right for you
- is online psychiatry effective
- what to expect at your first evaluation
More from a trusted source: What is psychiatry? - American Psychiatric Association.
Nearby areas
Psychiatric Evaluation in nearby Maine 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 psychiatric evaluation in Augusta
Call 1-877-747-4656 now, appointments are available as soon as availability allows for Augusta residents, by secure video from home.
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