Columbus, Georgia
Psychiatric Evaluation in Columbus
Columbus carries west Georgia's psychiatric shortage on top of military life at Fort Moore: transitions, deployments, and the civilian waitlists that stretch months or end in a drive to Atlanta. The Chattahoochee city deserves care that arrives this week. 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 Columbus 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
shrinkMD in Columbus, on your terms
From uptown to the Fort Moore area to Phenix City across the river, visits happen by video from home or quarters, with veterans mental health a core specialty and duty realities respected in scheduling.
We bill no insurance including TRICARE, but fees are flat and published, superbills are provided, and nothing about your care reaches any external database.
What's included
What a thorough evaluation looks like
We treat the evaluation as the highest leverage hour in psychiatry, because everything downstream depends on it. Yours runs 45 to 60 minutes and works through symptoms, sleep, substances and caffeine, medical history, family patterns, and the full record of prior treatment, what helped, what didn't, and at what dose and duration.
Differential diagnosis is the discipline most often skipped in shorter intakes, and the one we refuse to skip: unipolar versus bipolar, anxiety versus trauma, attention deficit versus exhaustion. The visit closes with a plain language diagnosis, measured baselines, a stepwise plan, same day prescriptions when appropriate, and an honest answer about whether outpatient telehealth is the right level of care for you.
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Care and next steps in Columbus
Frequently asked questions
Good questions, clear answers
Do you understand Fort Moore military life?
Yes: deployment cycles, transition out of service, and PTSD are core specialty territory, treated confidentially and scheduled around duty.
Can my spouse be seen even if they won't visit a clinic?
Often the building is the barrier, not the help: a first appointment from the living room within days lowers the threshold considerably.
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.
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.
About Columbus
With about 206,000 people, among the largest cities in the state, Columbus is a community we're glad to serve. It's a regional hub on the Chattahoochee River home to Fort Moore (formerly Fort Benning). We care for military families, working families, and hospital staff.
Serving Columbus
Across Columbus, from Uptown Columbus, the National Civil War Naval Museum, and the RushSouth Whitewater Park, residents can meet a board-certified psychiatrist by secure video with shrinkMD. Columbus is a Chattahoochee River city on the Alabama border, 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: What is psychiatry? - American Psychiatric Association.
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Want to understand more first?
Start psychiatric evaluation in Columbus
Call 1-877-747-4656 now, appointments are available as soon as availability allows for Columbus residents, by secure video from home.
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