Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Psychiatric Evaluation in Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale's calendar complicates care: yachting seasons that scatter crews across time zones, snowbird months that double the population, and a Broward waitlist that does not care about either. In an industry-town where everyone knows everyone from the docks to Las Olas, plenty of people quietly decide treatment is not worth the exposure, and pay for that decision in sleep, mood, and marriages. What changes that's a real evaluation: a full clinical hour that ends in answers. shrinkMD delivers it to Fort Lauderdale by secure video, as soon as availability allows, from board certified clinicians.
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 Fort Lauderdale, on your terms
We built for exactly this. Visits happen by secure video wherever you are private, a stateroom, a home office in Victoria Park, a parked car near the marina, and scheduling flexes with charter seasons and refit timelines.
Privacy is structural, not promised: no insurance billing means no claims, no diagnosis in any database, and records that move only with your written authorization. For part year residents, care continues in any of the ten states we serve, including New York.
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.
Keep exploring
Care and next steps in Fort Lauderdale
Frequently asked questions
Good questions, clear answers
I work on yachts and travel constantly. Can treatment survive my schedule?
Often yes, with one rule: visits happen while you are physically in a state we serve. We map your season against our ten states and plan appointment timing around crossings and charters.
How private is this in an industry where word travels fast?
Structurally private. No waiting rooms, no insurance paper trail, no one to recognize your car. Who knows is entirely your decision.
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.
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.
About Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale is the seat of Broward County and a major South Florida metro anchored by a large regional health system. It's home to about 185,000 residents. The people we see here include working families, commuters, hospital staff, and professionals.
Serving Fort Lauderdale
Fort Lauderdale is a coastal city on the New River and the Atlantic, and reaching a psychiatrist here shouldn't take a long drive. shrinkMD sees adults across Fort Lauderdale by secure video, whether you're near Las Olas Boulevard, the Riverwalk Arts and Entertainment District, and Flagler Village. 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 Florida 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 Fort Lauderdale
Call 1-877-747-4656 now, appointments are available as soon as availability allows for Fort Lauderdale residents, by secure video from home.
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