Richmond, Virginia
Psychiatric Evaluation in Richmond
Richmond's renaissance outran its prescribers: a creative class on irregular income, VCU's student and medical masses, and state careers wary of records, all sharing waitlists that quote next quarter while the anxiety compounds daily interest. 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 Richmond 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 Richmond, on your terms
Freelancers get flat published fees and cadence that flexes with the budget; state workers get structural privacy, no insurance billing, no databases; VCU students keep continuity through breaks and past graduation across our ten states.
Visits happen by video from the Fan, Church Hill, Short Pump, or a quiet hospital corner, within days, with one clinician and measured progress throughout.
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 Richmond
Frequently asked questions
Good questions, clear answers
Can VCU students keep their clinician after graduation?
Yes, anywhere in Virginia and across our other states afterward. Nothing touches university systems or family insurance.
My income is irregular. How do I plan for treatment?
Fees are flat and published, HSA and FSA work, and visit cadence flexes once you are stable. We plan the schedule with you.
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 Richmond
With about 234,000 people, Richmond is a community we're glad to serve. It's Virginia's capital and a regional medical hub anchored by VCU Health. We care for state government workers, hospital staff, and healthcare professionals.
Serving Richmond
Across Richmond, from downtown along the James River, Carytown, and the Fan District, residents can meet a board-certified psychiatrist by secure video with shrinkMD. Richmond is Virginia's capital, on the James 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 Virginia 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.
Get clinical care with shrinkMD
Want to understand more first?
Start psychiatric evaluation in Richmond
Call 1-877-747-4656 now, appointments are available as soon as availability allows for Richmond residents, by secure video from home.
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