Sarasota, Florida
Psychiatric Evaluation in Sarasota
Sarasota's mental health gap hides behind its postcard: retirees managing grief, health scares, and the quiet depression that can follow both; caregivers running on fumes for a spouse or parent; and an arts and hospitality workforce whose season leaves no daylight for appointments. The area's psychiatric supply was never built for any of them, and the waits show it. What changes that's a real evaluation: a full clinical hour that ends in answers. shrinkMD delivers it to Sarasota 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
Why Sarasota chooses shrinkMD
Video care fits each of those lives: a caregiver seen from the kitchen during nap hours, a retiree spared the Tamiami drive, a stage manager booked between matinee and evening call. Appointments within days, anywhere from Lakewood Ranch to Siesta Key.
We treat caregiver burnout and late life depression as the serious clinical conditions they are, not afterthoughts. No insurance billing keeps everything private; superbills, HSA, and FSA cover the practical side.
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 Sarasota
Frequently asked questions
Good questions, clear answers
I care for my husband full time. I cannot leave for appointments. Can you help me?
Yes, this is exactly what video care is for. You are seen from home during whatever window the day allows, and caregiver depression and anxiety are conditions we treat with particular attention.
Is depression after a health diagnosis just normal aging?
No. Low mood that settles in after illness or loss is common and very treatable, and treating it improves the medical outcomes too. It deserves care, not resignation.
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 Sarasota
Sarasota is a Gulf-coast retirement destination anchored by the Sarasota Memorial health system. It's home to about 57,000 residents. The people we see here include retirees, older adults, and hospital staff.
Serving Sarasota
Sarasota is a Gulf-coast arts city on Sarasota Bay, and reaching a psychiatrist here shouldn't take a long drive. shrinkMD sees adults across Sarasota by secure video, whether you're near Bayfront Park, St. Armands Circle, and the Ringling Museum. 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.
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 Sarasota
Call 1-877-747-4656 now, appointments are available as soon as availability allows for Sarasota residents, by secure video from home.
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