The Woodlands, Texas
Psychiatric Evaluation in The Woodlands
The Woodlands was master planned for everything except the regional psychiatric shortage: energy corridor careers, I-45 commutes, and high expectations carry a quiet load, and the local supply books out like everywhere else in greater Houston. The pines deserve better. The way out starts with an accurate diagnosis. shrinkMD provides full psychiatric evaluations to The Woodlands 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
shrinkMD in The Woodlands, on your terms
From Town Center to Creekside Park, visits happen by video from home or a Hughes Landing office, with no drive to the Medical Center and no waiting room.
We bill no insurance, fees are flat and published, and oil and gas cycle stress is treated without judgment, including the household strain of downturn years.
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 The Woodlands
Frequently asked questions
Good questions, clear answers
I split time between The Woodlands and downtown Houston. Does that work?
Seamlessly: video visits happen wherever you are in Texas that day, with the same clinician and plan.
Can you tell burnout from depression?
That is precisely the evaluation's job: the two overlap in symptoms and differ in treatment, and you leave with a clear answer.
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 The Woodlands
The Woodlands is home to around 118,000 people. It's a large master-planned community about 30 miles north of Houston. Our patients here range across professional families, corporate workers, and commuters tied to the Houston metro.
Serving The Woodlands
Care should reach every corner of The Woodlands. As a master-planned community north of Houston, The Woodlands stretches from Waterway Square, Market Street, and The Woodlands Waterway, and shrinkMD brings board-certified telepsychiatry to all of it by secure video, with the same psychiatrist over time.
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.
Learn more
More from a trusted source: What is psychiatry? - American Psychiatric Association.
Nearby areas
Psychiatric Evaluation in nearby Texas 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 The Woodlands
Call 1-877-747-4656 now, appointments are available as soon as availability allows for The Woodlands residents, by secure video from home.
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