Locations / California / Sacramento
Online psychiatry for Sacramento, California
Sacramento is a government town with valley wide psychiatric gaps. shrinkMD serves the capital region by secure video, with board certified evaluations within days and structural privacy state workers can trust.
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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Care in Sacramento
Real psychiatry, without the local waitlist
Sacramento's two mental health barriers mirror its identity: state employees who fear a record near their career, and a Central Valley region where psychiatric coverage thins fast outside the grid. Both produce the same delay, and the delay produces worse symptoms.
shrinkMD addresses both structurally: no insurance billing, so nothing enters CalPERS plans or any database, and video delivery, so Elk Grove, Folsom, and the valley towns get the same appointment as Midtown, within days.
Treatment runs measured and consistent: a full evaluation, validated scores at follow ups, one clinician throughout, no controlled substances, and same day prescriptions to your local pharmacy.
What we treat
Conditions we treat
Evaluation, diagnosis, and ongoing care for the full range of adult outpatient conditions.
Sleep & Insomnia
Chronic insomnia and disrupted sleep, treated without controlled substances.
Learn more →
From the capitol to the foothills, expert care is a few days away.
Getting started
Getting started in Sacramento
Complete the secure intake
A few minutes online so we can match you with the right clinician.
Meet your clinician by video
A full 45 to 60 minute evaluation from anywhere private in the area, as clinician availability allows.
Get your plan the same day
A working diagnosis, clear next steps, and prescriptions to your local pharmacy when appropriate.
Follow up that actually happens
Short measured visits with the same clinician, scheduled around real life in Sacramento.
Local resources
Mental health resources in the Sacramento area
Crisis and community resources for the Sacramento region:
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988, 24 hours
- Sacramento County's mental health crisis services operate around the clock
- Emergency: 911 or the nearest emergency department
Access
Insurance, access, and appointment availability in California
shrinkMD operates as a transparent cash pay practice: we don't bill insurance, which is what keeps evaluations a full hour, follow ups consistent, and your records entirely out of insurer databases. Fees are flat and published before you book, HSA and FSA funds work, and superbills are available for possible out of network reimbursement.
Our clinicians are licensed in California and see patients by secure video anywhere in the state, as clinician availability allows. If we're ever not the right level of care, we say so plainly and help you find what is.
Where we serve
Sacramento and nearby areas we serve
The capital region, covered identically:
- Midtown, East Sacramento, and Land Park
- Elk Grove, Folsom, and Roseville
- Davis, Woodland, and Yolo County
- The valley and foothill towns beyond
Keep exploring
Related care and next steps
Related conditions
- Psychiatric evaluation in Sacramento
- Medication management in Sacramento
- Anxiety treatment in Sacramento
- Depression treatment in Sacramento
- All of California
- Online psychiatry in Los Angeles
- Online psychiatry in San Diego
- Online psychiatry in San Francisco
- Online psychiatry in San Jose
- Online psychiatry in Fresno
- Online psychiatry in Irvine
- Online psychiatry in Palo Alto
- Online psychiatry in Beverly Hills
- Online psychiatry in Newport Beach
Helpful next steps
Frequently asked questions
Good questions, clear answers
Is telepsychiatry available in Sacramento?
Yes. shrinkMD provides licensed online psychiatry for adults across California, including Sacramento, by secure video, with evaluations usually available as soon as availability allows.
Do you prescribe controlled medication in Sacramento?
No. shrinkMD doesn't prescribe controlled substances anywhere, including stimulants and benzodiazepines. We're upfront about this and effective with the evidence based alternatives.
How fast can I be seen in Sacramento?
Usually as clinician availability allows, compared to the months long waits common locally. Early treatment is easier treatment.
Will I see the same clinician each time?
Yes. Continuity is a core standard: one clinician who knows your history, your scores, and your goals, visit after visit.
What number do I call in Sacramento for a mental health emergency?
Call or text 988, the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, or call 911. shrinkMD is an outpatient practice, not an emergency service, and we want you safe first.
Does insurance cover telepsychiatry in Sacramento?
We don't bill insurance. You pay a transparent flat fee per visit, HSA and FSA funds work, and we provide superbills you may submit for possible out of network reimbursement.
Where do appointments take place?
Wherever you've privacy and a connection: home, an office, or a parked car. There's no clinic to drive to and no waiting room.
Do I need a referral?
No referral is needed. Book directly, and with your permission we coordinate with your primary care clinician afterward.
I work for the state. Can this ever reach my employer or CalPERS?
No. We bill no insurance, so no claim exists in any plan, and we report nothing to employers. Records move only with your written authorization.
Do you serve the valley and foothill towns outside the metro?
Identically, by video that runs fine on modest connections, with phone backup protocols. Distance is the barrier we exist to remove.
About Sacramento
Sacramento is home to about 525,000 residents. It's California's capital and a center of state government. Our patients here range across state workers, hospital staff, and working families.
Serving Sacramento
Care should reach every corner of Sacramento. As California's state capital, where the Sacramento and American rivers meet, Sacramento stretches from downtown, Old Sacramento, and the State Capitol, 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: Mental health - MedlinePlus.
Nearby areas
Other California cities we serve
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 online psychiatry in Sacramento
Call 1-877-747-4656 or book online. Appointments are available as soon as availability allows for Sacramento residents, by secure video from home.
Get StartedAlready know your state is active? Skip to the waitlist.