Locations / California / San Diego
Online psychiatry for San Diego, California
San Diego's sunshine hides one of California's tighter psychiatric markets, plus the largest military community on the west coast. shrinkMD serves the county by secure video, within days, fully outside military and insurance systems.
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 San Diego
Real psychiatry, without the local waitlist
San Diego layers three populations who quietly delay care: military families and veterans around the bases who worry about visibility, biotech and healthcare professionals on demanding schedules, and a beach culture where admitting you are not okay feels off brand. The county's psychiatric waits give all three an excuse.
shrinkMD removes the excuse: board certified evaluation within days, by video from North Park, Carlsbad, Chula Vista, or a parked car at the base exchange, with nothing billed to TRICARE or any insurer and records that move only with your signature.
Care is measured and continuous, the same clinician each visit, validated scores at every follow up, honest prescribing without 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 bays to North County, expert care is a few days away.
Getting started
Getting started in San Diego
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 San Diego.
Local resources
Mental health resources in the San Diego area
Crisis and community resources for San Diego:
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988, 24 hours, with a Veterans option
- San Diego's Access and Crisis Line operates 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
San Diego and nearby areas we serve
The county, covered identically:
- North Park, Hillcrest, and central San Diego
- La Jolla, Pacific Beach, and the coast
- Carlsbad, Encinitas, and North County
- Chula Vista, El Cajon, and the South Bay and East County
Keep exploring
Related care and next steps
Related conditions
- Psychiatric evaluation in San Diego
- Medication management in San Diego
- Anxiety treatment in San Diego
- Depression treatment in San Diego
- All of California
- Online psychiatry in Los Angeles
- Online psychiatry in San Francisco
- Online psychiatry in Sacramento
- 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 San Diego?
Yes. shrinkMD provides licensed online psychiatry for adults across California, including San Diego, by secure video, with evaluations usually available as soon as availability allows.
Do you prescribe controlled medication in San Diego?
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 San Diego?
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 San Diego 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 San Diego?
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.
Does anything touch TRICARE or Navy and Marine Corps systems?
No. We bill no insurance at all, and nothing reaches military systems unless you authorize records in writing. Many of our San Diego patients are military spouses and veterans for exactly this reason.
Can biotech and hospital workers schedule around shifts?
Yes, early, evening, and post shift slots are standard, and your care stays entirely outside employer systems.
About San Diego
With about 1.3 million residents, the second-largest city in California, San Diego is a community we're glad to serve. It's a major metro with strong biotech and military communities. We care for military families, biotech and healthcare workers, and students.
Serving San Diego
Across San Diego, from La Jolla, the downtown waterfront, and the harbor, residents can meet a board-certified psychiatrist by secure video with shrinkMD. San Diego is a coastal city in the far south of California, 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
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 San Diego
Call 1-877-747-4656 or book online. Appointments are available as soon as availability allows for San Diego residents, by secure video from home.
Get StartedAlready know your state is active? Skip to the waitlist.