Locations / Florida
Online psychiatry for Florida
Board certified telepsychiatry for adults across Florida, from Miami, Fort Lauderdale, and the Treasure Coast to Tampa, Orlando, Jacksonville, Tallahassee, and the rural Panhandle. Expert care by secure video, without the long drive or the long wait.
Medically reviewed by Shariq Refai, MD, MBA, FAPA, board certified psychiatrist · Published June 7, 2026 · Last reviewed June 8, 2026 · Editorial policy
A big, fast growing state
Closing Florida's access gap
Florida is one of the most populous states in the country, yet its psychiatrists cluster in the South Florida corridor, the Tampa Bay area, and Greater Orlando. Step outside those metros, into the Big Bend, the rural Panhandle counties west of Tallahassee, the Nature Coast, or the agricultural interior around Lake Okeechobee, and many communities sit in federally designated mental health professional shortage areas where the nearest psychiatrist can be a long drive away.
Even inside the cities, demand outpaces supply, and a snowbird population and a large share of older adults stretch waitlists further. Long waits and long drives mean symptoms often deepen before care begins. shrinkMD closes that gap by bringing care to you over secure video, so your county no longer decides how quickly you're seen.
You'll work with a certified clinician, a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner licensed in Florida, with the same warmth, continuity, and follow up you'd expect from an in person practice, just easier to reach from home, work, or anywhere in the state.
What we treat
Conditions we treat
Care for the full range of adult mental health conditions, by secure video.
Specialty Populations
Athletes, students, professionals, healthcare workers, first responders, and veterans.
Learn more →
From the South Florida metros to the Big Bend and the Panhandle, expert care is a few days away.
How it works
Getting started in Florida
Quick intake
Share your history and goals through a simple, secure form, in minutes.
Schedule fast
Pick a near term video visit. No referral, no long waitlist.
Meet your clinician
A thorough evaluation, a clear diagnosis, and a plan built around you.
Ongoing care
Continuity and follow up with the same clinician over time.
Florida resources
Mental health resources in Florida
Public starting points for care in Florida. These are informational, not endorsements, and phone numbers, hours, and eligibility can change, so verify with each agency. None replace evaluation by a licensed clinician.
- Crisis, 24/7: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org). Calls route to a nearby Florida crisis center when possible. Call 911 for emergencies.
- Mobile crisis response: 988 connects you to local crisis centers, which can coordinate mobile crisis teams where the county system supports it. Availability varies by county in Florida.
- State authority: Florida Department of Children and Families, Substance Abuse and Mental Health, 850-491-5356, myflfamilies.com/services/samh.
- NAMI Florida: helpline, peer led support groups, and education for individuals and families. Find your local affiliate at nami.org/find-your-local-nami.
- Mental Health America affiliates in Florida: advocacy, screening tools, and information and referral, where available, at mhanational.org/affiliates.
- 211 Florida: dial 211 or visit 211.org for free, confidential referrals to behavioral health, housing, food, and transportation.
- SAMHSA FindSupport: 1-877-726-4727, 24/7, and samhsa.gov/find-support to locate mental health and substance use care.
- Florida Medicaid Behavioral Health: coverage and a provider locator at ahca.myflorida.com/medicaid.
- Academic care: University of Florida Department of Psychiatry, psychiatry.ufl.edu, and University of Miami Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, med.miami.edu, which run specialty mood and treatment resistant programs and often accept community referrals.
- Veterans: find the nearest VA facility at va.gov/find-locations. Veterans Crisis Line, call 988 then press 1, or text 838255.
Cost and coverage
Insurance, access, and appointment availability in Florida
shrinkMD operates on a transparent self pay basis, so you always know the cost up front, with no surprise bills. If your plan includes out of network telehealth benefits, we can provide the documentation you need to submit for reimbursement.
We're built for timely access. Many Florida patients schedule a full evaluation as soon as availability allows, not the months long wait common in traditional practices, with online scheduling, virtual visits that remove travel and missed workdays, and consistent follow up that never restarts your care.
Local to you
Florida cities we serve
shrinkMD provides telepsychiatry across Florida, including these cities and their surrounding communities. Each linked city below has a dedicated local page.
Direct answer
Can an online psychiatrist prescribe medication in Florida?
Yes. A psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner licensed in Florida can evaluate you by video and prescribe non controlled psychiatric medication electronically to any Florida pharmacy, the same visit. shrinkMD clinicians hold Florida licenses, and prescriptions are sent the day they are written. The exception is controlled substances, stimulants and benzodiazepines, which shrinkMD does not prescribe for any patient, in any state.
Keep exploring
Related care and next steps
Frequently asked questions
Good questions, clear answers
Is telepsychiatry legal in Florida?
Yes. Telepsychiatry is legal in Florida when delivered by a clinician who holds an active Florida license at the time of your appointment. Antidepressants such as SSRIs and SNRIs are not controlled substances.
Do you prescribe controlled medication in Florida?
No. shrinkMD does not prescribe controlled substances. We use non controlled medications like SSRIs, SNRIs, and bupropion, paired with coordinated therapy, and your clinician will explain what they can prescribe in Florida.
How fast can I be seen in Florida?
Many patients schedule a full evaluation as soon as availability allows, depending on availability. Telepsychiatry often shortens the wait compared with finding an in person psychiatrist in a Florida shortage area.
Where in Florida do you provide care?
Anywhere in the state by secure video, including Miami, Fort Lauderdale, West Palm Beach, Tampa, St. Petersburg, Orlando, Jacksonville, Tallahassee, and the rural Panhandle and interior.
Does Florida Medicaid cover mental health care?
Florida Medicaid Behavioral Health covers medically necessary outpatient mental health services, including therapy and psychiatric medication management, for eligible residents. Coverage and in network clinicians vary by managed care plan. Start at ahca.myflorida.com/medicaid.
What number do I call in Florida for a mental health emergency?
Call or text 988 from anywhere in Florida to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline, which routes to a nearby crisis center when possible. If you may be in immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
Do I need a referral to start care in Florida?
No. You don't need a referral to begin. Complete the secure intake and book your evaluation directly, and we'll coordinate with your primary care provider or therapist when that helps your care.
What conditions do you treat for Florida patients?
We care for the full range of adult mental health conditions by video, including anxiety, panic, OCD, depression, bipolar and mood disorders, women's mental health concerns like postpartum depression, and more, all with non controlled treatment options.
Get started in Florida
Expert psychiatric care, wherever you are in Florida. Complete the intake and book your evaluation online, often as soon as availability allows.
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