Locations / California / Los Angeles
Online psychiatry for Los Angeles, California
Los Angeles has more therapists per capita than almost anywhere and still makes psychiatry impossible: the medication level care is booked, cash only, and across town. shrinkMD serves all of LA by secure video, with board certified evaluations within days.
Medically reviewed by Shariq Refai, MD, MBA, FAPA, board certified psychiatrist · Published June 7, 2026 · Last reviewed June 8, 2026 · Editorial policy
Care in Los Angeles
Real psychiatry, without the local waitlist
LA mental health has a missing middle: endless coaches and therapists, world class academic centers with year long waits, and very little accessible psychiatry in between, especially if your day runs on production calls, restaurant shifts, or a commute that makes Silver Lake to Santa Monica a relationship dealbreaker.
shrinkMD fills the middle by video: board certified evaluation within days, from Echo Park, Culver City, the Valley, or a parked car on a lunch break, with early and late slots for call sheets and clinic shifts.
Industry workers appreciate the structural privacy, no insurance claims, no databases, records only with written authorization, and everyone appreciates one consistent clinician, measured follow up, and prescriptions sent same day to any LA 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 east side to the beach and the Valley, expert care is a few days away.
Getting started
Getting started in Los Angeles
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 Los Angeles.
Local resources
Mental health resources in the Los Angeles area
Crisis and community resources for Los Angeles:
- 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline: call or text 988, 24 hours
- The LA County Department of Mental Health operates a 24 hour help line
- Emergency: 911 or the nearest emergency department
Access
Insurance, access, and appointment availability in California
shrinkMD operates as a transparent cash pay practice: we do not 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 are ever not the right level of care, we say so plainly and help you find what is.
Where we serve
Los Angeles and nearby areas we serve
LA's geography stops mattering by video:
- Hollywood, Silver Lake, Echo Park, and the east side
- Santa Monica, Culver City, and the west side
- Sherman Oaks, Studio City, and the Valley
- Pasadena, Long Beach, and the greater county
Keep exploring
Related care and next steps
Related conditions
- Psychiatric evaluation in Los Angeles
- Medication management in Los Angeles
- Anxiety treatment in Los Angeles
- Depression treatment in Los Angeles
- All of California
- Online psychiatry in San Diego
- 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 Los Angeles?
Yes. shrinkMD provides licensed online psychiatry for adults across California, including Los Angeles, by secure video, with evaluations usually available as soon as availability allows.
Do you prescribe controlled medication in Los Angeles?
No. shrinkMD does not prescribe controlled substances anywhere, including stimulants and benzodiazepines. We are upfront about this and effective with the evidence based alternatives.
How fast can I be seen in Los Angeles?
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 Los Angeles 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 Los Angeles?
We do not 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 have privacy and a connection: home, an office, or a parked car. There is 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.
Can treatment fit production schedules and call sheets?
Yes. Early, late, and between setup visits are normal here, follow ups run 15 to 30 minutes, and plans flex around shoots and hiatuses.
How private is this in an industry that talks?
Structurally private: no insurance billing means no claims data anywhere, no waiting rooms, and records that move only with your written authorization.
Start online psychiatry in Los Angeles
Call 1-877-747-4656 or book online. Appointments are available as soon as availability allows for Los Angeles residents, by secure video from home.
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