Locations / New York
Online psychiatry for New York
Board certified telepsychiatry for adults across New York, from New York City and the five boroughs to Long Island, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Albany, the Hudson Valley, and the North Country and rural upstate. Expert care by secure video, without the commute 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 state of contrasts
Care from the city to the North Country
New York holds some of the densest mental health resources in the country in Manhattan, yet patients there still face crowded panels, long intake waits, and the cost of taking time off to travel across the city. The picture changes fast outside the metro. Much of upstate, from the Southern Tier to the Adirondacks and the North Country near the Canadian border, sits in federally designated mental health professional shortage areas, where the nearest psychiatrist can be a long drive on winter roads.
Counties run mobile crisis and local services unevenly across New York, so what is available in Buffalo or Rochester may look very different in a rural town in the Mohawk Valley. shrinkMD bridges that divide by bringing care to you over secure video, so a tight schedule in the city or a long distance upstate no longer decides how quickly you're seen.
You'll work with a certified clinician (a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner) licensed in New York, with the same warmth, continuity, and follow up you'd expect from an in person practice, reachable from a Brooklyn apartment, a Long Island suburb, or a farmhouse in the Finger Lakes.
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 Manhattan to the Adirondacks, expert psychiatric care is a few days away.
How it works
Getting started in New York
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.
New York resources
Mental health resources in New York
Public starting points for care in New York. These are informational, not endorsements, and phone numbers, hours, and eligibility can change, so verify with each agency. None replace evaluation by a certified clinician.
- Crisis, 24/7: 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (call or text 988, or chat at 988lifeline.org). Calls route to a nearby New York crisis center when possible. Call 911 for emergencies.
- New York crisis line: NYC 988, formerly NYC Well, at 1-888-NYC-WELL, 24/7. Outside New York City, dial or text 988.
- Mobile crisis response: 988 connects you to local crisis centers, which can coordinate mobile crisis teams where the county or regional system supports it. Availability varies by county across New York.
- State authority: New York State Office of Mental Health, 518-474-4403, omh.ny.gov.
- NAMI New York: 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 New York: advocacy, screening tools, and information and referral, where available, at mhanational.org/affiliates.
- 211 New York: 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.
- New York Medicaid Behavioral Health: coverage and a provider locator at health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid.
- Academic care: Columbia University Department of Psychiatry (columbiapsychiatry.org), Weill Cornell Department of Psychiatry (psychiatry.weill.cornell.edu), and Mount Sinai Department of Psychiatry (icahn.mssm.edu/about/departments/psychiatry), 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 New York
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 New York 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
New York cities we serve
shrinkMD provides telepsychiatry across New York, including these cities and their surrounding communities. Each linked city below has a dedicated local page.
- New York City
- Manhattan
- Brooklyn
- Queens
- Long Island
- Westchester County
- Buffalo
- Rochester
- Syracuse
- Albany
- and surrounding communities
Direct answer
Can an online psychiatrist prescribe medication in New York?
Yes. A psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner licensed in New York can evaluate you by video and prescribe non controlled psychiatric medication electronically to any New York pharmacy, the same visit. shrinkMD clinicians hold New York 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
Related conditions
Frequently asked questions
Good questions, clear answers
Is telepsychiatry legal in New York?
Yes. Telepsychiatry is legal in New York when delivered by a certified clinician who holds an active New York license at the time of your appointment. Antidepressants such as SSRIs and SNRIs are not controlled substances.
Do you prescribe controlled medication in New York?
No. shrinkMD does not prescribe controlled substances. We use non controlled medications like SSRIs, SNRIs, bupropion, and mirtazapine, paired with coordinated therapy, and your clinician will explain what they can prescribe in New York.
How fast can I be seen in New York?
Many patients schedule a full evaluation as soon as availability allows, depending on availability. Telepsychiatry often shortens the wait compared with crowded city panels or a long drive upstate.
Where in New York do you provide care?
Anywhere in the state by secure video, including New York City and the five boroughs, Long Island, Buffalo, Rochester, Syracuse, Albany, the Hudson Valley, and the rural North Country.
Does New York Medicaid cover mental health care?
Yes. New York 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 health.ny.gov/health_care/medicaid.
What number do I call in New York for a mental health emergency?
Call or text 988 from anywhere in New York, or call NYC 988, formerly NYC Well, at 1-888-NYC-WELL. If you may be in immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
Do I need a referral to start in New York?
No. You can begin without a referral. Complete the intake, book a near term video visit, and meet your clinician for a full evaluation and a plan built around you.
Can I keep seeing the same clinician across New York?
Yes. As long as you're physically in New York at the time of each visit, you can have ongoing follow up with the same certified clinician, whether you're in the city, on Long Island, or upstate.
Get started in New York
Expert psychiatric care, wherever you are in New York. Complete the intake and book your evaluation online, often as soon as availability allows.
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