In a crisis? Call or text 988  ·  Opening soon  ·  Join Our Waiting List  ·  Refer a patient

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 June 8, 2026 · Editorial policy

Cycling the American River Parkway in Sacramento
Quick overview. shrinkMD provides licensed online psychiatry for adults in Sacramento. You'll meet a board certified clinician by secure video, as clinician availability allows, with transparent pricing and consistent follow up.

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.

Anxiety Disorders

Generalized anxiety, panic, social anxiety, and OCD.

Learn more →

Depressive Disorders

Major depression, seasonal patterns, and postpartum depression.

Learn more →

Mood Disorders

Bipolar I, bipolar II, and cyclothymia, diagnosed carefully.

Learn more →

Sleep & Insomnia

Chronic insomnia and disrupted sleep, treated without controlled substances.

Learn more →

Women's Mental Health

PMDD, perinatal and postpartum care across life stages.

Learn more →

Psychotic Disorders

Schizophrenia and schizoaffective disorder, managed with continuity.

Learn more →
Browsing a Sacramento farmers market near the Tower Bridge

From the capitol to the foothills, expert care is a few days away.

Getting started

Getting started in Sacramento

1

Complete the secure intake

A few minutes online so we can match you with the right clinician.

2

Meet your clinician by video

A full 45 to 60 minute evaluation from anywhere private in the area, as clinician availability allows.

3

Get your plan the same day

A working diagnosis, clear next steps, and prescriptions to your local pharmacy when appropriate.

4

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
Important. If you or someone you know is in danger, call or text 988 or call 911 right away. shrinkMD provides outpatient care and is not an emergency service.

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

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

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 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 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 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.

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.

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.

Join Our Waiting List
Part of The Shrink Network

Independent, ad-free mental health education and wellness properties, founded and medically reviewed by our founder. Care happens here. Learning happens across the network.

If you are in crisis or need urgent assistance: Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 • National Suicide Prevention Hotline: 9-8-8