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Online psychiatry for Texas
Board certified telepsychiatry for adults across Texas, from Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio, and Austin to El Paso, the Rio Grande Valley, the Panhandle, and the wide open counties of West Texas. 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 huge state, thin coverage
Closing Texas's access gap
Texas is vast, and its psychiatrists concentrate in the Houston, Dallas Fort Worth, San Antonio, and Austin metros. Across the rest of the state, the numbers are stark, and the large majority of Texas counties have no practicing psychiatrist at all. Whole regions, from the Rio Grande Valley and the border counties to the Panhandle, the Big Bend, and the rural plains of West Texas, sit in federally designated mental health professional shortage areas.
When the nearest psychiatrist is a hundred miles away, a single appointment can mean a full day of driving, and many people simply go without. That distance often means symptoms 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 Texas, 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 big metros to the Valley and West Texas, expert care is a few days away.
How it works
Getting started in Texas
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.
Texas resources
Mental health resources in Texas
Public starting points for care in Texas. 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 Texas 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 or regional system supports it. Availability varies by county in Texas.
- State authority: Texas Health and Human Services, Mental Health Services, 512-913-1204, hhs.texas.gov/services/mental-health-substance-use.
- NAMI Texas: 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 Texas: advocacy, screening tools, and information and referral, where available, at mhanational.org/affiliates.
- 211 Texas: 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.
- Texas Medicaid Behavioral Health: coverage and a provider locator at hhs.texas.gov/services/health/medicaid-chip.
- Academic care: UT Southwestern Department of Psychiatry in Dallas, utsouthwestern.edu, the Baylor College of Medicine Menninger Department of Psychiatry in Houston, bcm.edu, and UT Health Houston Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, med.uth.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 Texas
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 Texas 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
Texas cities we serve
shrinkMD provides telepsychiatry across Texas, including these cities and their surrounding communities. Each linked city below has a dedicated local page.
- Houston
- Dallas
- Fort Worth
- San Antonio
- Austin
- El Paso
- Corpus Christi
- Plano
- Frisco
- The Woodlands
- Sugar Land
- the Rio Grande Valley
- and surrounding communities
Direct answer
Can an online psychiatrist prescribe medication in Texas?
Yes. A psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner licensed in Texas can evaluate you by video and prescribe non controlled psychiatric medication electronically to any Texas pharmacy, the same visit. shrinkMD clinicians hold Texas 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 Texas?
Yes. Telepsychiatry is legal in Texas when delivered by a clinician who holds an active Texas license at the time of your appointment. Antidepressants such as SSRIs and SNRIs are not controlled substances.
Do you prescribe controlled medication in Texas?
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 Texas.
How fast can I be seen in Texas?
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, especially in the many Texas counties with no psychiatrist at all.
Where in Texas do you provide care?
Anywhere in the state by secure video, including Houston, Dallas, Fort Worth, San Antonio, Austin, El Paso, the Rio Grande Valley, the Panhandle, and West Texas.
Does Texas Medicaid cover mental health care?
Texas 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 hhs.texas.gov/services/health/medicaid-chip.
What number do I call in Texas for a mental health emergency?
Call or text 988 from anywhere in Texas 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 Texas?
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 Texas 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 Texas
Expert psychiatric care, wherever you are in Texas. Complete the intake and book your evaluation online, often as soon as availability allows.
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