Locations / Virginia
Online psychiatry for Virginia
Board certified telepsychiatry for adults across Virginia, from Northern Virginia and the DC suburbs to Richmond, Virginia Beach and Hampton Roads, Charlottesville, the Shenandoah Valley, and Southwest Virginia and Appalachia. Expert care by secure video, wherever you are.
Medically reviewed by Shariq Refai, MD, MBA, FAPA, board certified psychiatrist · Published June 7, 2026 · Last reviewed June 8, 2026 · Editorial policy
From coast to mountains
Closing the access gap across Virginia
Virginia's geography pulls in three directions. The crowded Northern Virginia corridor competes for clinicians with the whole DC region, so even well insured patients in Arlington or Loudoun can wait weeks for an opening. Richmond and the Hampton Roads cities anchor care in the center and the Tidewater, but demand routinely outpaces supply.
Head west and the math changes. The Shenandoah Valley and especially Southwest Virginia and the Appalachian coalfield counties sit in federally designated mental health professional shortage areas, where a single drive to a psychiatrist can mean crossing a mountain ridge. Virginia delivers much of its public behavioral health through local Community Services Boards, but routine outpatient psychiatry can still be hard to reach.
shrinkMD closes that gap by bringing care to you over secure video, so whether you're in a Fairfax high rise or a small town in Tazewell County, your location no longer decides how quickly you're seen. You'll work with a certified clinician (a psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner) licensed in Virginia, with consistent follow up and the warmth of an in person practice.
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 Tidewater coast to the mountains of Appalachia, care reaches every corner of Virginia.
How it works
Getting started in Virginia
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.
Virginia resources
Mental health resources in Virginia
Public starting points for care in Virginia. 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 Virginia 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 across Virginia.
- State authority: Virginia Department of Behavioral Health and Developmental Services, 804-786-5682, dbhds.virginia.gov.
- NAMI Virginia: 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 Virginia: advocacy, screening tools, and information and referral, where available, at mhanational.org/affiliates.
- 211 Virginia: 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.
- Virginia Medicaid, Cardinal Care, Behavioral Health: coverage and a provider locator at dmas.virginia.gov.
- Academic care: University of Virginia Department of Psychiatry and Neurobehavioral Sciences (med.virginia.edu/psychiatry) and Virginia Commonwealth University Department of Psychiatry (psychiatry.vcu.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 Virginia
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 Virginia 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
Virginia cities we serve
shrinkMD provides telepsychiatry across Virginia, including these cities and their surrounding communities. Each linked city below has a dedicated local page.
- Northern Virginia
- Arlington
- Alexandria
- McLean
- Tysons
- Fairfax
- Richmond
- Virginia Beach
- Norfolk
- Charlottesville
- Roanoke
- and surrounding communities
Direct answer
Can an online psychiatrist prescribe medication in Virginia?
Yes. A psychiatrist or psychiatric nurse practitioner licensed in Virginia can evaluate you by video and prescribe non controlled psychiatric medication electronically to any Virginia pharmacy, the same visit. shrinkMD clinicians hold Virginia 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 Virginia?
Yes. Telepsychiatry is legal in Virginia when delivered by a certified clinician who holds an active Virginia license at the time of your appointment. Antidepressants such as SSRIs and SNRIs are not controlled substances.
Do you prescribe controlled medication in Virginia?
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 Virginia.
How fast can I be seen in Virginia?
Many patients schedule a full evaluation as soon as availability allows, depending on availability. Telepsychiatry often shortens the wait compared with crowded Northern Virginia panels or a long mountain drive in the southwest.
Where in Virginia do you provide care?
Anywhere in the state by secure video, including Northern Virginia, Richmond, Virginia Beach and Hampton Roads, Charlottesville, the Shenandoah Valley, and Southwest Virginia and Appalachia.
Does Virginia Medicaid cover mental health care?
Yes. Virginia Medicaid, delivered through Cardinal Care, 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 dmas.virginia.gov.
What number do I call in Virginia for a mental health emergency?
Call or text 988 from anywhere in Virginia to reach the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. If you may be in immediate danger, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency department.
Do I need a referral to start in Virginia?
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 see a clinician if I live in rural Southwest Virginia?
Yes. As long as you're physically in Virginia at the time of your visit, you can be seen by secure video from anywhere, including the Appalachian counties where the nearest in person psychiatrist may be hours away.
Get started in Virginia
Expert psychiatric care, wherever you are in Virginia. Complete the intake and book your evaluation online, often as soon as availability allows.
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