Last updated: May 16, 2026.
This website does not provide diagnosis, treatment, therapy, psychiatric evaluation, crisis intervention, or individualized medical recommendations.
This website is not monitored for clinical or crisis communications.
Books, articles, frameworks, exercises, and educational materials referenced on this website are for general educational use only and should not be relied upon as a substitute for professional care.
The information on shariqrefai.com (the "website"), including all articles, books, videos, podcasts, and other content authored by or attributed to Shariq Refai, MD, MBA, is provided for general educational and informational purposes only.
No Medical Advice, Therapy, or Psychiatric Treatment
Nothing on this website constitutes medical advice, psychiatric treatment, therapy, diagnosis, individualized recommendations, or a physician-patient or therapist-client relationship. The content is reflective and educational in nature and is intended to support general mental health literacy, not to provide care.
No Pharmacological Guidance
Nothing on this website is medication, dosing, prescribing, deprescribing, or pharmacological guidance of any kind. Any mention of a class of medication, a specific medication, an indication, a side effect, or a dosing pattern is for general educational illustration only. Never start, stop, change, or adjust the dose of any medication based on content from this website. Speak with your prescribing clinician before making any change.
No Physician-Patient Relationship
Reading this website, reading a book or article authored by Shariq Refai, downloading materials, sending a message through the contact form, emailing, or following Shariq Refai on any platform does not create a physician-patient, therapist-client, treatment, fiduciary, or confidential medical relationship between you and Shariq Refai or any affiliated organization, including shrinkMD, shrinQ, or Unstuck.
No Practice of Medicine
This website does not offer or constitute the practice of medicine in any state, territory, or country. Dr. Refai's clinical practice is conducted exclusively through shrinkMD under separately maintained state licenses. The fact that Dr. Refai holds medical licensure in one or more jurisdictions does not create any clinical relationship through this website or extend any license to readers in any other jurisdiction.
Frameworks Are Not Medical Devices
Any educational frameworks referenced on this website, including any "reset," "practice," or step-by-step exercise (such as the four-step reset described in The Havoc in Your Head), are general educational tools for self-reflection and emotional literacy. They are not medical devices, diagnostic tools, therapeutic protocols, or treatments for any condition, including anxiety disorders, panic disorder, generalized anxiety, OCD, PTSD, or any other diagnosis. They are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, mitigate, or prevent any disease or condition.
Composite Patient Narratives
Any patient narratives, case-style anecdotes, or "I had a patient" framings that appear in books, essays, articles, or commentary by Dr. Refai are educational composites. They combine and alter details from multiple real and hypothetical situations. They do not depict any individual identifiable person, and no narrative should be read as a description of any actual patient of Dr. Refai or shrinkMD. These narratives are presented for educational illustration only.
No Emergency, Crisis, or Monitoring Services
This website is not an emergency or crisis service. It is not monitored for urgent or time-sensitive medical or mental health concerns. Messages submitted through the website may not be seen for some time and should never be relied on for any matter that requires prompt attention.
Books, Articles, and Frameworks
Any books, articles, essays, frameworks, exercises, reflections, and conversations referenced or hosted on this website are educational and informational only. They are not personalized mental health care, are not a substitute for evaluation by a qualified clinician, and are not intended to diagnose or treat any condition.
Always Consult a Licensed Clinician
Always seek the advice of your physician, psychiatrist, or another qualified licensed health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
No Outcomes Promised; Individual Results Vary
The website does not promise or imply any specific outcome. No information, framework, or practice on this website is offered as a treatment or remedy for any medical or mental health condition. Individual results vary, and what is useful for one reader may not be useful for another.
When to Seek Professional Care
If your symptoms are severe, persistent, worsening, or impairing your ability to function, please seek evaluation by a qualified licensed clinician. The educational content on this website is not a substitute for that evaluation.
Crisis Resources
If you are in crisis or feel unsafe, call or text 988 in the United States, call 911, or go to the nearest emergency room. Outside the United States, contact your local emergency services.
Seek immediate help if you experience any of the following:
- Thoughts of suicide, self-harm, or wanting to die.
- Inability to keep yourself safe right now.
- A plan or means to harm yourself or someone else.
- Hallucinations, severe confusion, or a sudden change in your ability to function safely.
- Symptoms that feel medically urgent, including chest pain, fainting, severe physical restriction, or signs of overdose.
Language and Tone of Educational Content
Educational content on this website is written to help readers reflect on, explore, understand, and learn about mental health topics. It is not written to monitor, detect, predict, diagnose, or treat any condition. Words like "reset," "practice," "tool," "exercise," and "framework" refer to educational reflection aids, not medical interventions, devices, or therapeutic protocols.
Quizzes, Symptom Tools, and Reflection Features
If quizzes, symptom-reflection prompts, calculators, or self-assessment features are added to this website now or in the future, they are informational reflection tools, not diagnostic instruments. They will never say "you have" or "you likely have" any condition. Where neutral language is used (for example, "your responses may reflect patterns sometimes associated with..."), it is a framing aid, not a medical finding. Results are informational only and are not a diagnosis, an assessment of severity, or a treatment recommendation. Always seek evaluation by a qualified licensed clinician for any actual concern. See the Community Guidelines for the broader framework that applies to any reader-facing tool.
International Scope
Content on shariqrefai.com is written primarily for a United States audience. Healthcare systems, clinical guidelines, drug availability, regulatory bodies, and standards of care differ significantly across jurisdictions. References to medications, treatment options, levels of care, insurance, emergency services, or specific resources may not apply outside the United States. Readers outside the US should rely on local clinical guidance and licensed clinicians familiar with their healthcare system. Nothing on this site should be read as extending Dr. Refai's clinical practice into any jurisdiction in which he is not licensed.
Third-Party Resources
This website may reference or link to third-party services, including shrinkMD, shrinQ, and Unstuck. Each of those services has its own terms, privacy policies, and clinical scope, and clinical care, when offered, is provided through those entities and their licensed clinicians, not through this website.
Updates
This disclaimer may be updated from time to time. Continued use of the website after changes are posted constitutes acceptance of the updated disclaimer.
Questions about this disclaimer can be sent through the contact page or email support@shariqrefai.com.