Reviewed byTimur Abdrakhmanov, MDPsychotherapist · updated 11.11.2026
Key facts
- Who provides it
- A psychotherapist trained in group work; larger groups have a lead therapist and a co-therapist, and a psychiatrist consults when needed
- Format
- Closed and semi-open groups in person in Almaty, plus separate online groups; an individual meeting with the group leader is required before joining
- Duration
- Each meeting lasts 90–120 minutes once a week; a themed group runs for 10–16 meetings, and a post-rehab support group has no time limit
- Confidentiality
- Participants sign the group rules: everything said in the group stays in the group; you don’t have to give your surname or workplace
- When it is urgent
- A group is not emergency care: for suicidal thoughts, acute psychosis or a drinking binge, call 112 or 103; children and teenagers can call 150
- Outcome
- Confidence in communication, skills for coping with anxiety and cravings, the experience of support, and the sense that you are not alone with your problem
What to know
When many people in Almaty hear about group therapy, they picture a scene from a movie: a circle of chairs and someone standing up to say, “My name is…” In reality, group therapy is far more practical. It is a space where a programmer from Bostandyk district, a teacher from Turksib and a student from the Timiryazev Street dorms learn things that can’t be practiced alone: talking about difficult topics, hearing criticism and tolerating other people’s emotions.
In individual therapy, you talk about your relationships with people. In a group, those relationships unfold right there in the room: someone irritates you, someone reminds you of your father, in front of someone you feel ashamed. The psychotherapist helps you notice these reactions and try new behavior in a safe setting. That is why a group is especially helpful for social anxiety, after addiction, and for loneliness in a big city where you have many acquaintances but few close people.
Who Group Therapy Is For
- you find it hard to talk to people, speak in public, ask for things and say no, even though your job requires it
- you have completed addiction treatment and want to stay sober among people who understand
- you have plenty of acquaintances but no one you can be honest with
- you are a relative of a person with an addiction and feel alone with your trouble
- individual therapy has helped, but you want to reinforce your skills in real-life interaction
- after moving to Almaty to study or work, you find it hard to fit into a new environment
- you notice that the same conflicts keep repeating across different relationships
If life is at risk — loss of consciousness, seizures, hallucinations, overdose, suicidal thoughts — call 103 or 112. Helpline for children and young people: 150.
Why Group Therapy Works
Humans are social beings, and many difficulties arise and show up precisely in relationships. Several mechanisms are at work in a group: universality (“others are going through the same thing”), feedback from peers, which people trust more than a specialist’s words, and hope when you see that someone has already coped. International guidelines, including NICE, recommend the group format as one option for psychological help with addiction and a number of anxiety disorders.
In a big city, a group solves another problem as well. Almaty is a city where many people live far from their families: students from the regions, IT specialists who moved for work, young families. Their usual support network has been broken, and building a new one takes years. A group offers the experience of honest relationships with people who are not tied to you by work or family. For many, it is the first place where they can talk about their problem without fear of judgment.
How Group Therapy Works in Practice
Before joining, you meet the group leader one-on-one: they clarify your goals, explain the rules and decide which group suits you. Each meeting starts with a short check-in round where participants say how they are doing. Then comes the main part: discussing a topic, exercises, role-play and working through situations that participants bring. The meeting ends with feedback. Online groups meet by video conference; cameras must be on, and each participant must be in a private room.
Group therapy is not suitable in acute states: during a drinking binge, withdrawal, acute psychosis or severe depression with thoughts of death, help from a psychiatrist or addiction physician comes first, sometimes in an inpatient setting. Marked aggressiveness or unwillingness to follow the rules may be a temporary contraindication. If a crisis occurs during the course, the group leader will refer you to a doctor. If the situation is life-threatening, call 112 or 103; a group does not replace emergency care.
How we help
Addiction Recovery Group
For people who have completed detox or rehab. We work on relapse triggers, cravings, shame and a plan for high-risk situations: office parties, holidays and meeting old friends. Participants share their experience of sobriety and support one another. The group does not replace a 12-step program but complements it with psychotherapeutic work led by a professional.
Cognitive Behavioral Group for Anxiety
A structured program of 10–12 meetings covering how anxiety works, how to recognize catastrophic thoughts, breathing and relaxation techniques, and gradual exposure to feared situations. The group is especially helpful for social anxiety, since simply taking part becomes practice. Everyone receives a workbook and homework, and progress is measured with questionnaires at the start and the end.
Group for Relatives of People With Addiction
Meetings for the wives, husbands and parents of people who drink, use drugs or gamble. The leader helps participants deal with guilt, control and anger and build boundaries. Participants share experience: how to get through a relapse, how to talk to the children, how not to hand over their last money. This is not a group about forcing someone into treatment but a space for the relative’s own recovery.
Interpersonal Therapy Group
An open format without a fixed topic: participants discuss what is happening between them here and now. It suits people with recurring relationship difficulties, loneliness or trouble trusting others. The leader helps them notice their reactions and try different behavior. This kind of group usually runs longer, from six months, with membership changing gradually.
How treatment works
- 01Call or WhatsAppThe administrator and the doctor on duty clarify the situation and tell you what to do right now.
- 02Examination or consultationThe doctor visits your home, sees you at the clinic or joins by video.
- 03Treatment planWe choose the format — at home, inpatient, psychotherapy or rehab — with a clear price.
- 04Ongoing supportYour doctor and psychotherapist stay in touch: follow-ups, family support and relapse prevention.
Myths and facts
MythIn a group, you’ll have to tell everything about yourself
FactNo one is obliged to reveal anything they are not ready to share. You decide what to share and when. Many people mostly listen during the first meetings, and that is normal. The leader makes sure no one pressures the participants.
MythA group is a cheap substitute for individual therapy
FactIt is a method in its own right, with mechanisms that one-on-one work doesn’t have: feedback from peers and practicing skills in real interaction. Group and individual sessions are often combined.
MythI might run into people I know
FactIn a big city this rarely happens, but it is possible. If you recognize someone at the introductory meeting, tell the leader and you will be moved to another group. Confidentiality rules are binding for all participants.
Prices: Group therapy
| Group therapy | 8 000 ₸ |
| Psychotherapist session (50 min) | 14 990 ₸ |
| Psychologist session (50 min) | 12 000 ₸ |
| Family session (80 min) | 25 000 ₸ |
| Phone consultation | free |
Prices are approximate: the doctor confirms the exact cost after the examination, before treatment starts.
Confidential
We do not register patients with state dispensaries or share information with employers. You do not have to give your surname; doctors arrive in unmarked cars. Medical confidentiality is protected by the Code of Kazakhstan “On Public Health and the Healthcare System”.
Clinic addresses
FAQ
How many people are in a group?
Usually 6–12 participants. With fewer than six, the benefit of diverse experience is lost; with more than twelve, each person gets too little time. Online groups more often have 6–8 members, because it is harder to hold the attention of a large circle in a video conference.
When are the meetings held?
Most groups in Almaty meet on weekday evenings from 7:00 p.m. or on Saturday afternoons, so participants can arrive after work. If you live in Kaskelen, Boralday or Otegen Batyr and worry about getting stuck in traffic, ask about an online group or choose a weekend slot.
Can I miss meetings?
In a closed group, regular attendance matters: each meeting builds on the previous one, and absences affect everyone. If you know you will miss a session, let the leader know in advance. Frequent absences are a reason to discuss whether this format is right for you at the moment.
Do I need an individual meeting before joining the group?
Yes, it is a mandatory step. The leader assesses your goals, condition and motivation, explains the rules and helps you choose a group. Sometimes this meeting makes it clear that individual therapy or a psychiatric consultation is needed first, and the group can come later.
Can I join an addiction group if I relapsed recently?
Yes, as long as you are not intoxicated or in withdrawal. Relapse is a common part of recovery, and the group will help you work out what led to it. If you are currently on a drinking binge, you first need help from an addiction physician, and then you can return to the group.
How does Akalam ensure confidentiality?
Participants sign the group rules and use only their first names. Attendance records are kept under medical confidentiality rules and are not shared with employers or government agencies, except in cases expressly provided for by law. Recording meetings on a phone is prohibited.
Sources and review
Prepared by the Akalam medical editorial team based on:
- ICD-10 and ICD-11: mental and behavioural disorders
- Clinical protocols of the Ministry of Health of Kazakhstan
- Code of Kazakhstan “On Public Health and the Healthcare System”
- WHO: mental health and substance use
- NICE and APA clinical guidelines
This information is for reference and does not replace a doctor's consultation. Editorial policy