Reviewed byKsenia Voronova, MDPsychotherapist · updated 11.11.2026
Key facts
- Who provides it
- A clinic psychotherapist or clinical psychologist; when diagnosis and treatment are needed, a psychiatrist sees you in person or through an online psychiatrist consultation
- Format
- A video session on a secure platform with cameras on at both ends; by agreement, you can switch to in-person sessions in Almaty
- Duration
- Each session lasts 50–60 minutes once a week; a short-term course is 8–12 sessions, and more complex issues take 16–20 sessions or longer
- Confidentiality
- Sessions are not recorded without consent, and your data is protected by medical confidentiality under the Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Public Health and the Healthcare System”
- When it is urgent
- Suicidal thoughts, acute psychosis or a threat of violence are not suitable for an online session: call 112 or 103; children and teenagers can call 150
- Outcome
- Reduced anxiety and tension, clear tools for difficult situations, and resilience to stress while keeping your usual routine
What to know
When winter smog settles over Almaty and the drive from Alatau district to the city center takes more than an hour at rush hour, many of my patients face a simple choice: arrive at a session exhausted or not go at all. The online format removes that problem. An IT specialist joins from a meeting room in a business center on Al-Farabi, a student from an empty lecture hall at KazNU, a mother on maternity leave while her baby is napping. Therapy becomes part of the week instead of an ordeal.
Online psychotherapy is not chatting by text or a one-off phone consultation. It is the same structured work: a defined goal, a plan, regular sessions, homework and an evaluation of results. Only the channel is different. It is important to understand the limits of the format: a psychotherapist working by video does not make psychiatric diagnoses or prescribe medication. If it turns out during therapy that an assessment by a psychiatrist or addiction physician is needed, we arrange an in-person appointment or a home visit.
When Online Psychotherapy Is Especially Convenient
- work and driving through traffic don’t leave you two free hours for an in-person visit
- you live in a suburb such as Kaskelen, Talgar or Boralday, or spend the summer at a dacha in the foothills
- it is easier for you to talk about personal matters from your own room than in an unfamiliar office
- you travel for work often or work night shifts for a foreign company
- after rehab you need regular support, but traveling to the clinic every week is hard
- you are a student living in a dorm and want no one to know about your therapy
- with social anxiety, the first step toward a psychotherapist is easier to take by video
If life is at risk — loss of consciousness, seizures, hallucinations, overdose, suicidal thoughts — call 103 or 112. Helpline for children and young people: 150.
How Effective Is Therapy by Video?
International guidance, including materials from the WHO and the APA, recognizes remote psychotherapy as an acceptable format for many conditions, especially cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for anxiety, stress and mild to moderate depression. Effectiveness depends on the method, the specialist’s qualifications and the regularity of sessions, not on whether you are sitting in the same room. The therapeutic alliance, the trust between you and the specialist, also develops over video, although it sometimes takes one or two extra sessions.
There are limitations, too. Over video it is harder to notice subtle body signals, and a patient may not have a private space: a cramped apartment, parents behind the wall, children. An unstable internet connection in a private house or at a mountain dacha can cut off the conversation at an important moment. That is why, before we start, we discuss where you will be and agree on a backup way to connect. If the format doesn’t suit you, we switch to in-person sessions or a blended approach.
How an Online Session Works
You submit a request, and our administrator matches you with a specialist and a time, then sends a link to the secure platform and a short questionnaire. Five minutes before the start, check your camera, microphone and headphones. The first session is an introduction: the therapist clarifies your goals, history and current state and asks questions about safety. At the end, you set goals and a rough plan together. Subsequent sessions take place weekly at the same time, with small assignments between sessions that you can do on your phone or in a notebook.
The online format is not suitable for acute psychosis, severe depression with suicidal thoughts, a drinking binge or withdrawal, marked confusion, or if you cannot ensure privacy and safety. These situations require an in-person assessment by a psychiatrist or addiction physician, sometimes inpatient care. If thoughts of death arise during a session, the therapist will confirm your address and, if your life is at risk, call emergency services. In such a situation, call 112 or 103 yourself.
How we help
Online Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
The most structured method and the one that translates best to online work. We work with the thoughts that trigger anxiety, irritability and low mood, and with the behaviors that keep them going. The therapist shares diagrams and diaries on screen, and you fill them in between sessions. It suits anxiety, stress, burnout and insomnia without severe disturbances. Usually 8–16 sessions with measurable goals.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy
Helps you stop fighting unpleasant thoughts and feelings and direct your energy toward what matters to you. It uses mindfulness exercises, metaphors and values work. The method suits people living at a big-city pace who analyze a lot and are worn out by constant inner control. The exercises are short and easy to do in the car in traffic or during a lunch break.
Online Aftercare Following Addiction Treatment
After detox or rehab, it is important not to lose contact with a specialist. Regular video sessions help you work through risky situations, cravings and conflicts at home and plan sober weekends. If cravings intensify or a relapse occurs, the therapist immediately contacts a Akalam addiction physician to decide whether an assessment is needed. The format is convenient for those who have returned to work and can’t travel to the clinic regularly.
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy
An approach for a specific issue: a difficult choice, a conflict at work or adjusting after a move to Almaty. The therapist helps you see what is already working and build on it. A course is usually 4–8 sessions. Students and young professionals often choose this format when they need support at a turning point rather than months of therapy.
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
MythOnline therapy isn’t serious, it’s like talking to a friend
FactAn online session follows the same professional rules as an in-person one: structure, goals, confidentiality and ethics. Only the communication channel differs; the method and the specialist’s qualifications stay the same.
MythAn online psychotherapist will prescribe me medication
FactPsychotherapists and psychologists do not prescribe medication. If you need drug treatment, you will be referred to a psychiatrist, who carries out an assessment in person or by video and decides on prescriptions and monitoring.
MythThey will record me on video
FactSessions are not recorded without your written consent. We use a secure platform and ask you not to record sessions either, to keep the atmosphere of trust and protect the privacy of both sides.
Prices: Online therapy
| Online therapy | 15 000 ₸ |
| 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
What do I need for an online session?
A smartphone or laptop with a camera, headphones with a microphone, a stable internet connection and a place where no one can overhear you. If home is crowded, a parked car or a meeting room at work will do. It is best to keep your phone in a fixed position and turn off notifications for the duration of the session.
Can I combine online and in-person sessions?
Yes, the blended format is popular in Almaty: for example, the first session in person at the clinic and the rest by video, or the other way around. In winter, during the smog and icy-road season, many people switch to online and return to the office in spring. The key is to keep sessions regular.
I’m abroad. Can I still do therapy?
Yes, many people from Almaty continue therapy while studying or working abroad. Keep the time difference in mind, and remember that in an emergency you need to contact local emergency services. Before we start, we confirm your location and the emergency number there.
How is online psychotherapy different from an online psychiatrist?
A psychiatrist is a medical doctor: they assess symptoms, can make a diagnosis after an examination and prescribe treatment. A psychotherapist conducts regular sessions using psychological methods without prescribing medication. These formats are often combined: the psychiatrist selects the treatment, and the psychotherapist works with thoughts and behavior.
What if the connection drops in the middle of a session?
We agree on a backup channel in advance: the therapist will call you back by phone or messaging app. If the connection can’t be restored, the remaining time is rescheduled. If you live in a private house or at a dacha in the foothills, we recommend checking your internet speed beforehand.
How soon can I start?
The first session can usually be scheduled within a few days; evening slots are booked most often. If you feel very bad right now and have thoughts of suicide, don’t wait for an appointment: call 112, and teenagers and young people can get help from the 150 helpline.
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