Reviewed byKsenia Voronova, MDPsychotherapist · updated 11.11.2026
Key facts
- Who provides it
- A psychotherapist (a medical doctor) or a clinical psychologist; if medication is needed, a clinic psychiatrist
- Format
- Video calls on a secure platform; audio only if the connection is poor; can be alternated with in-person sessions
- Duration
- Sessions last 50–60 minutes, usually once a week; a short course is 8–12 sessions, long-term therapy 6 months or more
- Confidentiality
- Sessions are not recorded; medical confidentiality under the laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan; no registration with the state dispensary
- When it is urgent
- Suicidal thoughts, a sudden worsening, or danger to you or others: call 112; for children and young people, call 150
- Outcome
- The same goals as in-person therapy: fewer symptoms, new skills, and resilience in difficult situations
What to know
People often choose the online format not for convenience but because otherwise help is out of reach: there is no specialist with the right expertise in their city, they live in a village, work on rotation, care for a child or a sick parent, or have moved abroad. For me as a doctor, the key question is not where the session takes place but whether the person can receive full-fledged care in this format. For most concerns, the answer is yes, provided the space and the connection are properly prepared and the limitations are assessed honestly.
This page is about long-term psychotherapy by video. A one-off consultation with a psychotherapist, an online assessment by a psychiatrist, and medication management are covered in other sections. Here, we explain how a course of therapy is organized: what you need for the first session, how to keep things confidential at home, which methods work well at a distance, and in which situations I recommend an in-person appointment in Almaty or Astana or a doctor’s examination first.
When Online Psychotherapy Is Especially Appropriate
- there is no psychotherapist with the right specialization in your city, or the waiting list is long
- you live abroad and want to work in your native language with a specialist from Kazakhstan
- your work schedule, rotational shifts, or caring for a loved one make it impossible to travel to appointments regularly
- anxiety, social fear, or shame still keep you from coming into the office
- you have already started therapy in person and don’t want to interrupt it during a move or a business trip
- maximum anonymity matters to you: in a small town, someone might recognize you at the clinic
- you have a chronic illness or a disability that makes traveling difficult
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 Online Therapy Works and What Makes It Different
Psychotherapy works through the therapeutic alliance, structure, and regularity, and all of these carry over to the screen. International guidelines, including those from NICE, regard the video format as an acceptable way of delivering psychological interventions for anxiety and depressive disorders. Cognitive behavioral therapy, skills training, and psychoeducation transfer especially well online: diaries and assignments are easy to discuss using screen sharing.
There are particular features, too. The therapist has a harder time seeing body language, pauses, and facial expressions, so they check in verbally more often. At home, it is easier to get distracted, and the session can be interrupted by household matters. In addition, if you are in an acute state, the specialist cannot physically be by your side. That is why at the first session we always record your address and the contact details of a trusted person for emergencies, and agree on what to do if the connection drops.
How Online Psychotherapy Works: Preparation and the First Session
After you book, our administrator sends you a link and a short questionnaire. Prepare a separate room, headphones, a charger, and a stable internet connection; it is best to keep your phone on a stand. The first session lasts 60 minutes: the psychotherapist asks about your concerns, history, sleep, and use of alcohol and medications, assesses risks, and draws up a plan with you. After that, sessions follow a schedule, with assignments in between. If you need a psychiatrist, a consultation is arranged within the same clinic.
Online psychotherapy is not suitable as the main form of care for acute psychosis, severe depression with the intention to end one’s life, active addiction with a risk of withdrawal, a severe eating disorder with weight loss, or when there is no safe place at home to talk. In these cases, an in-person examination by a psychiatrist or an addiction physician is needed, and sometimes inpatient care. If anyone’s life is in danger, call 103 or 112 without waiting for your session.
How we help
Online cognitive behavioral therapy
CBT is one of the most thoroughly researched methods for anxiety, depression, panic disorder, and insomnia. Online, it keeps its full structure: a session agenda, analysis of situations, thought diaries, and behavioral experiments. The therapist can show a diagram on screen, and you can show your completed diary. Exposure exercises are sometimes even easier to do at home, right where the anxiety arises.
Psychodynamic and integrative therapy
For those who want to understand the deeper causes of recurring difficulties in relationships, self-esteem, or choice of partners. The work proceeds through exploring feelings, memories, and what happens in the relationship with the therapist. In the online format, it is especially important to keep the framework carefully: a fixed time, no distractions, and sessions of the same length.
Solution-focused therapy
A short-term approach of 4–8 sessions for when there is a specific task: making a decision, coping with change, establishing a routine, or handling a difficult situation at work. The focus is not on causes but on resources and small steps. It is well suited to the online format and to people with busy work schedules and frequent business trips.
Combined format
Some sessions take place in person in Almaty or Astana, and some online. This is convenient if you come to the city once a month, or if in-person work is needed at certain stages, for example at the first session, when dealing with difficult topics, or when several family members take part. The psychotherapist discusses the schedule for alternating formats with you in advance.
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 and is less effective
FactFor anxiety and depressive disorders, the results of video therapy are comparable to in-person therapy, as long as the conditions are met: regular sessions, a confidential space, and a qualified specialist. What matters most is not the screen but the method, your connection with the therapist, and your willingness to do the work.
MythYou can do a video session from your car or a café
FactThis reduces both the benefit and the confidentiality. If others can hear you, you inevitably hold back. We ask you to join from a private room using headphones. If that is not possible, we will discuss with your therapist a time when it will be, or switch to in-person sessions.
MythOver video, a psychotherapist will make a diagnosis and prescribe medication
FactA psychologist does not make diagnoses or prescribe medication. A psychotherapist who is a medical doctor can carry out an initial assessment, but if medication is needed, it is prescribed by a psychiatrist after a full consultation, and sometimes after an in-person examination and lab tests.
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 software do I need for a session?
We use a secure video platform, and our administrator will send you the link. You usually don’t need to download any complicated programs: a browser on a computer or smartphone is enough. Before your first session, you can do a short connection test so that you don’t spend session time on it.
Are online sessions recorded?
No. The psychotherapist does not make video or audio recordings of sessions, and we ask patients not to do so either. The specialist keeps only medical notes on the progress of the work, which are protected as medical confidentiality. If a case needs to be discussed for training or supervision, this is done only in anonymized form.
What happens if the connection drops?
The psychotherapist will call you back within a few minutes. If video cannot be restored, the session continues by phone. We agree on this procedure in advance at the first session. If the connection drops during a difficult conversation, the therapist will always get back in touch to make sure you are safe.
Can I have sessions if I live abroad?
Yes, many of our patients are Kazakhstanis living in other countries. Sessions are held in Russian or Kazakh, and the time is chosen to suit your time zone. It is important to know the local emergency numbers in advance: in an acute situation, only the emergency services of the country you are in can help.
How do I pay for online sessions?
Payment is made in advance by bank transfer or card. The Akalam administrator will suggest a convenient option. The payment description does not detail the nature of the service, to protect your confidentiality. You can cancel or reschedule a session by giving notice within the time frame specified in the agreement.
Can I switch from online to in-person sessions?
Yes, at any time. If you are coming to Almaty or Astana, you can have a session in the office with the same specialist. Sometimes the therapist will suggest an in-person visit if they see that the online work is going harder, or if a doctor’s examination is needed. The switch is agreed on in advance.
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