Motivation for treatment and intervention in Almaty

Reviewed by: Assel Omarova, MD, psychiatrist and addiction specialist · updated 6 Nov 2026

Key facts

Who provides care

a psychotherapist or addiction specialist; a narcologist joins at the treatment planning stage

Format

online sessions with the family for preparation; the conversation with the person with the addiction takes place in person or by video

Duration

preparation takes 1–3 sessions of 60 minutes; the intervention itself usually lasts 1–2 hours

Confidentiality

confidential, no registration with the state registry; information is protected under the laws of the Republic of Kazakhstan

When it's an emergency

overdose, psychosis, threats to self or others, a severe binge — call 103 or 112

Outcome

agreement to a consultation or treatment, or a clear plan for the family's next step

What you should know

“He says he can quit any time he wants,” “she gets offended the moment we mention doctors” — most requests start with phrases like these. Here is how it works: you message us on WhatsApp, describe the situation in a few words, and on the same or the next day an addiction specialist joins a video call with the family. The first session takes place without the person with the addiction: we find out what has already been tried, which relatives have influence over the person, which topics trigger an explosion and which ones bring a willingness to listen.

Preparing online is convenient for large families, who in Almaty are often scattered across different districts — someone in Medeu, someone in Alatau, and a brother all the way out in Konaev. Getting everyone around one table is hard, but joining a video call is realistic. Psychiatry Online helps plan the conversation so that it does not turn into a quarrel or a trial but ends with a concrete offer: a consultation with a narcologist, a doctor's home visit, choosing a hospital or a rehabilitation program.

When a Family Needs Help Motivating a Loved One

• the person denies the problem, even though substance use is clearly damaging their health and relationships
• every attempt to talk about treatment ends in a fight or hurt feelings
• promises to “quit tomorrow” are repeated for months and never kept
• you have already tried persuasion, threats and ultimatums, but nothing has changed
• the situation is getting worse: debts, problems at work, drunk or impaired driving
• the family is divided: some feel sorry for the person and cover for them, others demand tough measures
• your loved one sometimes says they want to change but doesn't know where to start

If heavy drinking has lasted more than two or three days, or there is shaking, vomiting, blood-pressure spikes or insomnia, you need a doctor rather than stopping alone. An online consultation is free and helps assess the risks before a visit. For seizures, confusion or hallucinations call 103 or 112.

Why People with Addiction Refuse Treatment

Denial is not stubbornness or lying in the usual sense. It is a psychological defense that helps a person avoid facing the painful truth about having lost control. Shame, fear of exposure, of being put on the state registry and of losing their job also play a role, as does the experience of past failed attempts. In addition, addiction changes how the brain works, so that the short-term relief from using seems more important than the long-term harm.

Motivation is not simply “there” or “not there” — it fluctuates, and it can be influenced. The stages of change model describes the path from not recognizing the problem to contemplation, preparation and action. Motivational interviewing and family training programs used in international practice show that a calm, supportive and consistent approach leads people to seek help more often than pressure and confrontation do.

How we help

Myths and facts

How an online appointment works

1. Message or callWrite on WhatsApp or call — our coordinator replies within minutes, day or night. You don't have to give your surname.
2. Doctor and timeWe match you with a psychiatrist, addiction specialist or psychotherapist and agree on a time — often the same day.
3. Video consultationA secure 50–60 minute video call: the doctor takes a detailed history and uses standardised scales if needed.
4. Treatment planYou receive a clear summary, recommendations and a plan: what we do online and what needs an in-person visit or home call.
5. Follow-upOnline follow-up sessions, messenger contact with your doctor, and treatment adjustments until you get a stable result.

Prices in Almaty

The final cost is agreed before treatment starts. Prices are in tenge and do not constitute a public offer.

Where to get help

Psychiatry Online in Almaty: same-day video appointments and two branches for in-person visits — 129 Kurmangazy St., office 8, Almaty and 110 Bogenbay batyra St., office 15, Almaty. Our mobile team works around the clock: all city districts and nearby settlements. If you live elsewhere in Almaty and Almaty Region, starting online is usually easiest.

Confidential and private

Information about your visit, diagnosis and treatment is protected by medical confidentiality under the Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Public Health and the Healthcare System”. We never share it with your employer, school or relatives without your consent; the only exceptions are those expressly set out by law. For an online consultation your first name is enough, video runs over a secure channel and nothing is recorded without your consent.

Questions and answers