Reviewed by: Pavel Kornilov, MD, psychiatrist · updated 6 Nov 2026
Key facts
- ICD-10 code
- F60.3
- Who leads care
- a psychiatrist for diagnosis and a psychotherapist for ongoing work
- Format
- scheduled video sessions plus psychiatrist consultations on request
- Duration
- a session lasts 50–60 minutes; a course of therapy takes months
- Confidentiality
- you don’t have to give your surname; medical confidentiality applies
- When it’s urgent
- thoughts of suicide or self-harm — call 103, 112, or 150
- Outcome
- more stability in your emotions, relationships, and actions
What you should know
Many people with borderline personality disorder spend years hearing “you’re being too dramatic” without understanding themselves why their emotions overwhelm them so strongly. The path to help starts simply: you message us on WhatsApp that you would like a psychiatric consultation and choose a convenient time, such as an evening after work or a weekend. You receive a link and join from your own room rather than from a clinic hallway that already makes you anxious. For many people in Almaty, this is the first step they manage to take without unnecessary stress.
At the first session, the doctor calmly asks how you experience relationships, anger, and loneliness, and what happens in moments of intense emotion. There are no judgments or labels here: the goal is to understand how your difficulties work and to distinguish borderline personality disorder from bipolar disorder, depression, and the effects of trauma. Then you choose the path together: psychotherapy, medication support for symptoms if needed, and an action plan in case of a crisis.
Signs of Borderline Personality Disorder
- an intense fear of being abandoned, even when there is no real reason for it
- relationships swing from admiring a person to being sharply disappointed in them
- an unstable sense of self: who I am, what I want, what I like
- impulsive actions — spending, reckless driving, binge eating, risky decisions
- sudden mood swings within a single day, from despair to irritation
- a chronic feeling of emptiness that is hard to fill with anything
- outbursts of intense anger followed by shame and self-blame
If at least two points apply and the state lasts longer than two weeks, it is worth seeing a specialist. Phone consultation is free. If life is at risk, call 112 or 103.
Where Borderline Personality Disorder Comes From
Researchers describe borderline personality disorder as the result of a combination of innate emotional sensitivity and an environment in which those emotions were not understood. A child whose feelings were often dismissed, ridiculed, or punished does not learn to recognize and regulate them. Traumatic experiences, abuse, loss, and family instability play a significant role. But not everyone with BPD has a difficult history, and it is not simply the parents’ fault.
In adulthood, symptoms are intensified by stress, lack of sleep, loneliness, and the use of alcohol and drugs. In the fast pace of a big city, with lots of work and little time for relationships, the fear of rejection and the sense of emptiness can feel sharper. It is important to understand that this is not a “bad character” and not a life sentence. With regular therapy, many people eventually no longer meet the diagnostic criteria.
How Online Therapy for BPD Works
The first session is with a psychiatrist, who takes your history, assesses risks, rules out other conditions, and explains what treatment is indicated. Then regular sessions with a psychotherapist begin, usually once a week. You join via a link from a quiet place, preferably with headphones. Between sessions, it helps to keep a diary of emotions and skills. The online format provides consistency: you don’t have to miss a session because of traffic on Abay Avenue or working late.
Online care is not appropriate if there is an acute danger to life right now: if you have thoughts of suicide or self-harm, or have taken a large number of pills, call 103 or 112; for children and young people, the helpline is 150. In such situations, an in-person examination or hospital care may be needed. If medication support is required, it is prescribed according to the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan, sometimes with an in-person visit.
How we help
Dialectical behavior therapy (DBT)
One of the most thoroughly studied treatments for borderline personality disorder. It teaches four groups of skills: mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation, and interpersonal effectiveness. You learn concrete techniques for everyday life: what to do when emotions overwhelm you and how to ask for what you need without damaging relationships. The format adapts well to video sessions.
Mentalization-based therapy (MBT)
This approach helps you better understand your own mental states and those of other people: what I am feeling, what the other person might be feeling, why I react so strongly. When space appears between an emotion and an action, there are fewer impulsive decisions and conflicts. The method is recommended by international clinical guidelines.
Medication support for symptoms
There is no specific medication for borderline personality disorder, and international guidelines put psychotherapy first. However, with severe depression, anxiety, or sleep problems, a psychiatrist may suggest medications from the relevant classes for a limited period. The decision is made cautiously, with an assessment of risks and within the framework of Kazakhstan law.
A crisis safety plan
Together with the doctor, you create a personal plan: what early signs of a crisis you tend to have, what helps you calm down, who you can call, and when to call 103, 112, or 150. The plan is kept on your phone and helps you get through an acute moment. It is reviewed regularly in sessions. Over time, it becomes shorter and more precise.
Myths and facts
MythBorderline personality disorder can’t be treated
FactThis is an outdated view. Research shows that with specialized psychotherapy, many people achieve lasting improvement, and symptoms ease over time. Treatment takes time, but the results are real.
MythPeople with BPD manipulate others
FactWhat looks like manipulation from the outside is more often driven by intense pain and not knowing any other way to ask for help. Therapy teaches direct and safe ways to express needs. Stigma only keeps people from seeing a doctor.
MythAll you need is the right pills
FactMedications can ease individual symptoms, but they don’t change the underlying patterns of experiencing emotions and relationships. Psychotherapy does the main work, and medication, if needed, is a supporting tool.
How an online appointment works
- Message or callWrite on WhatsApp or call — our coordinator replies within minutes, day or night. You don't have to give your surname.
- Doctor and timeWe match you with a psychiatrist, addiction specialist or psychotherapist and agree on a time — often the same day.
- Video consultationA secure 50–60 minute video call: the doctor takes a detailed history and uses standardised scales if needed.
- Treatment planYou receive a clear summary, recommendations and a plan: what we do online and what needs an in-person visit or home call.
- Follow-upOnline follow-up sessions, messenger contact with your doctor, and treatment adjustments until you get a stable result.
Prices in Almaty
| Urgent online psychiatrist consultation | 18 000 ₸ |
| Consultation for relatives | 15 000 ₸ |
| Psychiatrist home visit | 45 000 ₸ |
The final cost is agreed before treatment starts. Prices are in tenge and do not constitute a public offer.
Where to get help
You can book in Almaty online or at one of two branches: 129 Kurmangazy St., office 8, Almaty, 110 Bogenbay batyra St., office 15, Almaty. Our coordinator replies on WhatsApp within minutes at any time, and a doctor usually connects by video the same day; home visits are available too — all city districts and nearby settlements.
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
Is psychotherapy for BPD effective by video?
For many people, yes. Skills-based approaches such as dialectical behavior therapy work well online when sessions are regular and you have a private space. The video format also reduces missed sessions, which is especially important for this disorder.
How is BPD different from bipolar disorder?
In bipolar disorder, episodes of mania or depression last for days and weeks. In BPD, mood changes faster, often in response to events in relationships. A psychiatrist can tell them apart after a detailed conversation, sometimes over several sessions.
How long does treatment take?
It usually means months of regular work, sometimes about a year or longer. People often notice the first changes — less impulsivity, a better understanding of their own reactions — within the first few weeks. The exact plan is discussed with your therapist.
Can I start if I don’t live in the city center?
Of course. Sessions take place by video, so it doesn’t matter where you are — in the Auezov district, the Alatau district, or Kaskelen. All you need is an internet connection and a closed door. This makes therapy accessible without an hour on the road each way. It is also convenient for people who travel often.
What should I do if a crisis happens between sessions?
Use the safety plan you created with your doctor. If thoughts of suicide or self-harm appear, call 103, 112, or 150. At Psychiatry Online, you can also message us on WhatsApp and get an unscheduled consultation with the on-call psychiatrist.
Will my confidentiality be protected?
Yes. Everything you share is protected by medical confidentiality under the Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Public Health and the Healthcare System.” Information is not passed on to your employer or relatives without your consent, except in cases expressly specified by law.
Where can I be seen in Almaty?
Online — from anywhere in the city or region. In person — at two branches: 129 Kurmangazy St., office 8, Almaty and 110 Bogenbay batyra St., office 15, Almaty. Both are open 24/7; home visits cover all city districts and nearby settlements.
Sources and methodology
This page was prepared by the Psychiatry Online medical editorial team based on:
- International Classification of Diseases ICD-10 and ICD-11, World Health Organization
- Clinical diagnosis and treatment protocols of the Ministry of Health of the Republic of Kazakhstan
- Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Public Health and the Healthcare System”
- NICE (UK) and APA (US) guidelines on the treatment of mental disorders
- WHO recommendations on telemedicine and digital health
This information is for reference only and does not replace a consultation with a specialist. Editorial policy