Reviewed by: Pavel Kornilov, MD, psychiatrist · updated 6 Nov 2026
Key facts
- ICD-10 code
- F51.0
- Who treats you
- a psychiatrist and a psychotherapist experienced in CBT for insomnia
- Format
- video appointments plus a sleep diary you keep between sessions
- Duration
- first consultation about an hour; a CBT-I course is usually 4–8 sessions
- Confidentiality
- you can reach out without your full name; medical confidentiality applies
- When it’s urgent
- insomnia with psychotic symptoms, mania or thoughts of death — call 103 or 112
- Outcome
- falling asleep and staying asleep get easier, and reliance on sleeping pills decreases
What you should know
People with insomnia often write to us at two or three in the morning — and that’s perfectly fine. You send a WhatsApp message while lying awake yet again, and by morning the administrator is already offering you an appointment time. The video consultation takes place at a convenient moment, with no drive through morning Almaty on no sleep and no risk of nodding off at the wheel in traffic on Tole Bi Street. The doctor asks in detail about both your sleep and your day, because one can’t be understood without the other.
Insomnia rarely exists on its own: it is often driven by anxiety, depression, chronic stress, pain, an irregular routine or the habit of falling asleep with your phone. Many people take sleeping pills for years after they’ve stopped working, or turn to alcohol, which only destroys sleep. A Psychiatry Online specialist starts with the cause, and for chronic insomnia, international guidelines name not pills but a specialized form of cognitive behavioral therapy as the main treatment.
When Insomnia Calls for a Doctor’s Consultation
- it takes you more than half an hour to fall asleep almost every night for several weeks
- you wake up in the middle of the night or early morning and can’t get back to sleep
- in the morning you feel drained, even if you spent enough time in bed
- during the day it’s hard to concentrate, and you feel irritable and drowsy
- in the evening, anxiety builds at the thought that you won’t be able to sleep again
- sleeping pills or alcohol have stopped working, and you’re tempted to take more
- sleep problems come with low mood, anxiety or mood swings
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.
Why Insomnia Develops
Acute insomnia is most often linked to stress: a conflict, an illness, a move or a job change. It becomes chronic when perpetuating factors are added to the original cause: fear of another sleepless night, lying awake in bed for long periods, daytime naps and an irregular schedule. Insomnia often accompanies depression, anxiety disorders, chronic pain, sleep apnea, hormonal changes and the use of certain medications.
Life in Almaty often works against sleep. Late work calls with other time zones, coffee in the afternoon, a long commute to and from the Bostandyk district, evenings with a phone in hand, bright light and the noise of busy streets all shift your internal clock. Alcohol helps you fall asleep faster but makes sleep shallow and fragmented, so you feel even worse in the morning.
How an Online Appointment for Insomnia Works
Before the appointment, it helps to keep a sleep diary for at least a week: when you go to bed, fall asleep, wake up during the night and get up, plus your coffee, alcohol and medication intake. During the video visit, the psychiatrist asks about the nature of your sleep problems, how you feel during the day, your mood, chronic illnesses and snoring. They rule out depression, anxiety disorder and other causes, and then suggest a plan: routine changes, CBT for insomnia and medication if needed.
Polysomnography — an overnight sleep study in a lab — can’t be done online. If the doctor suspects sleep apnea, restless legs syndrome or other disorders, they’ll refer you for an in-person evaluation with a sleep specialist or neurologist. If insomnia is combined with manic agitation, psychotic symptoms or thoughts of death, urgent in-person care is needed, and if a life is in danger, call 103 or 112.
How we help
CBT for Insomnia (CBT-I)
Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia is the first-line treatment for chronic insomnia in international guidelines. It includes sleep restriction, stimulus control, working with thoughts about sleep and sleep hygiene. A course of several sessions works well online: you send in your sleep diary, and the specialist adjusts the plan every week.
Treating the Underlying Cause
If insomnia is caused by depression, an anxiety disorder or chronic pain, sleep won’t return to normal without treating the underlying condition. The psychiatrist assesses what lies behind the problem and tailors treatment accordingly. If the causes are physical, you’ll be referred to the appropriate specialist for an in-person evaluation.
Medication Support
When needed, the doctor may suggest medications from different classes that improve sleep — the choice is individual and takes into account your age, work and driving. Habit-forming sleeping pills are prescribed only for a short course. If you’ve been taking them for a long time, the psychiatrist will draw up a plan for gradual tapering and won’t leave you to go through it alone.
Sleep Hygiene and Routine
A consistent wake-up time even on weekends, no caffeine after lunch, a dark, cool bedroom and no screens for an hour before bed are simple rules that work when followed regularly. A Psychiatry Online specialist helps adapt them to your real schedule, including late meetings and the drive home.
Myths and facts
MythIf you didn’t sleep at night, you should catch up during the day
FactWith chronic insomnia, daytime naps often make nighttime sleep worse by reducing your natural sleep drive. CBT-I usually recommends not lying down during the day and keeping a consistent wake-up time, even after a bad night.
MythSleeping pills are the only way to fall asleep
FactSleeping pills help in the short term, but with long-term use, tolerance and dependence develop. The main treatment for chronic insomnia is CBT-I, whose effects last even after the course ends.
MythA glass of wine before bed helps you relax
FactAlcohol speeds up falling asleep but disrupts sleep structure: sleep becomes shallow, you wake more often in the second half of the night and feel drained in the morning. Regularly using alcohol to sleep also raises the risk of dependence.
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
| Online psychiatrist consultation (50–60 min) | 15 000 ₸ |
| Follow-up online consultation | 12 000 ₸ |
| One month of online psychiatric care | 60 000 ₸ |
The final cost is agreed before treatment starts. Prices are in tenge and do not constitute a public offer.
Where to get help
An online consultation for “Online insomnia treatment” is available to people across Almaty and Almaty Region 24/7 — from home, work or while travelling. For an in-person visit, Psychiatry Online in Almaty has two branches: 129 Kurmangazy St., office 8, Almaty and 110 Bogenbay batyra St., office 15, Almaty. Doctor home visits: 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
Can insomnia be treated online?
Yes. CBT for insomnia, assessment of causes and treatment selection all work well by video. In-person visits are needed only for specialized sleep studies if apnea or other disorders are suspected, and for lab tests when there are physical causes.
How long does treatment take?
A CBT-I course usually takes four to eight weeks. The first weeks can be challenging because of the restricted time in bed, but then sleep becomes deeper and more stable. If insomnia is linked to depression or anxiety, treatment may take longer.
I’ve been taking sleeping pills for several years. Can I stop?
In most cases, yes, but gradually and under a doctor’s supervision. Stopping abruptly can make insomnia worse and cause other unpleasant symptoms. The psychiatrist will create an individual tapering plan and support you at every stage.
When can I have consultations if I work late?
Consultations are available 24/7, so an appointment can be scheduled early in the morning or late in the evening. Just avoid having it in bed: specialists recommend that your bed be associated with sleep only. Join from the kitchen or living room, for example.
Does melatonin help?
Melatonin can be useful for some circadian rhythm problems, such as jet lag, but its effect on chronic insomnia is limited. Before taking any remedy, including over-the-counter ones, discuss it with your doctor so you don’t mask the underlying problem.
Is an online appointment suitable if I live in Kaskelen or Talgar?
Yes. Video appointments are available from any district of Almaty and the surrounding region — all you need is a stable connection. If an in-person sleep study is needed, the doctor will suggest where it’s most convenient to have it, so you don’t spend half a day on the road crossing the whole city.
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
