Reviewed by: Assel Omarova, MD, psychiatrist and addiction specialist · updated 6 Nov 2026
Key facts
- ICD-10 code
- F43.1
- Who treats you
- a psychiatrist and a psychotherapist trained in trauma-focused therapy
- Format
- video sessions from a place where you feel safe; you set the pace
- Duration
- first consultation about an hour; a course of therapy is usually 8–16 sessions
- Confidentiality
- you can reach out without your full name; details of the trauma remain confidential
- When it’s urgent
- suicidal thoughts, a threat of violence or acute panic — call 103, 112 or 150
- Outcome
- memories lose their sharpness; sleep and a sense of safety return
What you should know
After trauma, it can be very hard to talk about what happened, so we don’t ask for details in your first message. You write on WhatsApp that since the event you can’t sleep, you flinch at sounds and avoid certain places — and that’s enough. The administrator offers a time, and the video appointment takes place wherever you feel safe. There’s no need to cross Almaty and sit in a crowded clinic when any noise can set off anxiety.
PTSD can develop after a car accident, an assault, violence, the sudden death of a loved one, combat, a natural disaster or a serious illness. Importantly, it’s not about strength of character: trauma changes how the systems responsible for perceiving danger work. A Psychiatry Online specialist starts not with memories but with stabilization and safety, and only then, at your pace, moves on to trauma work using methods recommended in international guidelines.
Signs of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
- intrusive memories of the event, as if it were happening again
- nightmares that leave you waking up sweating with a racing heart
- you avoid places, people and conversations that remind you of the trauma
- constant alertness and flinching at sudden sounds
- irritability, outbursts of anger and trouble concentrating
- a sense of detachment from loved ones and emotional numbness
- symptoms last more than a month and interfere with work and relationships
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 PTSD Develops
PTSD develops after an event perceived as a threat to life or safety — your own or someone else’s. The brain stores trauma differently from ordinary memories: in fragments, with vivid sensations and without a clear sense of time. That’s why reminders trigger a reaction as if the danger were here and now. Not everyone who experiences trauma develops PTSD: the severity of the event, prior experience and the support received afterward all matter.
The risk is higher if, after the trauma, a person was left without support, faced judgment, continued living under stressful conditions or went through several traumatic events. In a big city, reminders can lurk everywhere: the sound of a siren, a busy intersection on Abay Avenue where an accident happened, crowded public transportation. Avoidance helps at first but gradually narrows your life and keeps the disorder going.
How an Online Appointment for PTSD Works
You choose a place where you feel calm and protected: your own room, your car outside your home, a relative’s apartment. At the first session, the psychiatrist doesn’t press for a detailed account of the trauma — they assess your current symptoms, sleep, safety, alcohol use and any thoughts of self-harm. Together you agree on a “stop” signal in case it becomes too hard. Already at the first session, you receive stabilization techniques to help you cope between appointments.
The online format isn’t right for every situation. If you are still in danger — for example, living near an abuser — you first need help ensuring your safety, and if you’re under threat, call 102, 112 or 103. Severe suicidal thoughts, psychotic symptoms or serious alcohol or drug dependence may call for an in-person visit or hospitalization. The doctor will tell you honestly if online care isn’t enough.
How we help
Trauma-Focused CBT
This is the first-line treatment for PTSD in international guidelines. Gradually and under safe conditions, you process memories of the trauma and change the beliefs that formed after it: “it’s my fault,” “the world is dangerous,” “I can’t cope.” The work proceeds at your pace, always with stabilization before more difficult stages.
EMDR
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing is another method with proven effectiveness for PTSD. The specialist helps you process a traumatic memory using bilateral stimulation. EMDR can be done online when safety protocols are followed, but in some cases the specialist will suggest an in-person format.
Medication
A psychiatrist may suggest antidepressants from specific classes that reduce intrusive memories, anxiety and low mood, as well as medications to normalize sleep. Medication doesn’t replace psychotherapy, but it helps you get through it. Selecting medication and monitoring tolerability are easy to do during short online check-ins.
Stabilization and Skills
Grounding, breathing and body-based techniques help bring you back to the present when memories flood in. A Psychiatry Online specialist teaches you to recognize triggers and plan your day around them — for example, choosing a route through the city that avoids the place where the event happened until you’re ready for something different.
Myths and facts
MythOnly military personnel get PTSD
FactPTSD can develop in anyone after a car accident, violence, an assault, the loss of a loved one, a natural disaster or a serious illness. Military experience is just one of many possible causes, and every one of them deserves attention.
MythYou just need to forget and move on
FactTrying to suppress memories usually makes them even more intrusive. What helps is not forgetting but processing the trauma under safe conditions — afterward, the memory remains but no longer controls your life.
MythTalking about trauma means reliving it
FactTrauma-focused therapy proceeds gradually and only after stabilization. The specialist monitors how much you can handle, and you can always stop. The goal is relief, not retraumatization.
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 “PTSD treatment online” 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
An online appointment in Almaty is first of all about privacy: no clinic visit, no waiting room. A private room and headphones are enough. Data is stored in a secure system with restricted access and does not enter any state registry without legal grounds.
Questions and answers
Do I have to describe the trauma in detail at the first session?
No. The first consultation focuses on your current state, safety and a plan of care. You’ll move on to details later, when you’re ready, and only to the extent needed for therapy. You set the pace, and the specialist makes sure the load stays manageable.
How soon after a trauma should I seek help?
You can reach out at any time. If acute reactions don’t pass within a month or interfere with your life, that’s a reason for a consultation. But even earlier, a specialist can help you get through the first weeks, restore your sleep and reduce the risk of developing PTSD.
Can PTSD be treated entirely online?
In most cases, yes: trauma-focused CBT and stabilization work well by video. In-person care is needed when your safety is threatened, when there are severe suicidal thoughts or significant substance dependence. The specialist will discuss with you which format is right.
How can I help a loved one with PTSD?
Don’t press them to talk about the trauma, but let them know you’re there. Offer to help find a specialist. You can also get a consultation yourself on how to support your loved one without burning out. If a life is in danger, call 103 or 112.
Do alcohol and sleeping pills help with nightmares?
In the short term they may dull the symptoms, but they don’t treat PTSD, and with regular use they create new problems, including dependence. If that’s how you’re coping, tell your doctor — without judgment, they’ll help you find safer ways.
Are appointments available to residents of Almaty’s suburbs?
Yes. Video appointments are equally available in the Nauryzbay district, Kaskelen, Talgar or Konaev. All you need is a stable connection and a place where you can’t be overheard. For many patients with PTSD, not having to travel around the city is especially important.
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
