Reviewed by: Assel Omarova, MD, psychiatrist and addiction specialist · updated 6 Nov 2026
Key facts
- Who provides care
- An addiction medicine doctor, a psychotherapist, an addiction specialist
- Format
- Online assessment and selection + an in-person program
- Duration
- Selection in 1–2 sessions, a program lasting 1 to 6 months or longer
- Anonymity
- Confidential, under Kazakhstan medical confidentiality rules
- When it’s urgent
- Overdose, delirium, psychosis, suicidal thoughts — call 103 or 112
- Outcome
- A well-founded choice of program and an admission pathway
What you should know
Rehabilitation is the stage that follows detox and aims to restore the skills of living without psychoactive substances, alcohol or gambling. Clinical guidelines emphasize that the intensity of a program should match the severity of the condition. For some people, outpatient psychotherapy and support groups are enough; others need a structured residential regimen for several months. Choosing the wrong format is a common cause of early relapse.
At Psychiatry Online, program selection is done online, which is convenient both for the patient and for relatives in different districts — the right bank, Saryarka, Nura. The specialist reviews the history of the addiction and previous treatment experience, assesses the risks and helps compare the options. For families with busy work schedules, where both adults are at government agencies or offices until evening, a video consultation saves time on visiting centers and makes it possible to reach a well-considered decision.
When to Consider a Rehabilitation Program
- a relapse comes quickly after detox or coding
- the addiction has lasted for years, and several treatment attempts have failed
- there are many triggers at home: social circle, easy access to the substance, conflicts
- the person has lost their daily routine, their job and the skills of independent living
- there are co-occurring disorders: depression, anxiety, the aftereffects of trauma
- outpatient sessions have not yet produced stable remission
- the family is exhausted and needs a break and support of its own
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 Detox Alone Is Not Enough
Detox relieves acute withdrawal but does not change the mechanisms that sustain addiction: the altered reward system, habitual behavioral chains, cognitive distortions and social environment. Research shows that without subsequent rehabilitation, most patients return to using within the first few months. Rehabilitation provides the time and structure needed to build new skills.
Recovery requires not only psychotherapy but also social reintegration: returning to work or studies, rebuilding relationships and finding new leisure activities. This is especially difficult if the former lifestyle was closely tied to using. Seasonality matters as well: the long winter, wind and short daylight hours limit activity, and the program should take these conditions into account when planning leisure after discharge.
How Online Selection of a Rehabilitation Program Works
During the video consultation, the specialist takes a history: the substance or type of addiction, how long it has lasted, previous treatment attempts, physical illnesses, psychiatric diagnoses, legal and financial circumstances, and family support. Standardized criteria are used to determine the level of care needed. Have discharge summaries and a list of medications ready. The consultation can be held with the patient, with relatives or jointly, in a private setting.
Detox and assessment of physical health cannot be done online: an in-person examination and tests are usually required before admission to a program. In acute conditions — overdose, delirium, psychosis, seizures, suicidal thoughts — call 103 or 112. Rehabilitation is voluntary; involuntary measures are possible only as provided for by Kazakhstan law.
How we help
Outpatient Rehabilitation
Suitable for people with moderate addiction, stable housing and family support. It includes regular psychotherapy, support groups and online sessions with an addiction specialist. The person keeps working and living at home, applying new skills in a real-life environment. The drawback is that familiar triggers remain, so a detailed relapse prevention plan is essential.
Day Hospital
An intermediate format: several hours a day in the program and evenings at home. It provides more structure than outpatient treatment while maintaining ties with the family. It suits people after detox who need an intensive start but do not require round-the-clock care. It usually lasts from a few weeks to a couple of months.
Residential Rehabilitation
A round-the-clock stay at a center with a daily schedule, group and individual therapy, and occupational therapy. It is recommended for severe addiction, repeated relapses and an unfavorable home environment. It is important to check the center’s license, whether doctors and psychologists are on staff, that the stay is voluntary and that the terms are transparent.
Post-Rehabilitation Support
Leaving the center is a high-risk period. Regular online sessions with a psychotherapist, support groups and relapse prevention help transfer skills into everyday life. Even before discharge, the specialist agrees on a 6–12-month follow-up plan so that there is no gap between stages of care and no loss of motivation.
Myths and facts
MythThe longer the rehab, the better
FactWhat matters is not the length but how well the program matches the severity of the condition, and the quality of follow-up care. For some people an outpatient format is enough; others need several months at a center. The choice should be individual.
MythRehab means isolation and a harsh regime
FactModern programs are based on evidence-based psychotherapy methods and respect for patients’ rights. The stay is voluntary, and the patient can leave the center. Isolation without therapy does not treat addiction and may violate the law.
MythAfter the center, the person is cured
FactRehabilitation lays the foundation of skills, but they need to be maintained. Without post-rehabilitation support, the risk of relapse in the first months remains high. Online sessions help preserve the results.
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 Astana
| Online consultation on choosing a program | free |
| Program selection and admission support | 30 000 ₸ |
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 Astana: same-day video appointments and two branches for in-person visits — 72 Bogenbay batyra St., Astana and 37 Petrova St., office 23, Astana. Our mobile team works around the clock: all city districts and nearby settlements. If you live elsewhere in Astana and Akmola Region, starting online is usually easiest.
Confidential and private
An online appointment in Astana 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
How do I know which rehab format is needed?
The decision is based on a combination of factors: severity of the addiction, number of previous attempts, co-existing illnesses, home environment and motivation. During the online consultation, the specialist assesses them using standardized criteria and explains why a particular option is recommended.
Can a person be sent to a center without their consent?
No, rehabilitation of an adult is voluntary. Involuntary measures are possible only in cases expressly provided for by Kazakhstan law. If your loved one is not ready, start with a motivation consultation — this often leads to voluntary consent.
How can I check a rehabilitation center?
Find out whether it has a medical license and doctors and psychologists on staff, which methods are used, how contact with relatives is organized and whether patients can leave voluntarily. A Psychiatry Online specialist can help you prepare a list of questions for the center.
What is needed to be admitted to a program?
Usually a completed detox, an in-person examination, basic tests and documents are required. The exact list depends on the center. Part of the preparation, including taking a history and explaining the requirements, is done in advance during the online consultation.
Can I go through rehab without taking time off work?
Yes, outpatient and day hospital formats allow you to combine treatment with work. Online sessions are held in the morning or evening, which suits employees with busy schedules. A residential format usually requires a break from work for the duration of the program.
Does the family take part in rehabilitation?
Ideally, yes. Family consultations help change the home environment, agree on rules and prepare for the loved one’s return. Relatives can join online from different districts and cities without disrupting their own work schedules.
Where can I be seen in Astana?
Online — from anywhere in the city or region. In person — at two branches: 72 Bogenbay batyra St., Astana and 37 Petrova St., office 23, Astana. 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
