Reviewed by: Assel Omarova, MD, psychiatrist and addiction specialist · updated 6 Nov 2026
Key facts
- ICD-10 code
- F43.1
- Who leads care
- A psychiatrist and a psychotherapist trained in trauma-focused methods
- Format
- Video consultations, psychotherapy sessions, a safety plan
- Duration
- First appointment 50–60 minutes; a course of therapy usually takes 8–16 sessions
- Confidentiality
- Medical confidentiality under the Kazakhstan Code “On Public Health”
- When it is urgent
- Suicidal thoughts or an acute state right after an event — call 103, 112, or 150
- Outcome
- Memories lose their sharpness, avoidance fades, and sleep is restored
What you should know
PTSD develops after events involving a threat to life, serious injury, or violence: accidents, assaults, military conflict, natural disasters, or the sudden loss of a loved one. Most people experience stress after trauma that gradually fades. In PTSD, this natural recovery is disrupted: the memory of the event stays “alive,” and the brain keeps reacting as if the danger were not yet over. Symptoms usually last longer than a month and interfere with life.
Why is it important to seek help? Without treatment, PTSD often becomes chronic and is accompanied by depression, insomnia, and alcohol use. At Psychiatry Online, psychiatrists and psychotherapists work over video gently and at your pace. The online format gives a sense of control and safety: you are in a familiar space and do not have to travel across the city — for example, from the right bank to the Nura district — to an unfamiliar clinic.
Signs and Symptoms of PTSD
- intrusive memories of the trauma that surface against your will
- nightmares related to the event and frequent awakenings in fear
- flashbacks — a feeling that the event is happening again right now
- avoiding places, people, and conversations that remind you of the trauma
- constant vigilance and jumping at sudden sounds
- guilt, shame, feeling detached from loved ones, and loss of interest
- irritability, angry outbursts, and difficulty concentrating
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.
What Causes PTSD
The mechanism of PTSD is linked to how the brain processes and stores the memory of trauma. At a moment of intense fear, memories are recorded in fragments, with vivid sensory details but without a clear link to context and time. That is why reminders — sounds, smells, places — trigger a fear response as if the event were happening now. Avoidance prevents the brain from processing these memories, and they remain “unfinished.”
The risk of PTSD depends on the nature and duration of the trauma, a lack of support after the event, previous traumas, and existing mental health conditions. Chronic stress — for example, demanding work in the civil service or an office without a chance to recover — and social isolation, which a long winter can intensify, may keep symptoms going. Support from loved ones and seeking help early, by contrast, improve the outlook.
How Online Treatment for PTSD Works
At the first video consultation, the doctor gently asks about your symptoms and how they affect your life. You do not have to describe the trauma in detail right away: you set the pace. Standardized scales are used to assess the severity of PTSD. It is important to prepare a place in advance where you feel safe and cannot be overheard, and to think about who you could call after the session. Together with the specialist, you will draw up a safety plan for moments of intense distress.
The online format is not suitable in acute danger: if the trauma happened recently and you are still at risk, or if you have suicidal thoughts or severe disorientation, call 103, 112, or the 150 helpline. If you have physical injuries or other health problems, the doctor will refer you for an in-person evaluation. Whether medication can be prescribed and a prescription issued depends on Kazakhstan law.
How we help
Trauma-focused CBT
International guidelines name trauma-focused psychotherapies as the first-line treatment for PTSD. They include prolonged exposure and cognitive therapy: gradually and in safe conditions, you return to the memories and revisit the beliefs about yourself and the world that the trauma has shaped, such as a sense of guilt.
EMDR
Eye movement desensitization and reprocessing is a method recommended by international guidelines for PTSD. The patient holds fragments of a memory in mind while following bilateral stimulation. The mechanism is not fully understood, but the method has proven effective in research. In the online format, adapted forms of stimulation are used.
Medication
Clinical guidelines recommend antidepressants from certain classes for PTSD, especially when psychotherapy is unavailable or not sufficient, and when depression is also present. Other classes of medication may be used to treat nightmares and sleep problems. The class of medication and the length of the course are decided by the psychiatrist.
Stabilization and support
Before working with memories, it is important to learn to cope with intense emotions: grounding techniques, breathing, and a safety plan. At Psychiatry Online, the specialist helps you build supports in everyday life — sleep, routine, connection with loved ones — and involves your family if you wish. Stabilization continues throughout the entire course.
Myths and facts
MythOnly military personnel get PTSD
FactPTSD can develop after any event that threatened life or safety: an accident, an assault, the loss of a loved one, or medical trauma. It is the brain’s response to trauma, not a feature of a particular profession.
MythYou just need to forget and move on
FactTrying to forget and avoiding reminders keep PTSD going. Treatment helps process the memories so that they stop triggering an acute reaction, and then moving on becomes possible.
MythIf many years have passed, it’s too late for treatment
FactTrauma-focused therapy is effective even for chronic PTSD, even if the event happened many years ago. It is never too late to seek help: many patients notice improvement within the first months of therapy.
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 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
You can book in Astana online or at one of two branches: 72 Bogenbay batyra St., Astana, 37 Petrova St., office 23, Astana. 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
Do I have to describe the trauma in detail?
No, especially not at the first appointment. You set the pace. The specialist first helps stabilize your condition and build a sense of safety, and work with memories begins when you are ready for it and know how to support yourself.
Is online therapy for PTSD effective?
Research shows that trauma-focused CBT delivered by video is effective for PTSD. It is important that you have a safe place for the session and a plan in case of intense distress afterward. For many patients, being at home helps them feel calmer.
How long does treatment take?
A course of trauma-focused therapy usually takes 8–16 sessions, sometimes more for complex trauma. Improvements are often noticeable within a few weeks. Medication, if needed, is continued for several months after improvement.
What is complex PTSD?
ICD-11 describes complex PTSD, which develops after prolonged or repeated trauma. In addition to PTSD symptoms, it includes difficulties regulating emotions, a negative view of oneself, and problems in relationships. Treatment usually takes longer.
How can I help a loved one with PTSD?
Be there for them, do not pressure them to talk about the trauma, and do not dismiss what they are going through. Encourage them to see a specialist. If your loved one talks about suicide or is in danger, call 103, 112, or 150. You can also book a consultation for the family.
Is it confidential?
Yes. Information about your consultation is protected by medical confidentiality under the Kazakhstan Code “On Public Health and the Healthcare System.” At Psychiatry Online, you can seek help anonymously, and information may be disclosed only in cases expressly provided for by law.
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
