Reviewed by: Assel Omarova, MD, psychiatrist and addiction specialist · updated 6 Nov 2026
Key facts
- Who provides care
- A psychotherapist and a clinical psychologist, with an addiction specialist when indicated
- Format
- Video consultations for the family and for the person with the addiction; support during the intervention
- Duration
- Each session lasts 50–60 minutes; preparation takes from one to several weeks
- Confidentiality
- Medical confidentiality under the Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Public Health and the Healthcare System”
- When it’s urgent
- Overdose, psychosis, or a threat of violence or suicide — call 103 or 112
- Outcome
- Agreement to treatment, an action plan, and a well-prepared family
What you should know
Denial is one of the hallmarks of addiction: a person may downplay how much they use, blame it on outside circumstances, or believe they can stop at any time. In this situation, loved ones often try to persuade, threaten, or control, which usually only increases resistance. Psychological science offers more effective approaches to building motivation, based on respect for the person’s autonomy.
An intervention is a planned meeting between the family and the person with the addiction, at which loved ones, supported by a specialist, talk about their feelings and offer a specific treatment option. At Psychiatry Online, intervention preparation and motivational consultations take place online: the specialist helps families in Turkistan choose a strategy, prepare what they want to say, and arrange a treatment placement in advance so that no time is lost once the person agrees.
When You Need Help Motivating a Loved One
- your loved one denies the addiction despite obvious consequences
- conversations about treatment end in arguments, promises, or silence
- previous attempts to persuade or force them into treatment have failed
- the family can’t agree on how to act and what to say
- the addiction is progressing and the person’s health is getting worse
- relatives are afraid of how their loved one will react and don’t know where to start
- your loved one agrees to treatment but keeps putting it off
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 People with Addiction Resist Treatment
Resistance to treatment is linked not only to personality but also to the mechanisms of addiction itself. For a long time, using has served as a way to cope with stress, anxiety, or emotional pain, so giving it up feels like a threat. In addition, addiction affects the frontal regions of the brain responsible for planning and weighing consequences, which makes it harder to see the situation objectively.
Shame, fear of judgment, worries about losing a job or reputation, and misconceptions about treatment also play a big role. Pressure and accusations strengthen defensive reactions, whereas a respectful conversation about specific facts and feelings reduces them. That is why modern approaches to motivation move away from confrontation and rely on cooperation, empathy, and recognition of the person’s right to make their own decision.
How Online Preparation Works
The work begins with a consultation for relatives: the specialist learns about the history of the addiction, the loved one’s condition, previous attempts to help, and the family dynamics. For the video session, you need a place where the person with the addiction will not overhear the conversation. The family then learns positive communication skills, prepares letters or short statements for the intervention, and agrees on a plan. If the loved one is ready to talk, the specialist conducts a motivational interview with them directly.
Online preparation does not replace emergency help. If your loved one shows signs of overdose or psychosis, or says they intend to harm themselves or others, call 103 or 112. Involuntary hospitalization is possible only on the grounds and in the manner established by the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan.
How we help
Motivational interviewing
Motivational interviewing is an evidence-based counseling method designed to work with ambivalence. The specialist helps the person put their own reasons for change into words and compare their values with their current behavior. The method does not use pressure, so it causes less resistance and works well online, including at the first contact.
The CRAFT approach for families
Community Reinforcement and Family Training teaches relatives to change their own behavior so that sobriety becomes more rewarding than using. The family learns to encourage sober periods, let the person face the natural consequences of their use, and suggest treatment at the right moment. Research shows that this approach increases the likelihood that the person will seek help.
Structured intervention
An intervention follows a plan prepared in advance: participants express their care and describe specific situations while avoiding blame, and they offer a specific treatment option. It is important to arrange a place at a clinic or a doctor’s appointment beforehand. The specialist helps determine whether an intervention is appropriate in a particular situation and reduces the risk of conflict.
Moving on to treatment
Once the person agrees, it is important to act quickly: arrange a consultation with an addiction specialist, a doctor’s home visit for withdrawal, or hospital admission. Motivation often fluctuates, so delay can weaken the person’s readiness. The specialist supports the family at this stage and helps maintain the decision during the first weeks.
Myths and facts
MythA person has to want it themselves, or nothing will work
FactMotivation changes over time and under the influence of the people around us. Research confirms that people who enter treatment because of family influence can achieve results comparable to those who sought help on their own.
MythAn intervention is an ultimatum and pressure
FactA modern intervention is built on care and concrete facts, not threats. Its goal is to help the person see the consequences and accept help while preserving respect, trust, and family relationships.
MythYou can send someone to treatment without their consent
FactAn adult is treated with their voluntary consent. Involuntary measures are possible only in the cases and in the manner provided for by the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan. Deception or coercion undermines trust and makes treatment less effective.
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 Turkistan
| Online addiction specialist consultation | 12 000 ₸ |
| Online consultation for relatives | 12 000 ₸ |
| Addiction specialist home visit | 40 000 ₸ |
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 “Motivation for treatment and intervention” is available to people across Turkistan Region 24/7 — from home, work or while travelling. For an in-person visit, Psychiatry Online in Turkistan has two branches: 37 Tauke khana St., Turkistan and 27 Zhibek zholy St., office 28, Turkistan. Doctor home visits: all city districts and nearby settlements.
Confidential and private
An online appointment in Turkistan 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
Where do I start if my loved one denies there’s a problem?
Start with a consultation for yourself. The specialist will help you assess the situation, explain which kinds of conversations increase resistance, and suggest a strategy. Often the first step is a change in the family’s behavior rather than an immediate conversation about treatment.
How does an intervention work?
It is a meeting prepared in advance, at which loved ones talk about their feelings and specific situations related to the person’s use and offer a treatment option. The specialist helps you prepare and can join the meeting online. It is important to have a treatment plan ready to put into action as soon as the person agrees.
What if the intervention doesn’t work?
A refusal is not a defeat. Many people agree to treatment some time after the conversation. It is important for the family to keep the boundaries they have chosen and continue working with the specialist, reviewing what could be changed and choosing the right moment for the next step.
Can the specialist talk to my loved one directly?
Yes, if the person agrees to talk. A motivational interview by video often feels easier than a visit to a clinic because it takes place in familiar surroundings. An online specialist in Turkistan does not pressure or judge but helps the person explore their own attitude toward their use.
How long does preparation take?
It depends on the situation: sometimes a few consultations are enough, and sometimes preparation takes several weeks. If your loved one’s condition is deteriorating rapidly, the specialist helps you act quickly, and if there is a threat to life, contact emergency services at 103 or 112 right away.
Are family consultations confidential?
Yes. Information about your consultations is protected by medical confidentiality under the Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Public Health and the Healthcare System.” Your request can be anonymous, and information may be disclosed only in cases expressly established by law.
Where can I be seen in Turkistan?
Online — from anywhere in the city or region. In person — at two branches: 37 Tauke khana St., Turkistan and 27 Zhibek zholy St., office 28, Turkistan. 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
