Reviewed by: Pavel Kornilov, MD, psychiatrist · updated 6 Nov 2026
Key facts
- ICD-10 code
- F40.1
- Who provides care
- A psychiatrist and a psychotherapist using cognitive behavioral therapy methods
- Format
- Video consultations and online CBT sessions; group work is available if you wish
- Duration
- Initial appointment about 50–60 minutes; a CBT course usually takes 12–16 sessions
- Confidentiality
- Medical confidentiality under the Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Public Health and the Healthcare System”; you can start with an audio-only call
- When it is urgent
- Thoughts of self-harm, severe depression, complete isolation — call 103, 112 or 150
- Outcome
- Less fear of being judged, a wider range of social situations, and confidence in conversations and at work
What you should know
Social phobias are coded F40.1 in ICD-10, and in ICD-11 the condition is called social anxiety disorder. It differs from ordinary shyness in its intensity and consequences: the fear of being judged persists for months, is accompanied by physical reactions — blushing, trembling, sweating — and forces the person to avoid study, work, meeting new people and everyday situations. The disorder usually begins in adolescence and, without treatment, often becomes chronic.
At Psychiatry Online, social anxiety is treated by psychiatrists and psychotherapists via video consultations. For people who find it hard to attend an in-person appointment and talk to unfamiliar specialists, the online format lowers the threshold for seeking help. A video appointment with a psychiatrist in Turkistan lets you complete the assessment from home and then gradually move on to exercises in real-life situations, reviewing the results in detail in the following sessions.
Signs and Symptoms of Social Anxiety
- intense fear of speaking in public, answering questions or talking in front of others
- worry about looking stupid or awkward or being judged by others
- blushing, trembling, sweating or stumbling over words in social situations
- avoiding phone calls, meeting new people, job interviews and public places
- replaying past conversations for a long time, searching them for your own mistakes
- anxious anticipation of upcoming social events days or weeks in advance
- using alcohol or other substances to feel calmer
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.
Causes of Social Anxiety
Social anxiety develops from a combination of hereditary predisposition, temperament and life experience. The risk is higher in people who showed marked behavioral inhibition in childhood and in those whose relatives have anxiety disorders. Neurobiological research links the disorder to heightened reactivity of the systems that respond to social threat and evaluation.
Bullying and ridicule at school, excessive criticism or overprotection in the family, and bad experiences of public speaking all play a role. The disorder is maintained by cognitive mechanisms: focusing attention on yourself during conversations, overestimating how noticeable your nervousness is, and “safety” behaviors and avoidance that prevent you from testing the real consequences. Social anxiety often occurs together with depression and alcohol misuse.
How Online Treatment for Social Anxiety Works
The first video appointment begins with a conversation about the situations that cause fear, physical reactions, avoidance and the impact on study, work and relationships. Questionnaires such as the Liebowitz Social Anxiety Scale are used. If it is hard to turn on your camera at first, you can discuss this with the doctor and start gradually. You will need a stable internet connection, headphones and a private room. At the end, a treatment plan and a hierarchy of situations to practice are drawn up.
Online sessions cannot fully replace practicing skills in real social situations, so some exercises are done outside sessions — in a shop, at work, when talking to people. Whether prescription medications can be prescribed depends on the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the requirement for an initial examination. Severe depression with thoughts of death requires urgent help: call 103 or 112; young people can call 150.
How we help
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy
According to international guidelines, CBT is the first-line treatment for social anxiety disorder. Therapy aims to change your beliefs about how you appear to others, drop safety behaviors and shift attention from yourself to the situation. The course is delivered online and includes assignments between sessions.
Exposure and Behavioral Experiments
The patient gradually enters situations they have been avoiding — from a simple phone call to a public speech — and tests whether their fears come true. Video makes it possible to carry out some experiments right in the session, such as role-play dialogues or short presentations in front of the psychotherapist. The results are discussed and consolidated.
Medication
For severe disorder or when psychotherapy is not effective enough, the doctor may recommend medications from the antidepressant group used to treat anxiety disorders. Sedating medications that carry a risk of dependence are not considered a main treatment. The choice and monitoring of treatment are carried out by the doctor.
Building Social Skills
Separate sessions focus on skills that may not have developed because of years of avoidance: starting a conversation, keeping it going, expressing disagreement and responding to criticism. The skills are practiced in online role-play exercises and then applied in real life. This boosts confidence and consolidates the effect of CBT.
Myths and facts
MythSocial anxiety is just shyness
FactShyness is a personality trait that does not get in the way of life. Social anxiety disorder causes marked fear and avoidance that limit study, career and relationships, and it is diagnosed using clinical criteria.
MythIt will go away on its own with age
FactWithout treatment, the disorder often persists for many years and can be complicated by depression or addiction. Psychotherapy helps at any age, and seeking help early reduces the time lost to avoidance.
MythAlcohol helps you relax in company
FactAlcohol brings short-term relief, but it reinforces the belief that socializing is impossible without it and raises the risk of dependence. A lasting reduction in anxiety is achieved through psychotherapy, not substance use.
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 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 Turkistan online or at one of two branches: 37 Tauke khana St., Turkistan, 27 Zhibek zholy St., office 28, Turkistan. 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
Can I have a consultation with my camera turned off?
At the initial stage, this is acceptable: the doctor can start the conversation by audio if turning on the camera is still difficult. Later, video becomes part of therapy, as it helps you gradually get used to the feeling of being looked at. The pace is discussed individually.
Why is online treatment more convenient for social anxiety?
There is no need to travel to a clinic, wait in line or talk to reception staff. You start treatment in familiar surroundings and then gradually transfer your skills to real situations. Research has confirmed the effectiveness of video-based CBT for this disorder.
How long does treatment take?
A CBT course usually includes 12–16 weekly sessions. The first changes are often noticed a few weeks after exposure exercises begin. If medication is used, it is continued for several months after improvement, as decided by the doctor.
Is medication needed?
Psychotherapy is enough for many patients. Medication is discussed when symptoms are severe, when there is co-occurring depression or when CBT is not effective enough. Whether it can be prescribed remotely depends on the legislation of the Republic of Kazakhstan and the requirement for an initial examination.
How can I help a teenager with social anxiety?
Do not push them abruptly, but do not let them avoid difficult situations entirely either — support gradual steps. It is important to see a specialist, especially if the teenager has stopped going to school. A psychiatrist consultation in Turkistan for minors is held with the participation of a parent or legal guardian.
Who will find out that I sought help?
Information about the patient is protected by medical confidentiality and is disclosed only in cases provided for by the Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan “On Public Health and the Healthcare System.” Information about your contact with Psychiatry Online is not shared with your school or workplace.
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
