Reviewed by: Askar Sarsenbayev, MD, addiction medicine physician · updated 6 Nov 2026
Key facts
- Who provides care
- A psychotherapist and a clinical psychologist, with a psychiatrist if needed
- Format
- Individual and family video sessions
- Duration
- Each session lasts 50–60 minutes; a course takes from several weeks to several months
- Confidentiality
- Medical confidentiality under the Code of the Republic of Kazakhstan; anonymous requests
- When it’s urgent
- Violence, a threat to life, or suicidal thoughts — call 103, 112, or the 150 helpline
- Outcome
- Less anxiety, clear boundaries, and a strategy for supporting your loved one
What you should know
In the psychological literature, codependency refers to a persistent pattern of behavior and emotional experience in people who are closely connected to someone with an addiction. It is not a separate diagnosis in ICD-10 or ICD-11; however, relatives often develop clinically significant conditions: anxiety and depressive disorders, chronic fatigue, sleep problems, psychosomatic complaints, reduced ability to work, and social isolation.
Living alongside a person with an addiction often involves constant monitoring, attempts to rescue them, and feelings of guilt and shame. Online consultations at Psychiatry Online help relatives in Yesik make sense of what is happening, restore their own well-being, and learn to act in ways that increase the chances their loved one will seek treatment. Modern evidence-based approaches show that working with the family influences the outcome of addiction.
When a Family Member Needs Help Too
- constant worry about your loved one and dread of the next relapse
- monitoring their drinking or drug use, money, phone, and whereabouts
- paying their debts, hiding problems from others, and making excuses for their behavior
- feeling guilty for someone else’s addiction and trying to “earn” their sobriety
- giving up your own interests, time with friends, and rest
- sleep problems, headaches, chronic fatigue, and irritability
- a sense of hopelessness and not knowing what to do next
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 Families Get Stuck in a Vicious Circle
One family member’s addiction changes the whole family system. Loved ones try to reduce the harm: they hide the problem, take on the person’s responsibilities, and look for ways to control their use. In the short term, this eases tension, but in the long term it sustains the addiction, because the person does not face the consequences of their behavior. Meanwhile, the relatives themselves become exhausted.
Social stigma, fear of judgment, and a lack of reliable information about addiction as a disease also play a role. Many relatives live in a state of chronic stress for years without seeking help, because they believe that only the person with the addiction needs it. International approaches treat support for the family as a treatment goal in its own right.
How Online Consultations for Relatives Work
At the first session, the specialist finds out what kind of addiction the family is dealing with, how long it has been going on, what attempts to help have already been made, and how the relative is coping. For the video session, it is important to find a place where the family member with the addiction will not overhear the conversation. A plan is then drawn up: education about the nature of addiction, working with emotions, setting boundaries, and practicing communication skills. Consultations can be individual or include several family members.
Online consultations do not replace emergency help. If there is a threat of violence, or signs of overdose or acute psychosis in your loved one, call 103 or 112. If the relative has developed severe depression or suicidal thoughts, an in-person appointment with a psychiatrist is needed; support is also available through the 150 helpline.
How we help
Psychoeducation
Relatives receive reliable information about addiction as a chronic disease, how it develops, the stages of treatment, and the likelihood of relapses. Understanding that the addiction is not the result of their own mistakes reduces feelings of guilt. This knowledge allows them to assess the situation realistically and give up ineffective ways of helping.
The CRAFT approach
Community Reinforcement and Family Training (CRAFT) is an evidence-based approach that teaches relatives positive communication, how to reward sober behavior, and how to stop shielding the person with the addiction from the consequences of their actions. The goal is to increase the chances that the loved one will agree to treatment while also improving the well-being of the family itself.
Working on boundaries
The specialist helps identify which of the relative’s actions sustain the addiction and which protect the relative. Rules about money, living together, and behavior while intoxicated are discussed. Boundaries are stated clearly, without threats or ultimatums, and are kept consistently so that the person with the addiction understands they are predictable.
Personal psychotherapy
Many relatives need individual work on anxiety, depression, and the effects of psychological trauma. Cognitive behavioral therapy, stress reduction methods, and emotion-focused techniques are used. Restoring their own resources makes the relative more resilient and, as a result, more effective in a supporting role.
Myths and facts
MythOnly the person with the addiction needs help
FactRelatives experience significant stress and need support themselves. Working with the family improves their well-being and increases the likelihood that the person with the addiction will agree to treatment.
MythIf you love them enough, they’ll quit
FactAddiction is a disease, and love alone does not undo its mechanisms. Support matters, but it is effective when combined with clear boundaries and professional help.
MythYou have to wait until they hit rock bottom
FactWaiting for a crisis is dangerous and is not supported by research. An active yet caring family strategy can help a person seek treatment earlier, before serious consequences for their health and relationships.
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 Yesik
| 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
You can book in Yesik online or at one of two branches: 22 Tauelsizdik St., Yesik, 29 Seyfullina St., office 12, Yesik. 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 get help if my loved one refuses treatment?
Yes. Consultations for relatives are useful regardless of whether the person with the addiction is ready. They help reduce stress, clarify what to do, and gradually influence your loved one’s motivation. Many people seek treatment after their family’s behavior has changed.
Do I need to tell my loved one about the consultations?
That decision is up to you. Sometimes openness helps; sometimes, at the early stage, it is safer to discuss the situation without them knowing. The specialist will help you assess what is best in your situation and prepare for the conversation if you decide to have it.
How many consultations will I need?
The number of sessions depends on the situation and your goals. Sometimes a few consultations bring clarity and an action plan; in other cases, regular work over several months is helpful. The specialist discusses this at the first session and adjusts the plan as things change.
Can the whole family attend?
Yes, family video sessions are possible with several relatives joining from different locations. Working together helps align your approach and avoid situations where family members act in opposite ways. At the same time, it is important for every participant to feel safe.
What should I do if my loved one is aggressive?
Safety comes first. If there is a threat of violence, call 102 (police) or 112. The specialist will help you draw up a safety plan and tell you where to turn for protection. Consultations are arranged so as not to put you at additional risk — for example, at a time that is convenient and safe for you.
Is codependency a diagnosis?
Codependency is not listed as a separate diagnosis in ICD-10 or ICD-11. However, relatives of people with addiction often develop anxiety, depressive, and stress-related disorders, which can be diagnosed and treated. During an online consultation in Yesik, the specialist will assess your condition and suggest suitable help.
Where can I be seen in Yesik?
Online — from anywhere in the city or region. In person — at two branches: 22 Tauelsizdik St., Yesik and 29 Seyfullina St., office 12, Yesik. 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
