Divya Sharma, Registered Social Worker, offers DBT-informed therapy in Calgary at Therapy for People, in person at Langley House in Bankview and online. Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) skills are part of her individual, couples and family counselling. Individual sessions with Divya are $220 for 60 minutes, $275 for 75 minutes and $330 for 90 minutes.

DBT is a skills-based therapy for emotions that feel too big, too fast or too hard to manage. It pairs acceptance with change: accepting where you are right now, while building skills to respond differently.

Your therapist

Divya Sharma, BSc, BSW, MSW, RSW

Registered Social Worker

Divya draws on DBT skills and principles in individual, couples and family counselling, as part of an integrative approach with CBT, Emotion-Focused Therapy, ACT and mindfulness. Her work is trauma-informed.

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What DBT is

DBT grew out of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. "Dialectical" means holding two things that seem opposite at the same time. In DBT the central pair is acceptance and change: you are already doing what you can, and you can learn to do things differently. Both are true.

DBT teaches skills in four areas:

• Mindfulness: noticing what is happening inside you and around you, in the present moment, without judging it.
• Distress tolerance: getting through a painful moment or a crisis without making it worse.
• Emotion regulation: understanding what you feel and what sets it off, and changing the emotional patterns you want to change.
• Interpersonal effectiveness: asking for what you need, saying no, and keeping both your self-respect and your relationships.

Who DBT may suit

DBT may suit you if:

• Your emotions rise fast and take a long time to come down.
• You act on urges in the moment and regret it later.
• Relationships feel intense, stormy or hard to keep steady.
• You swing between holding everything in and everything spilling out.
• You often feel overwhelmed and do not know what to do with it.

DBT skills are also used with couples and families, when conflict escalates quickly and everyone needs a way to slow it down.

What a DBT-informed session is like

A session might look at one recent hard moment, step by step: what set it off, what you felt in your body, what you did, and what happened next. From there you practise a skill that fits, such as a quick way to calm your body or a clear way to ask for what you need. Between sessions you try it in real life, and the next session starts with what you noticed.

Divya's approach is integrative, so DBT skills may sit alongside CBT, Emotion-Focused Therapy and ACT.

Full DBT programs and DBT-informed therapy

Some clinics run comprehensive DBT programs, which combine weekly individual therapy, a weekly skills group, coaching between sessions and a therapist consultation team. Divya draws on DBT skills and principles within individual, couples and family counselling. If you are looking specifically for a full DBT program, mention it at your meet and greet so you can choose what fits.

Common questions

What is DBT?

Dialectical Behaviour Therapy (DBT) is a skills-based therapy that grew out of CBT. It balances acceptance and change, and teaches skills in mindfulness, distress tolerance, emotion regulation and interpersonal effectiveness. In Calgary, Divya Sharma, RSW, draws on DBT at Therapy for People.

How much does DBT cost at Therapy for People?

Individual sessions with Divya are $220 for 60 minutes, $275 for 75 minutes and $330 for 90 minutes. Couples sessions are $330 for 90 minutes and family sessions are $350 for 90 minutes. Divya is a Registered Social Worker, and many workplace benefit plans cover services from Registered Social Workers. Check your own plan for details. We direct bill Sun Life and Telus Health. See all fees and insurance.

Is DBT available online?

Yes. Sessions are offered online and in person. From November 1, 2026, in-person sessions are at Langley House, 1909 17th Ave SW in Bankview, Calgary, with free parking.

Who offers DBT at Therapy for People?

Divya Sharma, BSc, BSW, MSW, RSW, a Registered Social Worker with more than 11 years of experience in mental health and clinical practice. She provides individual, couples and family counselling.

Is this a full DBT program?

Divya draws on DBT skills and principles within individual, couples and family counselling. A comprehensive DBT program also includes a weekly skills group and coaching between sessions. If that is what you are looking for, ask at your meet and greet.

What is the difference between DBT and CBT?

Both are practical and skills-based, and DBT grew out of CBT. CBT focuses on changing unhelpful thoughts and behaviours. DBT adds acceptance and mindfulness, with skills for intense emotions, distress and relationships.

Can DBT be used in couples or family therapy?

Yes. Divya draws on DBT with couples and families as well as individuals. Skills for slowing down, naming feelings and asking clearly for what you need can be used by everyone in the room.