Dissociation and DID Therapy
Specialized, parts-informed therapy for dissociative identity disorder, other dissociative disorders, and depersonalization-derealization, from a counsellor whose practice centres on dissociation. Sessions are virtual across Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba, with limited in-person availability in Calgary.
Finding a therapist who understands dissociation is hard. Many people with DID or chronic depersonalization have spent years being misdiagnosed, treated for the wrong thing, or told their experience is so rare that it is quietly doubted. Dissociation is the core of Jason Chang's clinical work, not a sideline, and treatment here follows the approaches developed specifically for it.
Who This Is For
People diagnosed with dissociative identity disorder or other specified dissociative disorder, and systems looking for a therapist who works with parts respectfully. People who lose time, find evidence of things they don't remember doing, or hear internal voices or conversations and want to understand what is happening. People living with persistent depersonalization or derealization: the sense of being unreal, detached from the body, or watching life through glass. People with complex trauma whose dissociation has stalled previous therapy, including those who were told they were "too complex" or "not ready." You do not need a diagnosis to begin.
How Treatment Works
Treatment is phase-oriented, which means it moves at the pace your system can tolerate rather than the pace a protocol dictates. The first phase builds stabilization: understanding your symptoms and parts, developing internal communication, and strengthening your capacity to stay present. Only when that foundation holds does the work turn to processing traumatic material, and then to integration into daily life, which for DID means better cooperation and co-consciousness among parts, never forced fusion.
The core framework is Trauma-Informed Stabilization Treatment (TIST), a parts-based approach to complex trauma and dissociation developed by Janina Fisher, in which Jason is certified. It is combined as needed with Internal Family Systems (IFS), EMDR adapted for dissociative clients, somatic work, and DBT skills for emotion regulation and safety.
Working with Parts and Systems
Every part is treated as a part of you that developed for a reason, including the parts that are angry, frightened, protective, or hostile to therapy. There is no agenda to eliminate alters, no pressure toward fusion, and no requirement that any part speak before it is ready. For clients with DID, the therapeutic relationship is built with the system as a whole, and trust is earned part by part. Our guide to alters and parts in DID describes this way of working in more depth.
Depersonalization and Derealization
DPDR gets its own approach. When it is driven by anxiety and fear of the symptom itself, treatment focuses on breaking the monitoring loop that keeps it running. When it is a long-standing protective state rooted in developmental trauma, parts-informed trauma treatment goes to the source. Most people need some of both, and the balance is set by careful assessment rather than assumption. Our guide to depersonalization and derealization explains the condition in full.
Rates and Insurance
Individual sessions are $150 for 50 minutes or $220 for 80 minutes. The initial 15-minute consultation is free. Receipts are provided for extended health benefits; many plans reimburse sessions with a Canadian Certified Counsellor (CCC) or Registered Clinical Counsellor (RCC), so check your plan's coverage for counselling. The 80-minute session is often a good fit for dissociative clients who need time to settle in and to ground again before a session ends.
Virtual Therapy Across Western Canada
Sessions take place by secure video for clients in Alberta, British Columbia, Saskatchewan, and Manitoba. Many dissociative clients find virtual work easier: the familiarity of home supports grounding, and there is no commute while you are still settling after a session. Limited in-person sessions are available by appointment at the Calgary office. Daytime and evening appointments are available Monday to Friday, with Saturday mornings.
About Jason Chang
Jason Chang, MA, is a Canadian Certified Counsellor and Registered Clinical Counsellor specializing in dissociation, DID, depersonalization-derealization, and borderline personality disorder. He is certified in Trauma-Informed Stabilization Treatment and has advanced training in EMDR, Internal Family Systems, and DBT. Read more about Jason.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a DID diagnosis to work with you?
No. Many clients come with dissociative symptoms and no diagnosis, or with a diagnosis they are unsure about. Assessment is part of the work, and treatment addresses what you actually experience whether or not it ends in a formal label.
Do you use EMDR with DID?
Yes, but only after stabilization and in an adapted form: shorter sets, more grounding, and close attention to which parts are present. Standard EMDR applied too early can destabilize dissociative clients, so it is never the starting point here.
Is virtual therapy safe for someone who switches or dissociates in session?
It can be, with planning. Early sessions establish grounding strategies, a plan for the end of each session, and agreements about what happens if you dissociate heavily or switch. Many clients find that being at home makes re-orienting easier, not harder.
How long does treatment for DID take?
Treatment for DID is measured in years rather than months, and anyone who promises otherwise should be approached with caution. Most clients do notice meaningful changes in stability, internal communication, and daily functioning well before the deeper work is complete.
Can you help if a previous therapist made things worse?
Yes. Ruptures with past therapists are common for dissociative clients and are treated here as part of your history, not as an obstacle. Going slowly, keeping you in control of the pacing, and being transparent about the approach are how trust is rebuilt.