How Canyon Ranch Uses Dharma Dr. Tabs for Trauma-Informed Healing
For the May session of our Dharma Dr. Community Conversations series we sat down with Amy Hawthorne, MS, LMFT, Corporate Director of Mental Health & Wellness at Canyon Ranch. Catch the highlights below or Watch the full replay on YouTube >
Meet Amy
Amy Hawthorne brings over 20 years of clinical experience to her role as Corporate Director of Mental Health & Wellness at Canyon Ranch. From one-on-one therapeutic sessions to full-scale longevity programs across Tucson, Lenox, and Woodside (with a new resort opening soon in Austin), she’s helping redefine what trauma-informed care can look like in spa, retreat, and integrative wellness settings.
Trauma, Stress & the Nervous System
Amy offered a grounded take on what trauma really is—and how it shapes the way we move through the world.
“It’s not always the big events. Trauma is often about how your nervous system interprets and stores experience—and most of us are walking around with some version of that.”
She emphasized that true healing doesn’t always require years of therapy, but rather a shift in perspective, rooted in real understanding and nervous system support.
Tools That Work in the Moment
From somatic therapies to heart-rate variability training and IFS, Amy shared how her team uses a range of evidence-based techniques to help guests regulate in real time.
One of her go-to tools? Dharma Dr. Tabs.
“People are blown away by how quickly they feel a difference. Even the skeptics. It’s not about belief—it just works.”
Tabs are now incorporated into Canyon Ranch’s signature Longevity 8 program, used in 1:1 sessions, and sent home with guests to support sustainable healing after their stay.
Burnout Recovery & Sustainable Healing
When asked what she’s seeing most in guests today, Amy didn’t hesitate:
“Burnout is real. And it’s not just a buzzword—it’s a nervous system issue. We’re spending way too much time in psychological distress.”
Her antidote? Go small. Get present. Regulate. And reconnect with the things that matter most: love, purpose, connection, and care.
Bonus Insight: Dr. Amy Serin on BLS & the Brain
Dr. Amy Serin, PhD, BCN, neuropsychologist and CEO of the Serin Centers, co-founder of TouchPoints™, and Chief Clinical Advisor at Dharma Dr., joined during the Q&A to share clinical insights on the science behind bilateral stimulation (BLS).
Dr. Serin explained how BLS engages the thalamus—the part of the brain responsible for filtering sensory input—which can quickly shift what the brain pays attention to, helping regulate stress and body sensations in real time. She referenced a recent Wired Magazine article on the thalamus and consciousness that highlights its central role highlighting its central role in consciousness—something Dr. Serin noted she’s been exploring in her own work for years.
She also shared emerging EEG data showing measurable changes in Broadmann Area 25, a brain region associated with mood regulation and depression.
“We’re not just calming people—we’re changing what their brain pays attention to.”
She addressed common therapist concerns around safety and scope, affirming that BLS is non-invasive, well-tolerated, and highly effective for emotional regulation, stress relief, sleep, and focus—when used for regulation rather than trauma processing outside of EMDR.
Watch the Replay
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