There are moments in life that, no matter how hard we try, we cannot forget. The events that define us, shape our decisions, and, ultimately, guide the course of our careers. For Dr. Stephen-Claude A. Hyatt, one such moment was a part of his life many years ago, following an educational trip for students. This was at a high school for boys in Kingston, Jamaica, where he served as chief school counsellor. Tragically, four adolescent male students lost their lives in a drowning accident, and what followed was a realization of the fact that, no one person’s emotional experience could ever be painted with the same brush. Having witnessed the horror and grief of those who were left behind, he found himself unable to ignore the stark truth: trauma is never the same for everyone. Each person experiences it uniquely, and healing must, therefore, be just as personalized.
This understanding, born from a deep personal tragedy, led Dr. Hyatt on the path toward becoming one of the most respected leaders in mental health and wellness today. But his journey didn’t end there. It evolved through countless transformative experiences that would take him across the world to distant shores, meeting people from all walks of life. He would study, not only the complexities of the mind, but also how culture, background, and upbringing greatly affect an individual’s healing journey. And that very understanding would eventually shape the philosophy behind CALM International, the company he co-founded.
Today, as Co-founder and Clinical Director of Cognition Approach to Life Management International (CALM International), Dr. Hyatt—a clinical health psychologist, and traumatologist, and a leading figure in personalized healthcare—leads with an ethos of trauma-informed care, focusing on individualized healing for each person. “Trauma is not something that happens in a vacuum. It’s shaped by everything around you,” Dr. Hyatt often reflects. And for him, this is the essence of healing—meeting people where they are, with the right support, and at the right moment. It’s not a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach, but rather an invitation to understand and care for individuals in ways that truly resonate with them.
Let’s explore how Dr. Hyatt’s personalized, trauma-informed care is reshaping mental health and wellness globally!
A Moment of Impact That Changed Everything
Dr. Hyatt’s journey into personalized mental health care began in a most unexpected and tragic way. “It was the drowning tragedy that really made me stop and think about how we respond to emotional pain,” he recalls. The loss of four young lives during what should have been a joyous school trip was an experience that shook him to the core. The grief, the shock, the aftermath—it was clear that no two people processed this tragedy in the same way. “Everyone around me responded differently,” he continues. “Some of us were in complete shock, others were angry, some tried to hide their feelings, and a few were deeply affected in ways they couldn’t even articulate. It opened my eyes to something incredibly profound: we all cope in different ways, and we have to respect that.”
This realization led Dr. Hyatt to reflect on his professional experiences. Prior to the tragedy, he had already worked as clinical psychologist in Jamaica, where he saw firsthand how cultural and individual experiences profoundly affected mental health responses. In Jamaica, the stigma surrounding mental health was strong, and access to care was often limited. “You could see people suffering, but they didn’t have the words or resources to express what they were going through,” he shares. “The emotional landscape was vastly different from other countries, and that complexity only made me more committed to understanding how trauma impacts people based on where they come from.”
After his time in Jamaica and the US, Dr. Hyatt’s journey took him to China, where he worked as Head of Mental Health for an international healthcare provider, International SOS, providing, among other services, crisis management and trauma response services during natural disasters, including the devastating 2008 Sichuan earthquake and the missing Malaysian Airline, MH370 in 2014. The experience exposed him to an entirely new dimension of trauma care, especially in a country where mental health services were not as commonly sought after. “It was during that earthquake, where I saw the devastation of an entire community, that I realized further how diverse human reactions to trauma could be,” he shares. “In some cases, people found comfort in faith, others in social connections, while many turned to therapists for guidance. It was eye-opening to witness the depth and range of human responses to disaster.”
What stood out most for Dr. Hyatt during these global experiences was the resilience of the human spirit. “People are incredibly adaptable. But what struck me is how the system of support—whether cultural, familial, or institutional—plays such a crucial role in the healing process,” he reflects. “Trauma is universal, but how it’s processed, how it’s dealt with—it varies so widely. That’s what inspired me to create a model of mental health care that is deeply personalized, sensitive to context, and, most importantly, rooted in understanding the person as a whole.”
A Vision for Holistic Care
The culmination of these varied experiences—the trauma, the cultural differences, and the shifting global landscape of mental health care—set the stage for Dr. Hyatt’s most important venture: CALM International. In 2020, he co-founded the company with a vision that was truly revolutionary for its time. At its core, CALM International was built around one central idea: individualized care that is empirically based, trauma-informed, culturally sensitive, and personalized. “We didn’t want to offer therapy that was just about symptom management. We wanted to provide care that genuinely understands and addresses the person behind the symptoms,” he says. “Every person has their own emotional journey, and our role is to meet them where they are and help them navigate it.”
At CALM International, the approach is not prescriptive; it’s deeply individualized. From the very first point of contact, the team seeks to understand the person they’re working with. “We always begin with the person,” Dr. Hyatt explains. “Their history, their background, their culture, and their emotions—all of it matters. You can’t help someone heal unless you take the time to understand who they are as a whole.” This multifaceted approach is evident in everything CALM International offers, from individual therapy sessions to corporate wellness programs, bespoke workshops and self-care events designed to help people reconnect with themselves. “There’s no universal blueprint for trauma,” he adds. “Every person’s emotional blueprint is unique, and healing must honor that.”
At CALM International, they employ a variety of modalities to cater to their patients and clients’ diverse needs. “We use cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, trauma-focused therapy, and even neurofeedback, depending on the person’s needs,” Dr. Hyatt notes. “We want to ensure we are using the right tools for the right person, not simply sticking to one treatment because it’s easier.” This personalized approach allows for far more effective treatment, ensuring that individuals feel understood and supported at every stage of their healing journey.
Healing Through Empathy and Connection
One of the most remarkable aspects of CALM International’s approach is the way they integrate empathy into everything they do. It’s not enough to understand the science of trauma; one must also connect with the individual at a deeply human level. Dr. Hyatt and his team use a combination of traditional therapeutic techniques, mindfulness practices, and holistic healing methods to provide people with the tools they need to heal in their own way. “We believe that healing doesn’t just mean getting better—it means becoming stronger, more resilient, and more empowered than you were before,” he shares.
For Dr. Hyatt, this empathetic approach is an absolute necessity in trauma care. “When you’re dealing with someone’s deepest pain, the last thing they need is to be told what to do,” he explains. “What they need is someone who listens, someone who understands, someone who provides them with the tools they need to recover. And that’s where empathy comes in. It’s about walking alongside someone in their journey, not dictating it.” He has instilled this value in every team member at CALM International, ensuring that empathy is woven into the fabric of every interaction. It’s no wonder that their clients report such high satisfaction rates, often returning to the center for additional programs and therapy sessions.
This philosophy was especially important during the COVID-19 pandemic, when Dr. Hyatt saw an urgent need for mental health support for essential workers, especially healthcare professionals. “Social workers and other health care professionals—they were burning out,” he recalls. “We, along with our partners at Kampung Siglap, started offering tailored wellness programs to give them the emotional support they needed to continue helping others. They, too, needed healing.” During this time, CALM International shifted its focus to offer accessible mental health resources to frontline workers, proving that emotional wellness must be at the forefront of any crisis response.
Bridging the Gap
As the world changed, so too did the approach to mental health care. With the rise of virtual consultations and remote work, he saw an opportunity to reach more people in need. “Technology has allowed us to connect with people all over the world,” he explains. “Our goal is to break down the barriers of accessibility. Mental health shouldn’t be confined to geographic boundaries. We wanted to make sure that no one, no matter where they were, was never ever too far from the care they needed.”
With the introduction of telehealth or online video counseling and therapy sessions, workshops, and other online programs, CALM International now has the ability to provide services globally. Whether it’s a corporate employee in need of stress management or an individual seeking personal therapy, the ease and flexibility of technology have opened up new possibilities for personalized care. “It’s about making mental health care accessible, affordable, and most importantly, effective,” he states. This focus on accessibility allows CALM International to serve clients from a wide range of backgrounds and locations, ensuring that their impact is truly global.
Challenging Mental Health Stigma and Changing Perspectives
In every part of the world, there exists a stigma surrounding mental health, and nowhere is this more evident than here in Asia, where Dr. Hyatt has worked extensively. In many places, seeking help for emotional issues can be viewed as a weakness. But CALM International is actively working to challenge and change these perceptions. “Mental health is just as important as physical health,” he asserts. “You can’t live a full, healthy life if your mind is suffering. We’re trying to show people that it’s okay to ask for help—it’s not a sign of weakness, but of strength.”
Through its community outreach, educational programs, and personalized care, CALM International is working to change how people think about and approach mental health. “We’re all about normalizing mental health conversations and breaking down those barriers,” Dr. Hyatt explains. “It’s crucial that people understand it’s okay to seek help. Only then can we build a society where everyone is empowered to take control of their psychological health.” He believes that mental wellness is an ongoing process—one that everyone can engage in at any time, not just during times of crisis.
Leading the Charge for a Personalized Approach
Looking ahead, Dr. Hyatt and CALM International are more determined than ever to expand their mission. “We’re not just building a business; we’re building a movement that will reshape how mental health care is delivered globally,” he says with conviction. Through continuous innovation and focus on personalized care, Dr. Hyatt is setting the stage for a future where every individual’s psychological needs are met with compassion, understanding, and respect.
“We want to create a world where mental health isn’t something that’s only addressed when people are in crisis. We want to help people thrive,” Dr. Hyatt reflects. “Personalized care is the future of mental health, and that future starts now.” As CALM International continues to grow, so does their commitment to being at the forefront of personalized wellness, pioneering new approaches to holistic, trauma-sensitive care that are designed to truly meet people where they are.
