The Hanley Effect Podcast - Addiction and Mental Health

In this special re-release of The Hanley Effect , we return to a heartfelt conversation with Lance Woodley , Hanley Center’s well-loved Clinical Chaplain. Alongside Dr. John Dyben and Dr. Rachel Docekal , Lance shares his personal and professional story and talks about how spirituality can make a real difference in addiction recovery. Lance talks about growing up in Bell Glade, Florida, and how hi...

What actually happens in the brain during addiction, anxiety, depression, or trauma, and how can we measure it in ways that meaningfully guide treatment? In this episode, hosts Dr. John Dyben and Dr. Rachel Docekal sit down with Hanley Center’s Chief Clinical Officer, Dr. Angelo Asheh, M.D., and neuropsychologist Dr. Yianoula Alexakis, Psy. D., to demystify the brain–behavior connection. Dr. Alexa...

In this episode of The Hanley Effect, hosts Dr. John Dyben and Dr. Rachel Docekal sit down with clinical psychologist Dr. Carol Chu‑Peralta, PhD., Founder & Clinical Director of the Center for Resiliency, to unpack the science and practice of bouncing back after trauma. What We Discuss Resilience, defined: Not a personality trait, but a capacity to respond effectively to stress, and it can be...

In this episode of The Hanley Effect, hosts Dr. Rachel Docekal and Dr. John Dyben sit down with one of Florida’s most influential behavioral health leaders, Ann M. Berner, CEO and President of Southeast Florida Behavioral Health Network (SEFBHN). With over three decades of service to the community, Ann shares her remarkable journey. from working with the Department of Children and Families to help...

The holidays can be joyful, but for individuals in early recovery, they can also be filled with pressure, unfamiliar situations, and unexpected triggers. In this special Thanksgiving re-release, our hosts unpack practical, compassionate ways to navigate holiday gatherings, whether you’re newly sober, supporting someone in recovery, or simply wanting to create a more inclusive and mindful celebrati...

In this inspiring and thought-provoking episode of The Hanley Effect, hosts Dr. John Dyben and Dr. Rachel Docekal sit down with award-winning mental health advocate, stand-up comic, and counselor David Granirer. David is the founder of Stand Up for Mental Health. This groundbreaking program teaches stand-up comedy to individuals living with mental health conditions—empowering them to find healing...

In this insightful episode of The Hanley Effect, Dr. John Dyben and Dr. Rachel Docekal welcome Austin Davis, MA, LPC-S, founder and CEO of Clearfork Academy, a Christ-centered residential treatment facility for teens struggling with substance use and mental health challenges in Texas. Austin shares his inspiring journey from youth ministry to counseling and ultimately to building Clearfork Academy...

In this moving and empowering episode of The Hanley Effect , Dr. John Dyben and Dr. Rachel Docekal sit down with mental health advocate, author, and suicide prevention trainer AnneMoss Rogers to explore the deep emotional terrain of grief, addiction, suicide loss, and post-traumatic growth. AnneMoss shares her personal story of losing her son, Charles, to addiction and suicide and the powerful jou...

In a fascinating episode of The Hanley Effect , hosts Dr. John Dyben and Dr. Rachel Docekal are joined by renowned psychiatrist and trauma expert Dr. James Gordon, M.D., founder and CEO of The Center for Mind-Body Medicine. With over 50 years of experience in the mental health field, Dr. Gordon has led healing initiatives in war zones, disaster-stricken areas, and underserved communities, offering...

What if the key to improving youth mental health, strengthening family connections, and even shaping the future of our communities was as simple as listening? In this episode of The Hanley Effect, hosts Dr. Rachel Docekal and Dr. John Dyben sit down with Dr. Zabina Bhasin, M.D., better known as Dr. Zee, a child and adolescent psychiatrist, global mental health advocate, and founder of Listen to th...

In this episode of The Hanley Effect , hosts Dr. John Dyben and Dr. Rachel Docekal sit down with medical researcher, author, and podcaster D E Foster, founder of the online support community Uneven Life and host of the Benzo Free and Uneven podcasts. After taking clonazepam (Klonopin) for 12 years as prescribed, D E Foster found himself facing debilitating symptoms from what is now called Benzodia...

In this powerful and thought-provoking episode of The Hanley Effect, Dr. John Dyben and Dr. Rachel Docekal explore one of the most pressing and complex issues in addiction medicine today: the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD) and the role of medication-assisted treatment (MAT). Fresh from a conference focused on OUD, Dr. Dyben shares insights that sparked a deeper dialogue around the medical,...

In this intimate episode of The Hanley Effect, hosts Dr. John Dyben and Dr. Rachel Docekal dive into one of the most powerful, yet often overlooked, elements in addiction treatment and recovery: dignity. John unpacks the Latin root of the word (“dignus,” meaning “worthy”) and reflects on how acknowledging a person’s inherent worth, regardless of their status, past, or circumstances, is not only es...

In this episode of The Hanley Effect, Dr. John Dyben and Dr. Rachel Docekal sit down with Michael Herbert, a seasoned addiction counselor, interventionist, recovery coach, and author of The Recovery Roadmap: A Guide to Freedom and Adventure. With over 30 years of experience helping people heal, Michael brings not only deep professional insight but also a remarkable personal journey of transformati...

In this episode, we sit down with Katherine Murphy, CEO of NAMI Palm Beach County (NAMI PBC), to talk about what’s working now in community mental health. Katherine shares how NAMI’s peer-led model reduces stigma, connects people to care sooner, and supports families from first questions to long-term recovery. We delve into local programs, crisis navigation, and simple ways anyone can contribute t...

In this episode of The Hanley Effect, hosts Dr. John Dyben and Dr. Rachel Docekal sit down with Dr. Antonello Bonci, Founder & Chief Scientific Officer of GIA Healthcare, and Terry Shapiro, Co-CEO and Partner of GIA Healthcare, to discuss the groundbreaking use of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (TMS) in addiction and mental health treatment. They explain how TMS works, why it offers hope be...

In this heartfelt episode of The Hanley Effect, hosts Dr. Rachel Docekal and Dr. John Dyben sit down with Erica and John Garwood to share the powerful story behind the Mark Garwood Foundation. After losing their son Mark in 2014 to complications of substance use disorder and type 1 diabetes, Erica and John Garwood turned unimaginable grief into purpose. Inspired by Mark’s final message of forgiven...

In this impactful episode of The Hanley Effect , hosts Dr. John Dyben and Dr. Rachel Docekal sit down with Florida Senator Tina Polsky, a dedicated public servant representing the state’s 29th District. Known for her relentless advocacy on public health and safety issues, Senator Polsky has become a leading voice in Florida’s fight against fentanyl-related deaths. She shares the personal connectio...

In this inspiring episode of The Hanley Effect , Dr. Michele Borba joins hosts Dr. John Dyben and Dr. Rachel Docekal for a heartfelt and practical conversation about how to raise kids who thrive, not just survive. Dr. Borba is an educational psychologist, is a best-selling author who has authored 27 books, and Today Show contributor. Drawing on 40 years of experience and decades of research, Dr. B...

In this episode of The Hanley Effect , Dr. Judith Grisel, behavioral neuroscientist, professor at Bucknell University, and author of the best-selling book Never Enough: The Neuroscience and Experience of Addiction, joins Dr. Rachel Docekal and Dr. John Dyben for an eye-opening discussion on addiction, brain science, and healing. Dr. Grisel shares her remarkable personal journey from homelessness a...

When families face addiction and mental health crises, knowing where to turn can be life-changing. In this episode of The Hanley Effect , Dr. John Dyben and Dr. Rachel Docekal sit down with Michael Appel and Michael Walsh, two renowned interventionists and leaders from Crisis Case Management (CCM)—for a powerful conversation about the importance of long-term support, family systems, and the real h...

In this powerful episode of The Hanley Effect , Dr. John Dyben and Dr. Rachel Docekal are joined by Jerry Henderson—Master Certified Transformational Life Coach, author, speaker, and host of the Permission to Love podcast. Jerry shares his deeply personal journey of overcoming childhood trauma, addiction, and burnout, and how those experiences led him to a life of purpose, healing, and service. No...

In this heartfelt and inspiring episode, we’re joined by two remarkable guests—Mike Rogers, pro skateboarder and founder of Grind for Life, and James Bartle, CEO of Sandy James Fine Foods. Together, they share stories of resilience, community, and purpose as they gear up for the 2025 Bartle BBQ Hang, an annual event that brings people together to raise awareness about addiction and support individ...

In this episode of The Hanley Effect , hosts Dr. John Dyben and Dr. Rachel Docekal sit down with Hanley Center's Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Angelo Asheh, M.D., to explore his unconventional journey from finance to the frontlines of addiction medicine. Dr. Asheh shares how a desire for deeper purpose led him from a career in finance to the emergency room, and eventually into the field of addiction...

In this episode of The Hanley Effect, Dr. John Dyben and Dr. Rachel Docekal talk with Garrett Biss, retired Marine Corps pilot, addiction recovery coach, and TEDx speaker—to explore the unseen emotional toll of military service and the inspiring potential for post-traumatic growth. Garrett shares his personal story of transition after retiring from the Marines, including struggles with identity lo...