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 his experiences in music, theology, and clinical social work led him to his role at Hanley. He explains with compassion and insight how spiritually informed therapy can help people in recovery work through grief, find self-worth, and reconnect with meaning.

This episode takes a closer look at what it means to heal the whole person—mind, body, and spirit—and explains why presence, ritual, and purpose are so important for lasting recovery.

Lance talks about his journey from studying music at Bethune-Cookman University to earning advanced degrees in theology and clinical social work. He explains how he combines spirituality with evidence-based care in his work at Hanley Center.

The conversation looks at how spirituality can help people in treatment work through loss, grief, shame, and identity, which are often at the core of addiction.

Lance talks about research on meditation and prayer, sharing insights from neuroscientists like Andrew Newberg. He explains how spiritual practices can have a positive effect on the brain and help with emotional regulation.

Listeners hear about meaningful therapeutic rituals, such as the Stone Key Ritual, that help people express pain, let go of resentment, and move toward forgiveness and healing.

This episode shows how Hanley Center combines strong clinical care with spiritual support to create a caring, personalized, and life-changing recovery experience.

• Recovery is more than just stopping substance use; it’s also about finding meaning and self-worth again.
• Spiritual care and clinical science can work together to support deep and lasting healing.
• Rituals and being present can help people process pain and build hope.
• When we treat the whole person, recovery becomes more compassionate and effective.

Lance Woodley’s wisdom, warmth, and steady presence continue to make a difference in the Hanley community. This re-release gives both new and returning listeners a chance to revisit a conversation that gets to the heart of healing and the lasting power of hope.

Learn More:

Visit https://www.hanleycenter.org/ or call 844-502-4673 to explore programs and services designed to inspire hope and foster recovery.

This episode was originally released on 1/22/2025.

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. Alexakis explains how neuropsychological testing, quantitative EEG (QEEG or “brain mapping”), and neurofeedback provide objective data to tailor interventions, while Dr. Asheh shares how those findings improve medical decision‑making and outcomes for people with co‑occurring substance use and mental health disorders.

Along the way, Dr. Alexakis shares her first‑generation story (and a few accents!), then brings it back to hope: the brain’s capacity for neuroplasticity means recovery can be measured, trained, and strengthened over time, when clinicians work together around the whole person.

• Neuropsychology 101: How brain–behavior assessment looks beyond symptoms to attention, memory, executive function, mood, and personality, so treatment is individualized, not one‑size‑fits‑all.
• Objective data that matters: Why cognitive testing + clinical observation + medical labs/imaging create a clearer diagnostic picture than any single data point alone.
• QEEG (brain mapping) explained: How quantitative EEG visualizes over‑ or under‑activation in brain networks related to sleep, anxiety, attention, and more, and how it becomes a baseline to track change.
• Neurofeedback & “neuro‑restorative” care: Training the brain toward healthier patterns to support mood regulation, focus, and recovery stability.
• Co‑occurring realities: Why treating substance use and the underlying drivers (trauma, anxiety, depression) is essential, and how integrated teams align around that.
• Whole‑system health: The gut–brain axis, sleep hygiene, stress physiology, psychotherapy, and medication, how they intersect with brain function and recovery.
• Hope through neuroplasticity: The brain can adapt. Measuring progress over time helps patients see change and stay engaged.

• The role of a neuropsychologist on a treatment team, and why data‑informed care improves outcomes.
• Distinguishing ADHD‑like symptoms from anxiety or depression during assessment.
• Practical uses of QEEG in residential treatment and aftercare planning.
• How neuropsych findings support smarter prescribing and case formulation.
• “Two Dr. A’s” on collaboration: medicine, psychology, therapy, sleep, nutrition, and brain training working in concert.
• Closing message: a clear, compassionate case for measured hope.

• Learn about our programs visit: hanleycenter.org
• Speak with our admissions team at: 844‑502‑4673

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 developed.
• How to build it (especially in kids): Allow “life experiments” (small, everyday challenges) so children practice recovering and problem‑solving.
• Post‑traumatic growth: The shift from feeling stuck in symptoms to reclaiming agency and integrating new resources.
• Intergenerational transmission of trauma: How unaddressed trauma responses can pass behaviorally and biologically across generations, and how to interrupt the cycle.
• Trauma is subjective: Two people can face the same event and have different outcomes; it’s about whether the stressor exceeds one’s current capacity.
• A helpful analogy (STAIR‑NST): Two houses on the same shoreline, one on stilts, one on bricks, weather the same storm differently; foundations = internal resources.

Dr. Carol also shares her own path, from early trauma work to launching a group practice during the pandemic when requests for care surged. Her message to anyone who’s curious but hesitant: you don’t need a label to ask for help, and you don’t have to be in crisis to start.

About Our Guest

Dr. Carol Chu‑Peralta is a Clinical Psychologist and Founder of the Center for Resiliency, specializing in trauma, parenting, anxiety, depression, and neuro/psychological evaluation. Trained at NYU and Bellevue Hospital, she helps individuals and families break generational patterns and build durable emotional resilience.

Resources & Contact

• Center for Resiliency: centerforresiliency.com
• Hanley Foundation: hanleyfoundation.org | 844‑502‑4673

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 helping pioneer Florida’s Managing Entity model. Today, she oversees $56 million in funding for substance use and mental health services across five counties: Indian River, Martin, Okeechobee, Palm Beach, and St. Lucie.

• The evolution of Florida’s behavioral health system and the power of local control
• How SEFBHN provides care for 27,000+ individuals annually
• The crucial role of peer support specialists in inspiring hope
• What “validation” means when it comes to funding and accountability
• Ann’s leadership statewide and her deep commitment to community collaboration
• Why systems thinking, evidence-based care, and empathy are key to healing

With humility and passion, Ann reminds us that the most impactful leaders often work behind the scenes and that hope is never out of reach.

To learn more about Southeast Florida Behavioral Health Network visit: https://sefbhn.org/

To learn more about Hanley Foundation visit: https://hanleyfoundation.org/

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 celebration.

Through candid conversation, humor, and real-life scenarios, this episode offers tools to help you show up with confidence, communicate your needs, and protect your sobriety during one of the most emotionally charged times of the year.

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 through humor.

A champion for destigmatizing mental illness, David shares his personal journey living with bipolar disorder, his early struggles with undiagnosed depression, and how a brave step into comedy changed everything. From performing onstage to helping others rewrite their narratives with laughter, David’s work has reached thousands worldwide.

• David’s personal experience with mental health and recovery
• How comedy became a healing force in his life
• The creation and impact of Stand Up for Mental Health™
• The power of storytelling and humor in reducing stigma
• Why laughter can be deeply therapeutic (even if it’s not “therapy”)
• Encouraging alternative pathways to self-esteem, confidence, and connection
• David’s work with diverse audiences—from the Secret Service to cancer patients
• A few great one-liners from David himself (spoiler alert: he’s hilarious)

David is a counselor, author of The Happy Neurotic, and founder of Stand Up for Mental Health. He lives with bipolar disorder and has used his lived experience and talents to educate and entertain while helping others recover. He has trained groups across 50+ cities worldwide and has been featured in the award-winning documentaries Cracking Up and Crack Up.

Visit standupformentalhealth.com to explore David’s program and bring this powerful, life-affirming comedy movement to your community.

To learn more about Hanley Foundation visit hanleyfoundation.org.

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 from the ground up. Motivated by a calling to reach young people before addiction and trauma take deeper root, Austin discusses how his experiences working with adults in recovery led him to focus on adolescents, helping families change their futures by intervening early.

• From Calling to Career: How Austin’s pastoral roots shaped his therapeutic approach and led him to combine faith and clinical care.
• The Birth of Clearfork Academy: The incredible story of selling everything to create a safe, healing space for teens—and how that leap of faith became a thriving program.
• Adolescent Identity & Mental Health: Why understanding “Who am I?” is central to teen recovery, and how identity confusion, social media, and disconnection fuel today’s youth crisis.
• Family Healing: How Clearfork treats the entire family system, not just the child, through weekly sessions, intensives, and experiential work that rebuild trust and connection.
• Parenting Tools: The “Shoulder-to-Shoulder vs. Knee-to-Knee” method, Austin’s powerful communication framework for parents to foster openness and recognize warning signs of distress.
• A Message of Hope: Austin’s closing wisdom for anyone facing a crossroads, five steps inspired by Jeremiah 6:16: Stand. Look. Ask. Walk. Rest.

To learn more about Austin and Clearfork Academy, visit: https://clearforkacademy.com/

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 journey that followed. Through raw honesty, AnneMoss explains how she found a path forward by embracing healthy coping mechanisms, reframing grief, and connecting with others in healing community spaces. She highlights the role of peer support, the importance of feeling difficult emotions, and how forgiveness and self-compassion became essential steps in her recovery and advocacy.

Listeners will gain insight into:

• What post-traumatic growth truly means—and how it can emerge from tragedy
• The importance of connection in mental health and addiction recovery
• How families can process guilt, grief, and shame in the wake of loss
• The impact of peer-led support and family-based recovery programs
• Strategies for holding space for those in pain without trying to fix it

AnneMoss reminds us that “no feeling is permanent,” and that healing often begins by simply sitting with discomfort—and realizing you’re not alone.

Learn more about AnneMoss Rogers at: https://mentalhealthawarenesseducation.com/

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 trauma relief through an approach that blends self-awareness, self-care, and community support.

The conversation begins with Dr. Gordon's origin story, which includes his early exposure to compassion-driven medicine through his surgeon father and his dissatisfaction with the limitations of traditional psychiatric models. From there, he shares how his work evolved into a whole-person, mind-body approach that treats individuals not as diagnoses, but as human beings living in a complex world.

Dr. Gordon describes the development and reach of the Center for Mind-Body Medicine (CMBM). This groundbreaking organization has trained over 10,000 professionals and community members worldwide to support recovery from trauma. He offers powerful examples of how teachers in Kosovo, veterans in the U.S., school shooting survivors, and Indigenous leaders have all been trained to bring healing tools to their own communities, regardless of whether they had professional credentials.

Key topics covered include:

• Population-wide trauma healing in places like Ukraine, Uvalde, Kosovo, and Sandy Hook
• The lasting mental health impacts of COVID-19
• Using virtual platforms to maintain intimacy in therapeutic settings
• How anyone with the proper training and heart can become a trauma-informed community leader

Dr. Gordon's latest book, Transforming Trauma: The Path to Hope and Healing, offers readers evidence-based tools for healing emotional wounds. It's written to reach those who may never have access to professional care, making it a powerful resource for both personal growth and community resilience.

Whether you're a clinician, a parent, an educator, or simply someone who wants to help, this episode will open your eyes to what's possible when trauma care is rooted in connection, dignity, and empowerment.

Learn more about The Center for Mind-Body Medicine at cmbm.org

To learn more about Hanley's Treatment Programs visit HanleyCenter.org or call 844-502-HOPE (4673)

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 the KidZ (LTTK).

Dr. Zee joins Dr. Rachel Docekal and John Dyben for a heartfelt and insightful conversation about:

• Her powerful personal story of growing up as the only girl in a South Asian immigrant family
• The early experiences with dyslexia, academic struggle, and lack of voice that shaped her path
• How cultural expectations shaped her journey into medicine and youth advocacy
• The founding of Listen to the KidZ and why listening, genuinely listening, is the foundation of all support
• Why adults need to be the ones to set boundaries and listen with intent
• How social media is not the villain, but how we use it matters
• Creating guidelines, structure, and mentorship that empower, not stifle, our youth

Key Takeaways

• Listening with intention signals interest, and interest builds connection.
• Kids don’t need to be coddled; they need to be heard and guided.
• All adults, not just parents, have a role in shaping the mental health and self-worth of young people.
• Social media is a tool; it’s up to adults to model responsible use and create boundaries.
• Empowerment begins with respect, and that starts by validating the voices of youth.

Learn more about Dr. Zee’s work at www.dr-zee.com

Visit hanleyfoundation.org to learn more about our programs.