The Hanley Effect Podcast - Addiction and Mental Health

Hanley Foundation
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  • MENTAL HEALTH
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The Hanley Effect is a weekly addiction recovery and mental health podcast hosted by Dr. John Dyben, Chief Clinical Officer at Hanley Center, and Dr. Rachel Docekal, CEO of the Hanley Foundation. This trauma-informed podcast explores substance use disorder (SUD), addiction treatment, neuroscience, co-occurring mental health disorders, overdose prevention, adolescent mental health, and long-term recovery through evidence-based conversations with leading experts, clinicians, policymakers, and individuals with lived experience. Featured guests include leading neuroscientists, healthcare executives, policymakers, law enforcement leaders, and nationally recognized advocates shaping the future of addiction treatment and prevention. Produced by the Hanley Foundation, a nonprofit leader in prevention, education, treatment, and advocacy, The Hanley Effect delivers trusted insight, practical tools, and real-world perspectives for behavioral health professionals, educators, first responders, families, and people in recovery. Grounded in science and compassion, this podcast helps listeners better understand addiction, reduce stigma, and build stronger, healthier communities.

  1. From NFL Front Office to Crisis Text Line: Megha Parekh on Trauma, Anxiety, and Leading With Empathy at Work

    14H AGO

    From NFL Front Office to Crisis Text Line: Megha Parekh on Trauma, Anxiety, and Leading With Empathy at Work

    What does it look like when a high-performing organization treats mental health as health—not a side conversation? In this episode of The Hanley Effect, Dr. John Dyben and Dr. Rachel Docekal sit down with Megha Parekh, Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer of the Jacksonville Jaguars, for a powerful conversation about crisis readiness, trauma recovery, and leading with empathy in high-stakes environments. Megha shares how volunteering with Crisis Text Line transformed the way she shows up at work and in life, replacing the “fix it” reflex with active listening, grounded presence, and one essential question: “What would be most helpful to you?” She also opens up about surviving a home burglary and battery, how trauma reshaped her sense of safety, and the real, practical “toolbox” that helped her move through anxiety and regain stability. Together, the conversation explores what workplaces can do when employees face suicidality, addiction, domestic violence, eating disorders, isolation, and overwhelming stress—and why compassion and business judgment aren’t opposites. They’re a leadership advantage. Episode Highlights Mental health in the workplace: Why training matters before a crisis happens and how it supports performance and trustCrisis Text Line training: What Megha learned (the hard way) and how it changed her approach to leadership and supportThe key question that helps: Why “What would be most helpful to you?” can be more effective than adviceAddiction and recovery at work: A real story of helping an employee get to rehab and what recovery can make possible afterwardTrauma recovery is personal: Megha’s experience surviving a violent home invasion and how trauma can show up as anxiety, hypervigilance, and disrupted routinesHealthy coping without shame: From comfort TV to repeat playlists, why regulation tools don’t need to “look normal” to workRedefining success: “The effort belongs to me, but the results do not” how to support someone without trying to control the outcomeMeaning after loss: How losing a friend to heroin addiction helped shape Megha’s commitment to prevention, support, and honest conversationsAbout Megha Parekh Megha Parekh is the Executive Vice President and Chief Legal Officer of the Jacksonville Jaguars. She oversees major legal and business initiatives including compliance, risk management, government relations, technology, security, employee development, and stadium and real estate projects. A Harvard undergraduate and law graduate, Megha is also a dedicated volunteer with Crisis Text Line, supports community initiatives including Habitat for Humanity, and advocates for survivors of trauma and greater access to mental health resources. To learn more about Hanley Foundation programs, visit hanleyfoundation.org or call 844-502-4673.

    37 min
  2. Somatic Trauma Therapy Explained: Why Insight Isn’t Enough to Heal Complex Trauma, With Dr. Trisha Wolfe

    FEB 25

    Somatic Trauma Therapy Explained: Why Insight Isn’t Enough to Heal Complex Trauma, With Dr. Trisha Wolfe

    In this solo-hosted episode of The Hanley Effect, Dr. John Dyben sits down with trauma therapist and researcher Dr. Trisha Wolfe, Ph.D., LPCC, SEP, NARM for a clear, science-grounded conversation about complex trauma, developmental trauma, and why so many people feel stuck even after years of insight-based therapy. Dr. Wolfe specializes in working with high-achieving perfectionists, people pleasers, and chronic overthinkers, the ones who can explain their patterns perfectly (“I know why I do this…”) but still can’t create lasting change. In this episode, she explains why that’s not a personal failure. It’s biology. Together, they unpack what trauma really is (and what it isn’t), why trauma is often shaped by perception and nervous system context, and how somatic therapy helps by including the body’s language, sensations, impulses, and survival responses, alongside thoughts and emotions. If you’ve ever wondered why logic doesn’t shut off anxiety, why reassurance doesn’t stop panic, or why “trying harder” only makes you more exhausted, this episode offers a practical roadmap: nervous-system-friendly change, one small experiment at a time. What You’ll Learn in This Episode What “trauma” actually means and why the “everything is trauma vs. nothing is trauma” debate misses the pointThe difference between single-incident trauma and complex/developmental traumaWhy two people can experience the same event, yet only one develops a lasting trauma responseWhat somatic means in therapy (in plain language) and how body sensations can guide healingHow the body sends messages to the brain, and why focusing only on thoughts can miss major cluesWhy people can have deep insight but still feel stuck: insight doesn’t automatically change the nervous systemHow survival strategies like intellectualizing, over functioning, shutdown, and people pleasing start as protection, not character flawsA powerful reframe: self-sabotage is often self-protection that can be updatedWhat families can do to support healing: connection without pressure, with boundariesEpisode Highlights Trauma is about perception and impact: It’s not only what happened, it’s how the nervous system experienced it and what lasting impairment remains.Somatic therapy basics: Thoughts and emotions matter, but body sensations are a third “doorway” into healing.Your brain can “hide” things: The nervous system keeps survival learning behind the curtain, so the body may reveal what words can’t.Why reassurance doesn’t work on panic: “It’s safe” is language; the body responds to sensations and threat templates.The path forward: Change happens through small, nervous-system-friendly experiments that build new neural pathways over time.For families: Validation, presence, and connection without pressure can create the safety where healing becomes possible.To learn more about Dr. Wolfe visit: https://www.cbustherapy.com/ To learn more about Hanley Foundation programs, visit hanleyfoundation.org or call 844-502-4673.

    33 min
  3. Why No One Brings a Casserole: Stigma, Shame, and Family Mental Health Support - with Dr. Michelle Sherman

    FEB 18

    Why No One Brings a Casserole: Stigma, Shame, and Family Mental Health Support - with Dr. Michelle Sherman

    In this episode of The Hanley Effect, Dr. John Dyben and Dr. Rachel Docekal sit down with renowned family psychologist Dr. Michelle Sherman, a clinical psychologist with more than 30 years of experience supporting families navigating addiction, mental illness, trauma, and PTSD. Named the American Psychological Association’s Family Psychologist of the Year (2022), Dr. Sherman shares both her professional expertise and personal lived experience as a family member impacted by mental illness, addiction, and loss. Together, they explore what families in crisis often feel but rarely say out loud: confusion, helplessness, worry, stigma, shame, and isolation, and why the healthcare system has historically missed a critical piece of the recovery puzzle: supporting the family system and, especially, the children. Dr. Sherman also highlights her long-standing collaboration with her mother, writing practical, workbook-style resources that help adults and teens feel less alone and more equipped to face the realities of living with a loved one’s mental illness or trauma history. The conversation closes with a powerful call to action: making it the norm, not the exception, to ask about a patient’s children and connect families with resources. Episode Highlights Why family work matters: How addiction and mental illness ripple through the entire family—and why treatment must address more than the identified patient.The “waiting room” wake-up call: What Dr. Sherman saw in VA hospital waiting rooms that sparked decades of family-focused programming and advocacy.The emotions families carry: Loneliness, fear, anger, grief, stigma, shame, and “Why won’t they just stop?”—and why these reactions are so common.The “casserole” difference: Why communities often show up for physical illness—but fall silent when the crisis is mental illness, addiction, or psychiatric hospitalization.Supporting kids impacted by addiction: Dr. Dyben and Dr. Docekal share how Hanley Center’s Children’s Family Program helps kids ages 7–12 understand addiction in developmentally appropriate ways—and learn it’s not their fault.Honesty without fear: How to talk to kids about family history, genetics, and risk in ways that empower rather than scare them.A gap in teen resources: Dr. Sherman explains why teens living with a parent’s mental illness or trauma are often “invisible” in the U.S. system—and what other countries are doing differently.Research + real-world impact: How even a small grant can launch meaningful change and why measurement and program evaluation matter in behavioral healthcare.Resources Mentioned Dr. Sherman’s website includes free family resources, handouts, activities, and more: seedsofhopebooks.com Featured books discussed: Loving Someone with a Mental Illness or History of Trauma: Skills, Hope, and Strength for Your Journey I’m Not Alone: A Teen’s Guide to Living with a Parent Who Has a Mental Illness or History of Trauma To learn more about Hanley’s Children's program, visit hanleyfoundation.org

    34 min
  4. What Is Sex Addiction and How Is It Connected to Substance Use and Shame? with Kim Litton

    FEB 11

    What Is Sex Addiction and How Is It Connected to Substance Use and Shame? with Kim Litton

    In this episode of The Hanley Effect, Dr. John Dyben and Dr. Rachel Docekal explore the question: What is sex addiction, and how is it connected to substance use and shame? Joined by Kim Litton, LCSW, CAP, CSAT (Certified Sex Addiction Therapist) and author of I Do It for Her: A Memoir of Recovery and Redemption from Sex, Love, and Substances, they break down how compulsive sexual behavior can become an obsession-and-compulsion cycle that persists despite consequences, often alongside alcohol and drug use. Kim explains why sex addiction is frequently rooted in intimacy wounds, how it can present differently for women through emotional attachment and validation-seeking, and why shame keeps people silent and stuck. With both clinical expertise and lived experience in recovery, she offers a powerful reminder that healing starts when we bring secrets into the light, because shame loses power when we tell one safe person. Kim explains how sex addiction can be minimized or joked about culturally, even though it commonly co-occurs with substance use disorders and can deeply impact relationships, mental health, and long-term recovery. The conversation explores why sex addiction is often described as a disorder of intimacy, and how women’s experiences can look different, more emotionally entangled with attachment, validation, and the longing for love. Kim also discusses how early exposure to pornography can affect the developing adolescent brain, the role of dopamine, and why shaming kids is harmful, even while boundaries and guidance are essential. Kim’s story is rooted in honesty: from adolescent acting out and substance use, to achieving sobriety, to later recognizing patterns of sex and love addiction that surfaced after drugs and alcohol were removed. She also speaks openly about writing her memoir as a path to freedom, both to help other women feel seen and to strip shame of its power. The episode closes with a memorable message that applies to anyone carrying secrets: “Your shame does not own you. Tell one person—then it loses power.” Kim Litton, LCSW, CAP, CSAT, is a therapist in Palm Beach Gardens specializing in trauma, addiction, and compulsive sexual behavior. Kim is also the author of I Do It for Her: A Memoir of Recovery and Redemption from Sex, Love, and Substances. Resources & Links Learn more about Hanley’s programs by visiting hanleycenter.org Call: 844-502-4673 * Book: I Do It for Her: A Memoir of Recovery and Redemption from Sex, Love, and Substances (Kim Litton) https://a.co/d/0e9KJm2u

    31 min
  5. Is Addiction a Trauma Response? Understanding Addiction as Adaptation

    FEB 4

    Is Addiction a Trauma Response? Understanding Addiction as Adaptation

    In this trauma-informed episode of The Hanley Effect, Dr. John Dyben and Dr. Rachel Docekal welcome Vidya Nair, MSW, LCSW, and returning guest Lyanne Azqueta, LMHC, NCC, MAC, to explore a perspective that can change everything: addiction as an adaptation, not a moral failure. Together, they unpack how early experiences shape the nervous system, how “survival mode” becomes a lifelong blueprint, and why healing requires more than abstinence, it requires safety, connection, and new pathways in the brain. Vidya shares how her early work with homeless children in India shaped her clinical lens and why the core human need is the same across all ages: to feel safe. Lyanne adds practical clarity around the brain’s role in trauma responses, how dysregulation takes us “offline,” and why substances can feel like instant relief. The episode also highlights what sets Hanley apart: a culture rooted in trauma-informed care, organizational humility, and a commitment to treating the “why” beneath the addiction. Episode Highlights* Addiction as Adaptation: Why substances and compulsive behaviors often begin as survival tools developed in response to trauma and chronic unsafety. * Trauma Lenses & “Schemas”: How childhood experiences shape the way we interpret the world, like wearing “glasses” that color everything we see. * The “Adaptive Child” & the “Wise Adult”: Understanding why we don’t “get rid” of our inner child and what it really means to heal and re-parent those wounded parts. * The Body Keeps the Score: How trauma lives in the nervous system, resurfaces through triggers, and can drive reactive patterns long after the danger is gone. * Neuroplasticity & New Pathways: A memorable metaphor: the old coping route is a worn path, recovery is learning to clear a new one, again and again. * Trauma-Informed vs. Trauma Therapy: The difference between being trauma-informed as a culture (admissions, advocates, first contact) and providing specialized trauma treatment. * EMDR Readiness: Why EMDR can be transformational, but only when a patient has enough stability and support to safely reprocess trauma. * Recovery as Connection: How true recovery moves from object-centered living (substance as primary relationship) to relationship-centered living rooted in presence, trust, and meaning. * A message of hope: If you’re struggling, or love someone who is, this episode offers compassionate truth: it’s not your fault, and you don’t have to do this alone. Memorable Takeaways* “Addiction is not a moral failure.” It’s often the nervous system doing what it learned to do to survive. * You’re not responsible for the first thought, but you are responsible for what comes next. Healing is learning to pause and choose a different response. * Connection regulates. Sustained recovery is built through connection with self, others, community, and meaning. * Trauma work isn’t an excuse for behavior; it’s an explanation. Understanding the “why” can reduce shame and open the door to change. About Our GuestsVidya Nair, MSW, LCSW, is the Clinical Director of Hanley Center’s women’s services, including Headwaters and Casa Flores, Hanley’s specialized perinatal program. She brings a deep trauma-informed lens, a background in play therapy, and a passion for building safety and healing for both mothers and families. Lyanne Azqueta, LMHC, NCC, MAC, is a Hanley Foundation Board Member and full-time volunteer counselor who has spent decades working in addictions and trauma. A returning guest on The Hanley Effect, Lyanne is known for her compassionate, relational approach and her commitment to helping patients build lasting connection-centered recovery. Watch Lyanne's previous episode here: https://youtu.be/nhNh0yIpKlY Resources & SupportTo learn more about Hanley Center’s programs, visit

    33 min
  6. How Can Addiction Recovery Lead to Public Service and Legislative Change? With Senator Darryl Rouson

    JAN 28

    How Can Addiction Recovery Lead to Public Service and Legislative Change? With Senator Darryl Rouson

    In this deeply moving and inspiring episode of The Hanley Effect, Dr. John Dyben and Dr. Rachel Docekal welcome Florida State Senator Darryl Rouson, a Hanley Center alumnus, longtime recovery advocate, and dedicated public servant, whose journey powerfully illustrates that recovery is not only possible but life-changing. Senator Rouson shares his remarkable path from addiction and repeated treatment attempts to long-term recovery, public leadership, and legislative impact. With honesty, humility, and profound insight, he reflects on the “gift of desperation” that brought him to Hanley Center in March of 1998, and how that moment became the foundation for a life devoted to service. Growing up in a supportive family, attending Catholic schools, and becoming the first African American prosecutor in Pinellas County, Senator Rouson’s early success masked a deepening struggle with alcohol and cocaine addiction during the height of the 1980s. After nine years and eight treatment programs, it was at Hanley where recovery finally took root, through dignity, accountability, spirituality, and connection. From sleeping on the floor of an office building early in recovery to leading the NAACP, serving eight years in the Florida House of Representatives, and now the Florida Senate, Senator Rouson speaks candidly about owning his story, living with integrity, and refusing to let his past define his future. Today, his lived experience informs his legislative work, particularly around mental health and substance use disorders. He discusses two of the bills he is most proud of: Senate Bill 282, which formally recognizes and supports peer recovery specialists, andSenate Bill 1620 is landmark legislation improving access, accountability, and quality of care for mental health and substance use treatment in Florida.Throughout the conversation, Senator Rouson emphasizes the irreplaceable value of peer recovery, the importance of recovery support after treatment, and the need to treat addiction as healthcare, not a moral failing or a crime. He also shares the deeply personal practice of carrying the journals he began writing during his first days at Hanley, a reminder of where he started and why he continues to give back. Looking ahead, Senator Rouson reflects on his upcoming book, A Journey Through Addiction to Public Service, and the honor of having the Darryl E. Rouson Center for Substance Abuse and Mental Health Research named after him at the University of South Florida. This episode is a powerful message of hope for individuals in recovery, families, clinicians, policymakers, and anyone who believes in redemption, second chances, and the transformative power of compassion. As Senator Rouson reminds us: “We do recover.” To learn more about Hanley Center visit www.hanleycenter.org.

    27 min
  7. Can Talking About Suicide Save Lives? With Frank King, The Mental Health Comedian

    JAN 21

    Can Talking About Suicide Save Lives? With Frank King, The Mental Health Comedian

    Content note: This episode includes discussion of suicide and suicidal ideation. Listener discretion advised. If you’re struggling, call or text 988 (U.S.). Comedy and mental health collide in this powerful, heartfelt episode of The Hanley Effect with Frank King, The Mental Health Comedian. Frank shares how a lifelong career in stand-up and joke-writing, including 20 years writing for Jay Leno and The Tonight Show, evolved into a mission: using humor to help people talk about suicide, reduce stigma, and save lives. Frank speaks candidly about living with major depressive disorder and chronic suicidal ideation, and why naming those experiences can be life-changing for people who have silently carried similar thoughts. With hosts Dr. Rachel Docekal and Dr. John Dyben, the group unpacks why asking directly about suicide does not “plant the idea” and why meaningful prevention often starts with something simple: showing up, noticing, and starting the conversation. In this episode, you’ll hear: - Why Frank calls himself “The Mental Health Comedian” and what that really means - Chronic suicidal ideation and how hearing it named can reduce shame and isolation - How humor can create emotional “breathing room” so people can absorb difficult truths - Frank’s story of hitting bottom during financial collapse, and the unexpected moment that helped interrupt his plan - A moving story from a construction site that illustrates why workplace suicide prevention is essential - Why “Are you OK?” can be one of the most important questions you ever ask - The role of peer mentorship and lived experience in recovery and healing - A simple way to help someone in crisis: encourage them to reach out before their “time runs out” Crisis support mentioned in the episode: If you or someone you love is struggling or in crisis, call or text 988 in the U.S. the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline. Help is available 24/7 and connects you to trained support. About our Guest Frank King is a comedian, TEDx speaker, and suicide prevention speaker with 30 years of experience helping audiences laugh, learn, and leave presentations loving life. He began stand-up in 1985 and holds a record for 2,629 consecutive nights on the road performing without a home, just a PO Box and an answering service. He has shared the stage with many of the biggest names in comedy and entertainment and spent two decades writing for Jay Leno and The Tonight Show. Today, Frank uses his lived experience and comedic skill to make suicide prevention conversations more approachable and actionable. Frank’s Website: mentalhealthcomedian.com How to Connect Learn more about Hanley's mental health and substance use treatment programs visit: hanleycenter.org Admissions & info: 844‑502‑4673

    28 min
  8. Is Addiction a Brain Disease? A Neurologist Explains the Science and Stigma With Dr. Carolyn Larkin Taylor

    JAN 14

    Is Addiction a Brain Disease? A Neurologist Explains the Science and Stigma With Dr. Carolyn Larkin Taylor

    In this episode of The Hanley Effect, neurologist Dr. Carolyn Larkin Taylor shares how three decades in practice shaped her view of addiction as a brain disease, not a moral failing. She traces her path from early training in Philadelphia to many years of practice in Washington State, explains why the developing brain is especially vulnerable (“wet cement”), and offers concrete examples of how addiction shows up in neurology clinics (e.g., withdrawal‑related seizures, B12 deficiency from nitrous oxide). Together, hosts Dr. John Dyben and Dr. Rachel Docekal with Dr. Taylor unpack the “rock bottom” myth, the fine line between compassion and enabling, and why family education changes outcomes. What We CoverDr. Taylor’s path in neurology: From training and early practice in Philadelphia to decades of patient care in Washington State, including building group practice and an MS‑focused center.Addiction is a brain disease: Why language matters, how stigma blocks care, and the role of dopamine pathways, stress reactivity, and metabolism in vulnerability.Genetics & risk: Twin/adoption research suggests 40–60% heritability; we can’t predict which young person will be most at risk, so prevention and education are essential.The adolescent brain (“wet cement”): Early exposure can re‑wire maturing circuitry and raise adult addiction risk (4–6×); abstinence and healthy routines can still support re‑wiring, but it’s harder later.What neurologists see:Alcohol/benzodiazepine withdrawal seizures in teens and adults.B12 deficiency (e.g., from nitrous oxide) presenting as numbness/tingling.Seizures are misattributed to other conditions when withdrawal is the driver.Rock bottom is not a treatment plan: Why earlier intervention saves lives; how families can “raise the bottom” with boundaries and support.Compassion vs. enabling: Understanding survival‑driven brain changes (craving feels like “air/water”) while guiding loved ones toward care.Systems & solutions: Family education (including intensive family programs), the limits of punishment/incarceration, and the urgent need for more mental‑health resources.Continuing education for clinicians: How required CME around substance use (spurred by the opioid crisis) is improving clinical literacy.How to ConnectLearn more about Hanley Foundation treatment programs and family education: hanleycenter.orgAdmissions & info: 844‑502‑4673

    28 min
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5
out of 5
6 Ratings

About

The Hanley Effect is a weekly addiction recovery and mental health podcast hosted by Dr. John Dyben, Chief Clinical Officer at Hanley Center, and Dr. Rachel Docekal, CEO of the Hanley Foundation. This trauma-informed podcast explores substance use disorder (SUD), addiction treatment, neuroscience, co-occurring mental health disorders, overdose prevention, adolescent mental health, and long-term recovery through evidence-based conversations with leading experts, clinicians, policymakers, and individuals with lived experience. Featured guests include leading neuroscientists, healthcare executives, policymakers, law enforcement leaders, and nationally recognized advocates shaping the future of addiction treatment and prevention. Produced by the Hanley Foundation, a nonprofit leader in prevention, education, treatment, and advocacy, The Hanley Effect delivers trusted insight, practical tools, and real-world perspectives for behavioral health professionals, educators, first responders, families, and people in recovery. Grounded in science and compassion, this podcast helps listeners better understand addiction, reduce stigma, and build stronger, healthier communities.

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