Dignity: A Worthy Conversation

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 essential in treatment, but transformational in life. Together, John and Rachel explore how dignity sets the stage for empathy, forgiveness, and ultimately healing, both in relationships and within ourselves.

They also share how dignity shapes Hanley’s approach, from the moment someone enters treatment to how families are reconnected through group therapy. It’s a deeply human episode that reminds us: every person has value simply because they are alive.

Key Topics:

• The definition and power of dignity in recovery work

• How shame often obscures our own sense of worth

• What it means to treat every person as a moral equal

• Why forgiveness is a process, not a performance

• The role dignity plays in family systems and Hanley's family program

• A powerful story about a therapy group with a prince, a rock star, and a grocery store clerk, each equally worthy

“Anybody listening who breathes in and breathes out can know that they have worth and value, as much as anyone else in this entire universe.” - Dr. John Dyben

Learn more about Hanley Center’s Treatment programs at: hanleycenter.org

Call for more information: 844-502-HOPE (4673)