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

In this episode of The Hanley Effect, pioneering activist, speaker, and author Dr. Jean Kilbourne joins hosts Dr. John Dyben and Dr. Rachel Docekal to unpack how advertising and media shape our beliefs, behaviors, and public health, especially around addiction, gender, and youth.

Jean Kilbourne, Ed.D. is a National Women’s Hall of Fame inductee and one of the world’s most influential voices on advertising’s impact on public health. Her films and lectures have reached millions, and her research helped mainstream media literacy as a core prevention strategy.

Kilbourne, creator of the landmark film series Killing Us Softly: Advertising’s Image of Women and author of Can’t Buy My Love, explains why simply showing “scared‑straight” health images rarely works, and how media literacy can. Drawing on decades of research (and her own story of getting sober in 1976), she shows how alcohol and tobacco marketers have long targeted kids and women, erased negative consequences, and even positioned products as stand‑ins for community, romance, and “freedom.” The episode closes with a look at today’s landscape, social media, filters, algorithms, and AI, and what families, schools, and prevention programs can do that truly helps.

• Media literacy as prevention: Teaching kids how to understand ads, instead of just telling them to “say no,” helps delay when they start and lowers the risks.
• How ads target emotions, not logic: Advertisers design campaigns to influence us without us noticing, linking their products to feelings of belonging, celebration, and identity.
• Gendered marketing tactics: Alcohol is marketed differently to men and women, and objectifying women in ads leads to bigger problems.
• From billboards to social media: Filters, algorithms, and content made by peers increase pressure and make substance use seem normal.
• Hope in practice: Evidence‑based prevention models rooted in Jean’s work, like Hanley’s Alcohol Literacy Challenge and Prevention Research Institute’s Prime for Life.

• Jean Kilbourne, Ed.D. – Films & resources: jeankilbourne.com
• Alcohol Literacy Challenge – Hanley Foundation’s classroom program teaching media literacy around alcohol.
• Prime For Life – Prevention Research Institute’s evidence‑based curriculum.
• Learn more: hanleyfoundation.org | Call: 844‑502‑4673

In this powerful episode of The Hanley Effect, Dr. Rachel Docekal and Dr. John Dyben are joined by Turner Benoit, Chief Philanthropy Officer at Hanley Foundation, and Niki T, a former Hanley Center patient whose journey through recovery has transformed her life, and the lives of others.

Niki shares her deeply personal story of addiction, recovery, and rebuilding. Today, she is not only a devoted mother but also a professional in the field of forensic social work and a passionate advocate for women and families impacted by substance use disorder. Her story is a testament to what’s possible when compassionate, comprehensive care meets determination and hope.

Turner Benoit offers insight into Hanley’s mission-driven programming and the life-changing impact of Casa Flores, a specialized, family-centered treatment program designed to support pregnant women and mothers while keeping families together. Casa Flores addresses the unique needs of women and children, helping break generational cycles of addiction through trauma-informed care, parenting support, and long-term recovery planning.

This episode highlights the power of recovery, the importance of supporting mothers, and the profound ripple effect that healing one person can have on an entire family.

Resources Mentioned

• Hanley Center Programs
• Casa Flores Program: Providing a pathway to recovery and family reunification for mothers in recovery.
• Mark Garwood Phoenix Scholarships: Scholarships and support services for individuals seeking purpose through recovery.

Contact Information For more information about Hanley Foundation’s programs or to contribute to their mission, visit Hanley Foundation or call 844-502-4673.

This episode was originally released on 12/26/2024.

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.