I just read this and HAD to post it!! Honestly, I liked Dr. Phil when he first started his show but have slowly stopped watching it. It just seems like the same thing all the time -- him battering down his guests and making Robin out to be Mrs. Perfect and their marriage the perfect marriage. I used to be one of his 'loyal' watchers but wow, after reading this, I don't think so. I'd like to know more about what happened in Texas!!


State of California Investigating Dr. Phil
Jan. 18, 2008, 1:16 PM EST


A complaint has been filed against Dr. Phil with the California Board of Psychology.

The complaint reportedly accuses Dr. Phil McGraw of practicing without a license when he visited Britney Spears at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center after her meltdown earlier this month, according to TMZ.com.

Dr. Phil is also accused of violating the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act. The complaint alleges Dr. Phil practiced clinical psychology without a license and further violated doctor-patient privilege by discussing the pop star's case with the media.

Dr. Phil has never been licensed to practice in California, and he is no longer licensed in his home state of Texas.

McGraw failed to complete the conditions imposed as disciplinary sanctions by the Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists in 1989.

At that time a former therapy client had filed a complaint against him, claiming their relationship was inappropriate.

McGraw later admitted giving her a job but denied touching her.

Soon after he was officially reprimanded, McGraw closed his private practice.

I like Dr. Phil, I think he gives good advice, but I think he used poor judgement with the whole Britney Spears thing. I think he's getting further away from his straight talking advice and getting sucked into the sensationalism of the media and I don't like that. I feel it makes him less trustworthy.

It suprises me that so much of his past life is so secretive. He went to high school here in Overland Park, KS, but he always says he's from Texas. Robin is his 2nd wife, but you never hear about his 1st wife and he opened some sort of a spa in Topeka, Kansas years ago and supposedly it went bankrupt or something and he left without paying people money he owed them. Here's an article from years ago about a lot of it.

Ex-wife talks about her years with Dr. Phil - The Daily Extra

Lisa

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"It's not having what you want,
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Wow, I didn't know that either, and I read Robin's book last year that she wrote. In it, none of that was ever mentioned about Philip (as Robin calls him) being married before.

Wonder what else is going to come out because of all of this?

I have totally lost much of the interest I had early on with Dr. Phil and his show. I do also think that he has become way too focused on sensationalism (hence his ill-advised trip to see Britney) and has gotten way to play-to-the-camera for my liking. Also, can't stand that he puts his wife Robin onto a number of shows during the season; I mean, it is his show, but what kind of credentials does she have, other than a marriage license to Phil? To me she is annoying! I rarely watch him at all anymore, and when I do see him it is just because I happen to flip to a channel he is on when a commercial comes onto what I am really watching.

Add to that, I had never heard about his first marriage. I DO understand that some "starter marriages", especially when the two are so young (20) often do not work out. However, I think he should be upfront about it, and even bring it into his "sessions" to show those he might be working with that even though things are not always perfect, you can still go on and have another chance in life.

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"Yesterday is but a vision, and tomorrow is only a dream. But today well lived makes every yesterday a dream of happiness, and every tomorrow a dream of hope." Anonymous

"Your candle does not lose it's light by lighting another candle" Generosity

Have the courage to be yourself.

On the other side of this subject, I think that the Spears family is "stupider than dirt" to call in Dr. Phil for help and expect that what they are getting is a top-notch clinical psychologist who will not make one mention of being called in for counsel. Give me a break!

cj/

__________________
I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

What surprises me is that the media didn't get all this information and publicize it earlier---so they protect their own???. I mean looking at how they love to dig deep on anybody who makes a name for themselves....often intimating that there is more dirt than there actually is, it is surprising that this all didn't surface many years ago

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I've never been a big fan o Dr. Phil. I always think, who died and left this guy in charge?!! His way is so condescending.

I too liked him when he was starting out and doing the Oprah show (but I'm not a big fan of her anymore either truthfully). Too much 'popularity' seems to ruin everyone I suppose. I knew about Dr. Phil and his first wife, etc., and all of the accusations of the Texas clinic years ago, his supposed affairs and all. I did not know, however, that he isn't licensed in California?! What?! I did notice the disclaimer at the bottom of the show the other day regarding his 'advice' and wondered seriously about that. It was the first time I had noticed it, but it may have been there from day one I don't know. I think his 'advice' is pretty much the advice anyone with a brain would give a friend. I watch it every now and again, but I do think he grand-stands quite a bit now. I can't stand when he has his sons on the show and now one of them has even written a book mentoring to young kids or something. I also think he is super secretive about his 'past' for a reason and I'm sure it will eventually all come out, now that the board is investigating him.

Having said that, I do think the Spears family is totally whacked to ask anyone with that much publicity to 'help' Britney. I mean, Dr. Phil has been on his show numerous times and interviewed saying how much Britney needs help or she's going to harm herself (he's mentioned suicidal, etc. even), how he wants to be the one to help her, etc. I totally feel he's in it for more fame too. He should be investigated if he broke the rules, and speaking to anyone other than who he is legally authorized to talk with kills the deal. There are so many health rules out there I'm sure we are going to hear more on this soon. With all of the 'doctors to the stars' out there, why in the world did they call Dr. Phil in? Makes me also wonder that if they are 'soooo' concerned about her, they would at the very least be checking credentials on any Dr. they pick, and they would have discovered that Dr. Phil isn't licensed that way. I am actually surprised that the tabloids never discovered he isn't licensed; you can generally find out a lot about credentials online nowadays too. Any reporter could certainly have done some ground work through the state licensing board and found that out I would think. Interesting.

Ok, here is what I really came here to post, ha ha, after all that above! I can't figure out why he rags on about overweight people, how they just have to get their life in control, blah blah. Just quit eating he says, blah blah. Does he actually think he is a slim man?!!!!! I am always totally blown away by those shows. My DH and I have a good laugh about those. What is he thinking? I want his mirror!!!

I don't particularly think of him as heavy /overweight... just large, as in he probably shops in the Big and Tall section.

I think he comes from a long line of obesity, which is why he seems to put that topic at the forefront fairly often.

I don't watch him like I used to. Once he started that whole "house" thing it seemed more about sensationalism. Prior to that, I got the feeling that he felt like he'd been given an opportunity to try something fun and exciting (a tv show) that was giving him the opportunity to do something he had a heart for - giving people solid, down-home advice.

I do agree with that. I thought they were all grandstanding and I think her family is horrible. Be that as it may, Britney's mother called him in, not Britney. Britney was 'trapped' since she was still in custody on a psychiatric hold at that point and wasn't allowed to make any decisions. Britney is an adult and her mother and Dr. Phil had no legal right to interfere with her treatment or anything else. Even though I'm no fan of hers, it was unfair to her. Britney was in no position to protect herself and he violated her privacy rights while she was vunerable. I hope they hold him accountable for it.

I saw a clip on TV last night that Dr. Phil was going to address this (Britney, licensing, etc) on the show - but I missed watching it. Did anyone catch the show yesterday and if so, what did he have to say about this situation?

TIA,
cj/

__________________
I was walking home one night and a guy hammering on a roof called me a paranoid little weirdo. In morse code. -Emo Phillips

Phil doesn't seem to learn from his mistakes.

Dr. Phil not apologizing for Spears fiasco
TV shrink says he was just reaching out to a friend
The Associated Press
updated 4:48 p.m. ET, Mon., Jan. 21, 2008

LOS ANGELES - Doctor Phil McGraw says he does not apologize for trying to help Britney Spears.

On his syndicated talk show today, McGraw said he had planned to do a show on Spears' troubles before she was hospitalized Jan. 3. Furthermore, he says Spears' mother, Lynne, had planned on participating.

He says they never intended to have Spears on the show, and they certainly never discussed staging an intervention with Spears.

McGraw acknowledges he released a statement to the media about meeting with Spears to quell any rumors. He says he never disclosed what happened in that meeting, nor will he ever.

He says he does not apologize for reaching out to a friend, and he's been friends with the Spears family since 2006.

Copyright 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

URL: Dr. Phil not apologizing for Spears fiasco - Celebrities - MSNBC.com

Oh, brother. Give me a break.

The Spears family is now claiming Dr. Phil exploited Britney.

Pot, meet kettle.

Go to Dr. Phil.com and his 'statement' is there exactly word for word that he said yesterday on his show. I read it even before it aired on TV. When I said it's exactly what he said on TV, even down to the "but you still have to call me doctor". Looks like he read it word for word on TV! But he still didn't address the spa business and the inappropriate touching and being a ladies' man with roving eyes and being married before he married Robin. He's always talking about 'getting real', well, I think he should actually 'get real' with his audience and fans and tell the whole story.