Dr. Phil - Fraud or Idiot?!?

[Kris-Alyx]

well sometimes he's just unwatchable but like the show (wed) about the new documentry jumper he's actually good but for the most part he's just a windbag.

[Carolynn]

Well, "Dr." Phil continues to be the arrogant backside we have all come to villify. Today's episode was entitled "Gender Confused Children". Jengirl posted a summary and her feelings on another board, and since I missed it while carrying out other activities, I am posting it below. Did anyone else see it?

"Dr. Phil had a show today about Gender Confused children. There was a couple on there that are allowing their child to live as a girl and they were supported on the one hand by a very knowledgeable therapist who has worked with countless children. Dr. Phil played the skeptic and interviewed the child and insinuated that the mother influenced her in this. The child just went to her mother and asked her what the name of the condition she had. The mother told her and that was why she knew what the terms meant. This guy from a "Christian" research group wants to blame the parents for their kids being like this. "

{"My mother was crying after he said that because she has blamed herself for a long time. I told her early on that it was nothing that she did or didn't do that made me this way. She revealed that other members of the family have been blaming her by saying that she should have done this or that. She railed at the "Christian" researcher and said he has no idea what it is like because he doesn't have a child who is dealing with this. I am very upset that people who have no real idea are allowed to have a valid opinion about it."}

"The well informed therapist explained the difference between Gender identity, Sexual Orientation and external sex and told the audience they were separate issues. The "Christian"guy tried to bring up the case where the child was a victim of a botched Circumcision and was raised as a girl until he discovered the truth. It only served to prove the Gender therapist's point about Gender Identity being in the brain."

"I am writing an email to Dr. Phil and I will tell him exactly where I stand on this issue. I am angry that people try to add to the stress these families are going through by telling them this is their fault. They need to get over themselves and butt out of their business."

"Jengrl"

[Virginia]

I saw the episode today as well and from my view point it was laughable, I mean Phil and the guy in the audience did not have a clue and evidently did not even want one! Phil made the final comment about needing to go back stage and "widen the broad-band" based on the preceived number of Emails he was probably going to receive. All this "idiot" is concerned with is ratings and will do any salusious stuff to get an audience. He is about on the level with Springer. I like to see the people in the audience at both shows more than the subjects on stage and that tells its own story, I mean who can attend a show. albeit free on a week-day afternoon? From what I see most of these people a a step above or some may even be "street people." Jobless and on welfare and nothing better to do!

We seem to have a consensus here at this forum, Phil is just an idiot!

Virginia

[Carolynn]

Dr. Phil's history. I can't confirm it, but it seems he may have been granted a phd at a university in California that is not recognized as a degree granting university by the education board of California, or possibly from the University of Phoenix, but he did practice for a few years, left after the sanctions below, and was either working in a 7-11 or was in construction when Oprah found him. These are just rumors, since I can't confirm any of it. However, I do know that Oprah gave him his TV career, and I no longer hold her in esteem. She should denounce him if she was taken in by him, and her silence makes her complicit in his stupidity.

This is the best I have found so far, in summary:

Sanctioned for Unethical Behavior (1989)
The Texas State Board of Examiners of Psychologists imposed disciplinary sanctions on McGraw on January 27, 1989 for an inappropriate "dual relationship" reported in 1988 by a female therapy client/employee from 1984. McGraw was ordered by the Board to take an ethics class, pass a jurisprudence exam, complete a physical evaluation, undergo a psychological evaluation, and have his practice supervised for one year in order to continue his private practice in Texas. McGraw admits to giving the client a "job" at his office (which is not allowed), but denied carrying on a sexual relationship with the 19-year-old, who says their relationship was "sexually inappropriate". As of 2008, McGraw has not completed the conditions imposed by the Board of Examiners of Psychologists, and he is not licensed to practice psychology in Texas, California, or anywhere else.

Weight Loss Products (2003)
In 2003, McGraw entered the weight-loss business, selling shakes, energy bars, and supplements. These products' labels, which carried the brand name "Shape Up", stated: "These products contain scientifically researched levels of ingredients that can help you change your behavior to take control of your weight." This met with swift criticism from various sources, accusing McGraw (a clinical psychologist, and not a physician) of lacking the expertise to recommend weight-loss products. Facing a Federal Trade Commission investigation into Shape Up's claims, McGraw pulled his supplements off the market in March 2004, and the FTC dropped its probe. In October 2005, several people who used McGraw's products declared an intent to file a class-action lawsuit against him, claiming that although the supplements cost $120 per month they did not stimulate weight loss. McGraw settled the suit in September 2006 for $10.5 million. Some of the settlement ($6 million) may be paid to the plaintiffs in the form of Amway (Quixtar) brand Nutrilite vitamins.

Unauthorized Biography (2003)
The Making of Dr. Phil is a biography by Sophia Dembling, a reporter from the Dallas Morning News, and Lisa Gutierrez, a reporter from The Kansas City Star. The book probed McGraw's history, with interviews of his childhood friends and former classmates. The book reported that McGraw used unethical business practices in a gym business early in his career, that he was abusive to his first wife, and was also abusive to his staff, while noting that he overcame adversity through setting goals and was persistent in achieving success. The book received no promotional help from McGraw or his associates.

Kalpoe Lawsuit (2006)
McGraw was named a co-defendant, along with CBS Television, in a 2006 lawsuit filed in relation to the disappearance of Natalee Holloway. The lawsuit was filed by Deepak Kalpoe and his brother Satish Kalpoe, who claimed that an interview they did with McGraw, aired in September of 2005, was "manipulated and later broadcast as being accurate, and which portrays Deepak Kalpoe and Satish Kalpoe 'as engaging in criminal activity against Natalee Holloway and constitutes defamation.'" The Kalpoe brothers claimed invasion of privacy, fraud, deceit, defamation, emotional distress, and civil conspiracy in the suit, which was filed in the Los Angeles Superior Court.

Britney Spears "Intervention" (2008)
McGraw attracted criticism for his unannounced visit to celebrity Britney Spears' hospital room in January 2008. The visit appeared to be part of an attempt at getting Spears and her parents to take part in an "intervention" on the Dr. Phil television show. Immediately after the visit, McGraw issued public statements about Spears' situation that Spears' family spokeswoman Lou Taylor said violated their family trust in McGraw. "This is another example of a trust being betrayed," Taylor told Today co-host Meredith Vieira. "Rather than helping the family’s situation, the celebrity 'psychologist' caused additional damage", she said. Several mental health care professionals criticized McGraw for his actions; however, fellow TV psychologist Dr. Joyce Brothers (who is a real Psychologist -- she earned her PhD degree in psychology from Columbia University after completing her undergraduate work at Cornell University) defended McGraw (and later retracted the defense when she found out he wasn't licensed). One professional psychologist filed a complaint with the California Board of Psychology alleging that Phil McGraw practiced clinical psychology without a license and violated doctor-patient privilege by discussing Spears' case with the media. He also started a petition to have The Dr. Phil Show removed from the air.

Riccio Lawsuit (2008)
McGraw was sued by Thomas Riccio, the memorobilia collecter responsible for taping the Las Vegas robbery that led to OJ Simpson being convicted. Riccio sued McGraw in Los Angeles Superior Court for defamation, fraud, intentional infliction of emotional distress and false light for what Riccio claims to have been deceitful editing of The Dr. Phil Show on which he appeared in early October 2008.

Approach to Psychology
His technique, which differs considerably from traditional psychology, has been criticized by those inside and outside the profession. McGraw's critics regard advice given by him to be at best simplistic, and at worst, invective. McGraw has said he never liked traditional counseling and was awkward in one-on-one situations. Though, in Psychology Today journalist Pamela Paul voices her opinion that McGraw, "... knows what's best and he's not afraid to tell you. Dr. Phil issues counsel as marching orders." Isn't that great? A Journalist says he's a real Psychology Doctor, so it MUST be true! McGraw himself admits that "I'm not the Hush-Puppies, pipe and, 'Let's talk about your mother,' kind of psychologist".