I see Dr. Phil in a new light.

Post Reply New Topic

There was a time when I couldn't stand Dr. Phil. Than one day, I sat down and watched his show for a whole hour, and that particular session was about Bullies. Something that I'm sure that most of us can relate to. That's when I relized that Dr. Phil goes out of his way to reach out to people who are really in trouble. Nobody can solve anybody's problems in just one hour, but the thing is that he subcribes Professional Councilors to people, so that they can get back on track. I visit his Website all the time, now. I think that Dr. Phil is the Male version of Oprah.

Cheers

It is nice to see someone grasp this
tactic. Dr.Phil I am not, and the few
episodes I have seen I see him talk
at you for the right reasons and this
is why I use his name to describe
my giving nature. I realize that
this is about the real person on TV,
but at least you understand, I can
even bleed but will still try to give.

It takes alot to take me down, but
when it happens, people know it,
and I figure that if you can see
Dr.Phil in this light you then can
grasp my giving nature and it's
sincerity.

I appologize for maybe hijacking
this TV forum, but I did want to
say thankyou for understanding
the TV person, and validate that
people can recognize others do
care.

Sincerely,
Ghosthunter.

Dr. Phil's approach works I think for those who need a good shake into reality. But that doesn't work for everyone. I would like to see his lasting success rate with these people.

Of course, I can't stand him soooo much that I have refused to watch his show. I only ever saw some of his pieces on Oprah.

But his approach is very one-dimensional, and sad that he doesn't try to be dynamic in his approaches to reach everyone. That is a good therapist/whatever-the-hell-he-is.

He makes good points. But he generalizes too much and seems to place people in only a few categories. Fear and laziness seem to be a recurring theme.

Then again, I am only generalizing here, lol.

Dr. Phil does go out and help people. He says things they are. He is able to establish to people what they can do to solve a particular problem and puts them on the right track. He puts people in reality. Thank you for making a forum on this great individual.

My only thing, is that the direct approach doesn't work for everyone. And prolly the only reason why I dislike him so much is because the direct approach does not work on me. I have had therapists do this to me and I quit therapy. Which, granted, is my problem. But if the therapist's purpose is to have their message heard in the best way possible, this means that his/her approaches must be dynamic and attempt to fit the individual. Quitting therapy doesn't do me good, nor does it get the therapist their paycheck and hopefully sense of satisfaction.

I only think of this because this is what my mother has taught me on asides from her own psychotherapeutic practice. If in-your-face is necessary, then it is used. But if gentleness would work better then it should be used. In your face is risky if there is no bond formed between therapist and patient. This is a big rule in psychotherapy.

There are some things I like about Dr. Phil, and some things I don't. I like that he doesn't sugarcoat things, but something about him kind of irks me. I also disagree with some of the things he says.

I think the whole concept of having a TV show hosted by a redneck with a PhD to be interesting even though some of his guests have problems that bore me.

I can watch Dr. Phil, but I won't enjoy him. Yes, he's blunt and straightforward, but the problem for most of his guests has a very obvious answer. That, and he doddles...he'll keep stalling before solving peoples problems with pointless comments.

Mother: "OMG, my daughter's a stoner."
Phil: "Well, I see you have a problem, and the solution is not an easy one."
M: "What should I do?"
P: "There is a variety of options that you could choose, including military school, have you seen a counselor lately?"
M: "It's my daughter's friends, they're a bad influence. I give her money to go to the theatre, and she buys drugs."
P: "Maybe the real problem is you, now time for a commercial break."
P: "We're back, and this women's daughter has a drug addiction."
P: "Back to your problem, you think it's her friends?"
M: "Yes, they listen to loud music and have orgys."
P: " And you think that's because of drugs?"
M: "Yes."
P: "Did you ever consider not giving your daughter any money?"
M: "Thanks Doctor Phil, you pointed out an obvious textbook answer that any random person could've easily given me. You're a lifesaver!"

I made this up, but a lot of episodes are like this. The answer is staring him in the faces, and yet he stalls so the show can last longer.

BTW: The first Doctor Phil family lived near me and the pregnant daughter went to the same school and graduates the same year as me. She was a rich who*e, and that's all I can remember. Hmm... I wonder how you could fix that problem?

I don't like Dr Phil because he is totally, completely misinformed on a lot of disorders(like ADHD/ADD, Dyslexia, etc.) and he parades his crazy ideas about how to "cure" such things(special diets, extreme discipline) around like they are scientific fact when it's proven that they don't work!! argh.........

When Dr. Phil's show was just starting I think 3-4 years ago, wasn't he in the news due to some criminal/scandalous event? For some reason I want to say I remember this...

Definitely is an annoying presence on television. Does anyone older than me know which psychologist was an annoying presence on television in the 1970s? I can't ever remember there being a need in the past for a show like his!

I've only seen a little of him (a few episodes when it has just been on the TV). There's worse stuff to watch. He has some good ideas, it seems, but the way he goes about things really bugs me. And he scares me for some reason.

Dr. Phil's show is all about image. He says the things that will get him applause, just like any talk show host, which is what he really is. The same things are always repeated on such shows, and it only displays how much of a feedback loop most people's brains are:

"Girl, you need to drop that zero and find yourself a hero!"
"You'll never love anyone until you learn to love yourself."
"You need Jesus in your life!"

and so on.

Nobody's problems are ever solved on these programs, and they only exist as a method to boost the host's career and image. The few times I have seen Dr. Phil all the way through it has always struck me that the program ends so very abruptly, and then he walks off-stage to grab the hand of his wife, with whom he chats until the credits stop rolling, and people think "Aww, how sweet, his wife comes to every show."

The show is not about the people he is supposedly helping. It is all about Dr. Phil and his ratings and how much money he is bringing in.

Personally, I think he is sleazy and that he looks like the human manifestation of Satan.