How Does He Get Away With This?

Question

My Professor has all kinds of issues with Dr. Phil, and dislikes his methods. I think he gives reasonable advice, and gets the job done most of the time. BUT, my question is, as a clinical psychologist...which is what Dr. Phil is (from what I read on E!), we learned in class that there are some methods you are not supposed to employ. You are not supposed to insult the patients, you are supposed to listen to them, and suggest what they could do to help or rectify their situation, all without passing judgement. Basically be an unbiased third party. This is not what Dr. Phil does. So, wouldn't you say his methods are in violation of the APA guidelines? If any other Psychologist used these methods in their practice, i'm sure they would face all kinds of trouble. So, how does Dr. Phil get away with doing this? Also, after all is said and done, could he ever really go back to having a real practice?

Answer 1

Because he is part doctor, part entertainer and he is doing his act, which makes him famous and generates money. If he continues to do well, he will never have to worry about going back into a real practice.

It's just like some of these TV judges like Judge Judy, it's entertainment.

Answer 2

Well, what Dr. Phil does is essentially the same thing as what we do here on Yahoo! Answers: Someone asks a question, we analyze the situation, and then tell them what to do.

There is no long-term relationship, no continued counseling usually. The person just wants an answer; and we just want to give an answer; and then we all move on from there.

Dr. Phil can do what he does because, although he has a PhD in clinical psychology, he is not acting as a therapist when we see him on television; he is basically just a self-help guru, a "let's analyze your problem and think of some tangible solutions" guy.

There is no client/patient privilege in this relationship. People sign a waiver acknowledging that there is no therapy going on, etc., before he is willing to talk to them.

Since Dr. Phil is very clear on what he is providing to his clients, and that he is not acting in a "therapeutical" role but a "self-help" role, he is not in violation of anything.

Yes, there is some "showmanship" involved, to make things interesting. But I don't think this is really a false face for Dr. Phil. I recall reading that he had been frustrated with long-term therapy, where no one seemed to get better. He was less into affirming people than into telling them exactly what he saw as the problem and providing down-and-dirty solutions.

Dr. Phil had actually left the counseling role, I believe, and was in business psychology as a coach or advisor when he advised Oprah and then was invited onto her show a few years back.

So I don't think he's officially even a "therapist" -- nor would he ever want to go back to being one.

Personally, I find him pretty level-headed; and I also think some of the garbage he has to deal with on his show is stuff that NEEDS to be labeled as the self-centeredness and destructive behavior that it is, especially if the person is in denial about it.

Coddling some people is inappropriate, and if you're just giving advice, sometimes you have to just cut to the chase. Some people will not respond to niceties and need to be "shocked" into seeing what they've become. But it's still a sensitive business, saying such things at the most appropriate time.

Answer 3

I personally enjoy Dr. Phil's show. He is very insightful and refreshing from the usual stereotypical therapist.

However, you do have a valid point in what you are saying. Thus, being on tv gives him a tonne of credibility amongst normal people. Since you're a psych student, there are mny things that you comprehend, that many ordinary people don't. If he were to go back to private practice, I'm sure many people would pay his fee just to go see him and talk to him.

Nevertheless, his style isn't any different from anything that's been done before. In the 60s, the use of the primal scream therapy approach was very similar. You had people literally screaming in order to get their hangups out. Of course, that didn;t really lead anywhere. What Dr. Phil does is use a more refined version of this approach because he confronts his patients and gets them to face their issues.

I agree with you partially, but just remember that it;s tv and that doesn't necessarily mean that he's gonna do things by the book. He's gonna do whatever he has to do in order to guarantee ratings.

Answer 4

Dr. Phil is not a good psychologist for the record. He's just as good as any other psychologist with a Ph.D if not worse. Dr. Phil is a CELEBRITY ICON. If he were to be a therapist, unbiased third party, what kind fo television would it be? So obviously there's a little bit of show in his methods, and personally, offset, I think his patients are going to go to their real therapist and their real psychiatrist to get proper care.

And remember, just because Dr. Phil is famous and seems very effective, he isn't a miracle worker. In fact, he's quite far from it. He is not the epitome of all psychologists.

Answer 5

Listening to patients is a good method. So is telling them the blunt truth. Blunt truths does not mean insults. Blunt truths can hurt but its an affective attention getter and it gets the point across. It's more effective than coddling their feelings. If a person is not willing to hear the blunt truth then they may not be ready for help. Not every therapist is perfect. They are human just like everyone else. I am less concerned about a guideline. If a doctor can help someone without doing anything morally wrong and without breaking the laws then I don't see a problem. Guidelines are what they are.....guidelines. Not laws. If a person is unhappy about a doctor's methods and there are several complaints, then it could be a problem. I myself don't watch Dr. Phil. I find him annoying...lol.

Answer 6

Dr. Phil may be a clinical psychologist by certification and training but he is now a performer.

In regards to how he 'gets away with it' ... well since the people he gives advice to are technically not his clients and have either tacitly or figuratively waived their rights to the privacy of consultation, he can most likely do what he likes... in a way that satisfies his employers and entertains the masses that watch/listen to him.

Answer 7

I'm gonna venture a guess and say that he probably refrains from calling what he says and does in the media actual practice and probably has a clause he has participants sign prior to dispensing certain information so legally he won't be held liable. I understand what your saying, and your right some of the "therapy" he uses is in direct violation... but it's only therapy when two binding parties agree on the tactics used and if he's also billing them for actual service... most importantly signed agreements and clauses may exist for him to get away with what he does... I don't know how else to explain how he does what he does. He is a celebrity therapist and I'm not totally sure what mandates allow him such freedoms... good question though.

Answer 8

First I think you have to take into consideration that he is on TV and using people/persons problems to convey a message.

Obviously the people/persons who go on his show have full knowledge that their personal problems are going to be aired and that the advice given is for many and not just the guests on the show.

So is he really treating these people or are they just hand picked example he uses to encourage the audience to seek professional help.

His method is a "tough love" approach and I see no harm in what he is doing. My guess is that he has done more to benefit people's view of mental health than anyone in recent history.

Answer 9

I LOVE the way Dr. Phil approachwes things. Alot of the people he talks with go to him for EMEGENCY advice and help and alot of them do NOT want to face their own problems and you HAVE to look them in the eye and say" hows it workin for ya"? or " what the hell r u doing"? Sometimes you HAVE to be a hard a$$ to get thru to these people when they really dont want top face up to life. Like the show on teen drug addicts- what if Dr. Phil has just LET the 15 year old boy walk out of his studio without FORCING rehab? He could be dead today because Dr, Phil didnt want to hurt his precious feelings! Or a wife who puts up with a cheating man for 10 years- hell id have to slap her myself! GO DR. PHIL! U r loved dude! Im glad he is there to help and tell it like it iFor WEIRD problems he does use alot of kindness- and tenderness to get thru. I think he does an awesome job and Ive used his advice and to this day its worked for me!

Answer 10

Dr.Pill is television entertainment.
I'm not sure if he got lazy or he hit pay dirt on TV but I've noticed Dr.Pill program seems to be scripted.Sort of like Morey P.(I saw a clip from Morey's program when a white guy was upset because he found out the mulatto baby his white wife had was not his.)
Seriously!