Il dottor Phil

Dr. Phil gets 2 stars. 1 for actually taking up important issues and creating awareness and 1 for being entertaining - sometimes.

This is not the show to watch if you want a serious "(self) help" show. Dr. Phil is in your face and confrontational, which is sometimes funny, but you never doubt just whose side he is on in any given case - and you never doubt that the other part in the case is a horrible and guilty person. There are no shades of gray on Dr. Phil's show - which is strange, as the man has an education in psychology.

However, Dr. Phil may actually prove harmful sometimes. As it often is with media, he simply holds too much sway over people - he gives an opinion and millions of viewers cry out in agreement without the hassle of researching the subject. Not only harmful to the individuals, that Dr. Phil targets, it seems to also help undermine people's trust in actual authority, like the law (which, by no means is perfect or anywhere near that, but it is still a harmful influence that really doesn't help as it is often without real substance, just full of emotions).

Watch it if you like sob stories going no where, villains and judgment, or if you, like me, are a psychology student who is very interested in seeing the "acclaimed" Dr. Phil's verdicts and in making your own.

Funny note: Try to notice how many times Dr. Phil gives out-right professional advice as in "You have to do this/ you should do this...". None. Why? Because he's not a licensed psychologist any more, meaning that he CAN'T do it - it's against the law. All he can do is offer "good ideas" or layman's advice.

Dr. Phil is the most deplorable person on television. He exploits people's mental illnesses, addictions and problems for the entertainment of his millions of viewers. He occasionally offers real outside counseling to some of his guests, but not others. I recently watched the show (for the last time) and he had a very troubled woman on as his guest. He did nothing more for her than make sarcastic comments while looking into the camera and trying to elicit laughter from the audience. This woman was clearly emotionally, mentally and intellectually challenged and he had her on for nothing more than a freak show. He is a charlatan and a bottom feeder. What he does every day on his show is at best unethical, but most certainly immoral.

I use to really like this show and make time out of my day to watch it, but they lost me over a year ago.

It just became too repetitive and predictable. 45 minutes laying out a dysfunction, a minute satisfying the audience with a few words undermining the nemesis and then a free trip to a fix-it farm.

On and on it goes to where all the problems bleed into one repetitive array of voyeurism about lives that are too negative to be of interest or true business of my own.

Beauty products and makeup sales along with the latest must have book tuck neatly into time slots to satisfy the entranced fan.

Phil has value, just a very tired and worn out format and show.

What Therapy is: -confidential, a tool to help vulnerable people process their trauma

What Therapy is not: -a man who takes shouts at vulnerable people on national television, breaking them down, 'putting them in their place', taking sides in a conflict to craft a narrative, a clown who brings his wife on the show to shill makeup. On 'Dr. Phil' you speak when spoken to, take humiliation like a good girl, and tell the audience you are grateful for the 'tough love'.

Phil justifies parading mental health issues on television by claiming that the real healing happens at 'the Ranch'- a prison camp type of institution that traumatized survivors want to have shut down.

Phil McGraw is vile and real psychotherapists cannot stand him. He gives a bad name to Oprah Winfrey by extension. P. S. : look up the reviews on Glassdoor of people who worked on the show, he's a despot.

Here's how I see the show. Talk about the problem. Ok, THAT is good. But, once the issues are addressed, WHY CONSTANTLY CIRCLE around them?

Just keep an eye out for this pattern. There's NO significant progress, RIGHT UNTIL the next Ad Break.

"We'll continue... after the break."

Me: "REALLY? No!" Just switch channels, when the show comes on. No need to thank me. You're welcome for the eye opener.