Since 2002, Dr. Phil McGraw has made unnecessary stardom out of psychology. A specialist in forensic psychology, Oprah Winfrey chose him for advice on some case years ago, and he got his own show. The rest, as they say, is history. And that history spanning 14 years has just never makes any progress.
In today’s episode, first to be profiled was a 12-year-old girl who was extremely homicidally violent and it got so medically based he had to surrender this case to the realm of psychiatry. With the help of an MRI radiologist, a prescription was dropped from her profile, a diagnosis was proposed, and she was behaving herself better.
But did they really need Dr. Phil? They could have gone to a local psychologist and/or psychiatrist, and settle the matter there.
The other story covered was a grown man addicted to video games, perhaps as an excuse for a blood disorder. Now Dr. Phil has nothing to do with blood, so he shouldn’t even go there. Leave that to cardiologists and hematologists. As for the relationship with his wife and child, psychology or even plain marital/family counseling could fit the bill.
See? The white flag was flown twice. Also, a few years ago, via Internet, he was equating a suicidal nature to not fearing death. In reality, though, suicidal thoughts mean wanting to die, a completely different thing. Could this be his misapplied forensic training haunting him?
In the ending credits, as usual, despite being an “advice” show, you’ll still need a professional for genuine advice. (Just like the medical shows “The Doctors” and “Dr. Oz.”) But I personally wouldn’t (pardon the pun) recommend any one with an social or emotional problem to Dr. Phil.
After all, are these matters really our business?
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