Dr. Phil

[geocajun]

Nope. She's a psychiatrist/psychologist (what's the difference, anyway?!).

I think the Psychiatrist uses medicine to cure people, where a Psychologist uses words

She has a TV and a radio show, and has written several books. Alot of people don't like her because she can sound really abrasive and well...rude. But the thing is, she doesn't sugar-coat solutions. Her thing is that most people already know what they need to do, they just need a kick in the pants to get them to do it. She kicks pretty good.

I wouldn't say 'abrasive', but rather "Laconic" - its a much nicer way of saying "pithy, and unapologetic"

 

[ZooMom]

Oh. Is that what 'laconic' means?

 

[geocajun]

Oh. Is that what 'laconic' means?

maybe I should have said "brusque"

 

[ZooMom]

That'll work.

 

[EllenMoran]

"You don't need a badger to put some pep in your step."

That random quote generator is fun!

 

[Carrye]

When Michelle (Shelb5) gets here, you're all gonna be SORRRY.

 

[geocajun]

When Michelle (Shelb5) gets here, you're all gonna be SORRRY.

She may try to stiffle our voices but the truth will always shine through eventually!

 

[Benedicta00]

no, judge judy is a fruit loop like dr phil...
Dr. Laura is in a much higher class than the likes of those two...
www.drlaura.com

Judge Judy is not a fruit loop.

I like Dr. Laura- have for years and guess what? She is no different really from Phil. She too recommends sterilization and ABC ya know...

 

[geocajun]

Judge Judy is not a fruit loop.

who is going to believe you? you like dr. phil...

I like Dr. Laura- have for years and guess what? She is no different really from Phil. She too recommends sterilization and ABC ya know...

Yes, she does, and she is wrong for that. I, unlike you, do not consider the illuminous Dr. Laura to be a golden calf.

But how is she different than dr. phil? well... for example, while watching them, they both had a caller with this exact scenerio:

"I suspect my child is doing drugs because I found a note in his/her pocket which made mention of it while doing the laundry. What should I do? I don't want to tell them I read the note and make them feel like I am invading their privacy. I am considering going through his/her room"

Responses:

Dr. Phil - you can't let her know you read the note, and you must stay out of her room. She does have privacy, so what you need to do is talk to her, and try to get her to admit it, but never by revealing that you read her note.

Dr. Laura - its your house, and her privacy is a privilidge, not a right. You have reason to believe she is using drugs, so you should go through her things further. Let her know you read the note, and you may need to find a counselor.

I rest my case. Dr. Phil is a dissapointment, putting the presumed right to privacy above the health of the child to spare a little temporary embarrasement. The parents following his advice may never realize how bad the problem is, because the child may only confess to 1/3rd of the probem, or not at all.

Dr. Lauras advice gives the parents liberty to take control of the situation, and the child has a greater chance of getting over this drug problem once the oppurtunity to lie about it has been mitigated.

 

[ZooMom]

Now, see, I didn't know that Dr. Laura advocated ABC and sterilization. Hmmmm. How very disappointing.

 

[geocajun]

Now, see, I didn't know that Dr. Laura advocated ABC and sterilization. Hmmmm. How very disappointing.

yea.. she isn't a big fan of large families either, which bothers me... but she isn't Catholic... therefore doesn't have the same insights to the fullness of Truth as we do.
Unfortunately, we do not have a strong Catholic contender in that area, thus we have to choose the greater of what is there... IMHO, the Illuminous Dr. Laura is the way to go, so long as you are able to recognize bad advice when you see it.

 

[Benedicta00]

yea.. she isn't a big fan of large families either, which bothers me... but she isn't Catholic... therefore doesn't have the same insights to the fullness of Truth as we do.
Unfortunately, we do not have a strong Catholic contender in that area, thus we have to choose the greater of what is there... IMHO, the Illuminous Dr. Laura is the way to go, so long as you are able to recognize bad advice when you see it.

You just proved my point geo dude. The same can be said for Phil. Is not Catholic and does not have the Catholic insight but for a secular psychologist, he isn’t half bad.

He gives good advice more than he does bad advice.

 

[Wiffey]

As a trained psychiatric nurse, I am always wary when anyone tries to get therapy vicariously from either the TV or radio. Most folks understand that this is entertainment, not intended for the audience to extrapolate what they wish in an attempt to engage in second hand self pseudo-analysis. But there are actually some folks out there who take TV & radio pop-psychology WAY too seriously, relying on it rather than on getting real, professional help that they may need badly. Some folks don't even need the TV personality to have any mental health or pastoral experience in order to take their advice seriously: case in point = the cult of Oprah.

It may be good entertainment, but it ain't medically (or theologically) sound.

Actually, even more than a real doctor, most of the folks who call in or make guest appearances really need a good Confessor...

 

[geocajun]

You just proved my point geo dude. The same can be said for Phil. Is not Catholic and does not have the Catholic insight but for a secular psychologist, he isn’t half bad.

He gives good advice more than he does bad advice.

problem with him is, he doesn't have any moral footing whatsoever, so he resorts to self love as his dogma.
Dr. Laura OTOH, is at least Jewish, and often gives her answers based on the Torah.

 

[PeterPaul]

Personally, I understand the need for psychology for some, but I think we rely on it in today's time too much. Sometimes psychology is nothing more than an ego trip (take that Freud) so we can hear ourselves complain (my mom did this to me...waaaa).

Psychology - it's not your fault

Catholicism - mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa

 

[PeterPaul]

Dear Ike:
Would the man who tells us to "get real" try to fake a doctorate?

Heck no! Dr. Phil McGraw has a Ph.D. in psychology, which seems like a more relevant degree than other daytime advice givers can claim.

McGraw went to the University of Tulsa on a football scholarship, but was injured and completed his B.A. at Midwestern State University in 1975. He followed this up with studies at the University of North Texas where he earned a master's degree in experimental psychology and a doctorate in clinical psychology in 1979.

Soon after, he started a psychology practice with his father. But during a decade of treating patients, Dr. Phil realized that he didn't have the patience for the job. So he co-founded Courtroom Services, Inc., a company that uses its expertise in psychology to help lawyers in trials.

That's how he met Oprah Winfrey in 1996 when McGraw helped the daytime diva fight a court battle against the beef industry. A few years later, Dr. Phil became the resident psychology expert on Oprah's TV show. And you don't need an advanced degree to figure out where that led him.

Well that's just great. He is a psychologist with no patience for his patients.

 

[Benedicta00]

Personally, I understand the need for psychology for some, but I think we rely on it in today's time too much. Sometimes psychology is nothing more than an ego trip (take that Freud) so we can hear ourselves complain (my mom did this to me...waaaa).

Psychology - it's not your fault

Catholicism - mea culpa, mea culpa, mea maxima culpa

I have to agree. Chesterson wrote that when confession was thrown out the age of psychotherapy was born.

Psychology is confession with out the absolution.

 

[Benedicta00]

Well that's just great. He is a psychologist with no patience for his patients.

That is kind of funny. I guess the money he makes now, writing books and making a show, helps him deal with his impatience.