Psychology has officially hit the big time on daytime television: Psychologist Phil McGraw, Ph.D., once the mental health guru on Oprah Winfrey's self-titled CBS talk show, aired the first episode of his own hour-long show, "Dr. Phil," on September 16. Debuting with the highest daytime ratings since "Oprah" first launched in 1986, "Dr Phil" is being carried by nearly all TV markets-96 percent-as part of their regular programming.
While televised therapy is popular, McGraw's on-air treatment and advice differs significantly from that of conventional psychotherapy. Traditional treatment is usually a non-confrontational, collaborative effort between patient and doctor. Dr. Phil's approach, however, is just the opposite: Provoking and direct.
Therapist Steve Brody, Ph.D., understands this approach to psychology. "The older I get, the more I've learned to give people what they've paid for," he explains. "People want to be heard and listened to, and it is important to do that. But they also want feedback."
