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Dr. Phil

Dr. Phil

2002Ended21 Seasons3566 Episodes4.5TMDB

Using the power of television. European-American, Dr. Phil McGraw presents compelling stories about real people with a variety of emotional and behavioral problems, stripping away the shame and embarrassment that too often keep people from seeking help. It’s a show that is suppose to help people with their problems and to find a solution on live TV .

Created by: Oprah Winfrey, Phil McGraw

Season 17 Episodes

Browse every episode and jump into details.

Episode 3: We're Alcoholics, but We're Great Parents

Sep 12, 2018 · 1h

Renee and Lee insist their 6-year-old granddaughter is not safe in the care of her severely alcoholic parents, Chris and Jessica; Dr. Phil shows them shocking footage of what his cameras captured during Chris and Jessica's home interviews.

Episode 23: Not So Sweet 16

Oct 10, 2018 · 1h

Theresa claims her 16-year-old daughter, Tessa, has set the house on fire, physically attacked her, and even launched a violent attack on her grandmother.

Episode 26: A Family Claims Their Former Model Daughter Won’t Stop Lying

Oct 15, 2018 · 1h

Jimmy was the original drummer for legendary band Brooks and Dunn, but there is one area of his life that he says has completely gone off beat, his 37-year-old daughter, Tia. His wife Donna, Tia’s stepmother, says Tia has made all sorts of untrue accusations about her. And Jimmy says the accusations Tia has made against him, including sexual molestation, are even more outrageous and untrue. Jimmy says if there is one person who can break Tia’s loop of dysfunction, it’s Dr. Phil.

Episode 27: "Dr. Phil, Can You Save My Marriage?" and "The Dubrows on Diets, Date Nights, And 'OC' Disasters"

Oct 16, 2018 · 1h

In a matter of weeks, Marcea says her marriage to Dustin, whom she calls her “narcissistic, alcoholic, playboy husband,” will be over. Marcea claims Dustin was on a sugar daddy website looking for “discretion” and “friends with benefits,” paying college girls thousands of dollars for “unknown services.” If that wasn’t enough, Marcea claims he paid a ransom to prevent himself from being exposed. But, the divorce papers were not served by Marcea; they were served to Marcea by Dustin, who denies Marcea’s accusations and says he has had enough of Marcea’s controlling ways. Plus, from E!’s Botched and Heather Dubrow’s World podcast, Dr. Terry and Heather Dubrow share exciting details about their new book, The Dubrow Diet, which is based on the concept of interval eating, which they say allows you to lose weight and feel ageless.

Episode 28: Being Gary Busey

Oct 17, 2018 · 1h

Actor Gary Busey has appeared in hundreds of movies and was nominated for an Academy Award for playing Buddy Holly in “The Buddy Holly Story.” But as his star continued to rise, so did his dangerous behavior. He made headlines for multiple arrests and a near-fatal motorcycle accident that caused a traumatic brain injury, leaving him known more for his off-camera antics than his blockbuster films. The actor is once again in the news with his new autobiography, Buseyisms: Gary Busey’s Basic Instructions Before Leaving Earth, where he shares his ups and downs of almost 50 years in Hollywood and surviving a drug overdose. In his book, Busey talks about how a man who called himself the “Devil” showed up at his door with a box and that led to his addiction. Find out what was in that little blue box. Plus, meet Busey’s doctor and find out what he says he discovered when he did a SPECT scan of the famous actor’s brain. Can this discovery explain Busey’s publicized erratic behavior?

Episode 29: Deconstructing Privilege

Oct 18, 2018 · 1h

What "white privilege" really means and what can be done about it; Rene says she was wrongly accused of using her white privilege to harass a street vendor; legal assistant Quevaughn says he was singled out and viciously attacked at a pizzeria.

Episode 42: From Top Model to Bottom of the Bottle

Nov 6, 2018 · 1h

Amanda's mother and sister say she is an extreme alcoholic who has nearly died twice and must use a pacemaker because of her drinking; her father lets her live with him because she would otherwise be homeless.

Episode 46: Arrested for Keying Ex-Boyfriend's Car

Nov 12, 2018 · 1h

Autumn claims she was pushed to the point of insanity after being stuck in a cycle of abuse for almost two years, when, she says, her ex-boyfriend, D'Andre, choked her, head-butted her and sexually assaulted her.

Episode 47: Dad Confronts Daughter's Abuser

Nov 13, 2018 · 1h

Dr. Phil continues his conversation with D'Andre, who claims that his abusive relationship with his girlfriend, Autumn, is partly due to what he calls her "messed up" upbringing.

Episode 48: Witness to Murder

Nov 14, 2018 · 1h

More than two decades after helping to put his father, Dr. John Boyle, behind bars, Collier Landry confronts him about his mother's death.

Episode 49: My Husband's Face Has Been Used as Catfish Bait

Nov 15, 2018 · 1h

For the past nine years, Alan's photos from social media have been used as catfish bait to lure women into online relationships; with the help of a private investigator he and his wife were surprised to learn who the catfish was.

Episode 50: A Catfish Meets Her Victim

Nov 16, 2018 · 1h

Catfish Sarah meets her bait and tells why she has been pretending to be a man online for so long; Alan and his wife say they don't believe she will ever stop.

Episode 57: Unmasked but Still Unhappy

Nov 30, 2018 · 1h

Depressed teen Brandon transitioned into a beautiful young woman named Diamond, who says she lives a glamorous lifestyle; her mother says Diamond is a jobless, homeless and emotionally unstable escort who has been kicked out of 13 shelters and homes.

Episode 63: Beautiful Disaster?

Dec 10, 2018 · 1h

Noelle, 14, is out of control, brings drugs into the house, has stolen a car and backed it into a neighbor's mailbox, and has caused her stepfather to leave the home to escape the chaos of living with her.

Episode 73: The Incomparable Kathy Bates

Jan 3, 2019 · 1h

Acclaimed actress Kathy Bates talks about her battle with cancer, living with the disease lymphedema, and her work with advocates at the Lymphatic Education and Research Network.

Episode 80: What Happened to the Bakersfield 3?

Jan 14, 2019 · 1h

Cheryl's and Jane's two offspring disappeared without a trace within a month of each other, then Di's son was shot and killed; Di says her son told her something cryptic two weeks before he died.

Episode 81: Bakersfield 3: What the Profiler Revealed

Jan 15, 2019 · 1h

Dr. Phil continues his conversation with Cheryl and Jane, whose offspring are missing, and Di, whose son was shot and killed while driving in a quiet Bakersfield neighborhood; a reporter, a former police detective and a former FBI profiler weigh in.

Episode 87: Please Convince My Daughter She Has an Eating Disorder

Jan 23, 2019 · 1h

Maddie, 18, says she doesn't have an eating disorder even though her mother, stepfather and grandmother say she is slowly starving herself to death, has been hospitalized repeatedly for dehydration, and is so fatigued that she cannot live her life.

Episode 90: Criminal Love: Why Women Date Inmates

Jan 28, 2019 · 1h

Jenna says her sister, Alexx, is trying to buy the love of at least seven convicted felons; Suzie is married to an inmate, keeps a personal account of their love online and encourages other convicted felons to connect with loved ones through a blog.

Episode 91: In Love With a Rageaholic

Jan 29, 2019 · 1h

Alethea says she feels like a prisoner trapped in a rage-filled relationship with her partner, Kevin, and has resorted to secretly taping his anger to have proof; Kevin says his rage is a result of brain trauma, and receives the results of an MRI.

Episode 92: Our Son Is a 40-Year-Old Homeless Car Camper

Jan 30, 2019 · 1h

Mark says he chooses to live in his beat-up car, held together with bungee cords and glue, because it gives him the freedom to travel, which broadens his horizons; his family says he needs to get his life together and stop acting like an adolescent.

Episode 93: The Boy Under the Stairs: Hero Siblings Speak Out

Jan 31, 2019 · 1h

The siblings of 5-year-old Jordan Bleimeyer, who was held captive in a tiny cubbyhole under the stairs, starved and abused by his father and stepmother, reveal how they sneaked Jordan food and freed him from his closet prison, saving his life.

Episode 94: I'm Afraid of My Violent, Video Game Addicted Son

Feb 1, 2019 · 1h

Jennifer says her 12-year-old son's violent gaming addiction is not only exacerbating his numerous behavioral issues, but she fears it may be the catalyst for him becoming the next school shooter; Dr. Phil sits down with the boy.

Episode 95: Our Lying Ex-Boyfriend Is the Next Dirty John

Feb 4, 2019 · 1h

Tiffany's relationship with her child's father, Erik, was destroyed by his constant lying and empty promises; after doing research midway through their relationship, Sheka uncovered Erik's lies and put a stop to their wedding plans.

Episode 98: My Fiance Believes He's a Superhero

Feb 7, 2019 · 1h

Kalan is desperate for Dr. Phil's help because her fiance has taken on the persona of a superhero and will answer only to "Goose Wayne Batman," refusing to take off his mask or eye makeup.

Episode 99: Is My Nigerian Boyfriend Scamming Me?

Feb 8, 2019 · 1h

Josie is in love with a much-younger Nigerian man she found on Facebook and has never actually met; her family and friends say he is just conning her into marrying him for a green card; Dr. Phil goes to Nigeria to talk with him and learn who he is.

Episode 101: Destoni's Drama: Will She Accept Help?

Feb 12, 2019 · 1h

Melissa fears teen Destoni's outrageous behavior will land her in jail or get her killed, and the house is not safe when Destoni is there, so she wants to send her to foster care; Dr. Phil wants Destoni to meet someone who could change her life.

Episode 108: Insta-Famous to Insta-Lonely

Feb 21, 2019 · 42m

Ava says her one goal in life is to be Insta-famous and she'll stop at nothing to get there, but her real-life relationships are suffering because of her online persona; actress Amanda Cerny tries to get young people to drop their social media masks.

Episode 112: Controversy Over Hate Crime Hoaxes

Feb 27, 2019 · 1h

Media personalities, including Harvey Levin ("TMZ Live"), share theories about Jussie Smollett's claim of being the victim of a hate crime and the police suspicion of it being a hoax; a victim who lied to police; a criminal turns his life around.

Episode 113: The Most Enabling Mother in America?

Feb 28, 2019 · 1h

Amy says her 20-year-old son, Jai, is a "rageaholic ticking time bomb" and worries he's on the verge of seriously hurting someone, especially since he recently purchased a semi-automatic rifle.

Episode 115: Reunion Gone Wrong?

Mar 4, 2019 · 1h

Dan says that since his wife, Lorie, reunited with her now 26-year-old son two years ago, their entire family life has been shattered; he believes they have an inappropriate relationship, and the young man has violent outbursts.

Episode 118: The One Who Survived

Mar 7, 2019 · 1h

Jennifer Asbenson, author of "The Girl in the Treehouse," tells the chilling details of how she escaped serial killer Andrew Urdiales and why she was chosen as his victim.

Episode 119: Lies, Betrayal and Custody: “It’s Been Two Years Since We’ve Seen Our Daughter”

Mar 8, 2019 · 1h

Danielle and Nick insist they were great parents to their now 8-year-old daughter. They claim it’s been nearly two years since Danielle’s sister, Kimberly, has “kidnapped” their daughter and not allowed them to visit her. Kimberly claims she had no choice but to obtain guardianship of her niece because she says Danielle and Nick are drug addicts and have a history of arrests. She also claims they both neglected the little girl while they disappeared to do drugs. Nick and Danielle admit they were drug addicts but say they’re clean now. They deny all of Kimberly’s accusations of neglect, and say coming to Dr. Phil is their chance to fight to bring their little girl home, despite currently living in a homeless shelter.

Episode 120: Exclusive: Grieving Parents React To Chris Watts Confession

Mar 11, 2019 · 1h

Authorities release a shocking five-hour prison confession from Colorado killer dad Chris Watts describing disturbing new details about the murder of his pregnant wife, Shan’ann, and their two daughters. In an exclusive interview, Shan’ann’s parents and brother reveal their reaction to Watts finally admitting what happened to their daughter and grandchildren in their final moments.

Episode 121: I Swiped Right on My Quadriplegic Boyfriend

Mar 12, 2019 · 1h

Harley says when she met her boyfriend, Bailey, on a dating app, she knew he was unable to walk but that didn’t stop her from getting to know him and falling in love. Now, three years later, she says she is at the end of her rope being his full-time caregiver. She says all they do is fight, and she feels so guilty for getting frustrated with him. Bailey says nine years after the accident that left him paralyzed, things started to look up when he met his beautiful girlfriend. Now, he says he constantly feels like a burden to Harley and all those around him and wonders if it would be better if he just moved into a nursing home and died. Harley and Bailey both say they love each other and are willing to do whatever it takes to make things right. Can this relationship be saved?

Episode 122: A Secret Revealed; “My Sister-in-Law is a Danger to Her Son”

Mar 13, 2019 · 1h

Megan says that six months ago, she was shocked to discover that her sister-in-law, Lindsay, was hiding a dark secret, and her brother, Chad, was covering up for her. Megan says all was exposed after Lindsay was arrested for allegedly being under the influence of heroin and crashing her SUV into multiple cars with her infant son in the backseat. That’s when Megan says Chad came clean about Lindsay’s long-term drug addiction. Megan says he even admitted that Lindsay overdosed while three months pregnant, and their baby was born addicted. Megan says despite everything, Chad is giving his wife another chance and allowing Lindsay to be alone with their infant son. Lindsay insists she is six months sober, but is she telling the truth?

Episode 123: Our Lying Daughter Would Rather Live in a Car Than with Her Own Child

Mar 14, 2019 · 1h

Nancy is a concerned grandmother who says she’s pleading for her daughter, Paige’s, life because she claims Paige stopped caring for her 18-month-old little girl. Nancy and her husband, Lance, say Paige left her daughter with them to live in a car with her girlfriend. Her girlfriend recently entered a treatment facility, and Paige moved in with her parents, but they fear that the minute her girlfriend is released, Paige will go back to living in a car with her girlfriend and leave her daughter behind with them. Lance says he’s been waiting to confront his daughter until they get on Dr. Phil’s stage. The family comes together to stop Paige before she hits the road again.

Episode 124: A Therapist Involved in a Money Laundering Scam Faces Prison Time

Mar 15, 2019 · 1h

James says his 58-year-old Aunt Terri is a very smart and independent woman, who is a marriage counselor with a master’s degree in clinical psychology. James claims Aunt Terri has fallen for a celebrity catfish scam, by believing she was romantically involved with Hollywood actor Jeffrey Dean Morgan from The Walking Dead. Terri says she even believed he wanted to marry her. Whoever contacted Terri online isn’t the real Jeffrey Dean Morgan. But Terri claims she’s 100 percent convinced that the actor or someone working with him is her “secret lover” who scammed her out of thousands of dollars, and put her in the center of an international money laundering scam that left her broke, brokenhearted, and potentially behind bars.

Episode 135: I Believe Global Terrorists Are Poisoning Me

Apr 1, 2019 · 42m

Cheryl says she must wear surgical masks at home because a global terror network is experimenting on her with lethal chemicals; her daughter is concerned for her mental health; Dr. Phil reveals the results of extensive testing in Cheryl's home.

Episode 136: Let Me Live My Life!

Apr 2, 2019 · 42m

Sarah's dad says she is destroying her life by walking away from a full-ride college scholarship to chase what he calls a "silly daydream" of becoming a professional dancer; sisters say mom Laura is a reckless dater who has been married 10 times.

Episode 137: Jonestown: Stories of Strength and Survival

Apr 3, 2019 · 42m

On Nov. 18, 1978, more than 900 followers of Jim Jones and The Peoples Temple were killed, many by drinking cyanide-laced fruit punch; Dr. Phil speaks with survivors Rep. Jackie Speier and former Peoples Temple members Vernon Gosney and John Cobb.

Episode 140: Blinded by Love

Apr 8, 2019 · 42m

Amanda is madly in love with her son's father, a severe epileptic who refuses to take his medication and has seizures almost every day; her mother wants her to move on.

Episode 159: Is This Scam Artist Ready to Come Clean?

May 3, 2019 · 42m

Michael, an admitted liar who now claims he's a changed man and wants to "come clean" about all his past lies and deceptions, including some that have landed him behind bars, comes face-to-face with three of his victims.

Episode 176: Dr. Phil, Help Our Marriage & My Wife's Kidnapping 35+ Years Ago Captured Our Future

Aug 26, 2019 · 1h

Shelly says when she married her husband, David, less than a year ago, she had no idea that divorce might be a possibility. While Shelly claims David is verbally abusive and controlling, David says his wife thrives on drama, loves attention, and refuses to let go of the past rather than try to work on a better future. David claims he feels Shelly’s health issues control a lot of her emotions. Shelly says she desperately wants Dr. Phil’s help to save her marriage. Then, Sandra says 26 years ago, she thought it was just a typical day of running errands at the mall, but instead, it was a day that will haunt her forever. Sandra says at 21, she was kidnapped at gunpoint and told that if she tried to run, her kidnapper would kill her! Sandra says she was able to escape, but her anxiety and traumas from her past are still affecting her daily life and current relationship with her husband. Will Sandra find a way to heal from her past?

Episode 177: Our Preppy and Privileged Son is Now a Wannabe Gangster”

Aug 27, 2019 · 1h

Fifteen-year-old Dawson says he is not the person his parents, Chris and Dawn, believe he is. He says their perception of him is based on their childhood memories of him playing baseball and going on family vacations. Dawson says he wants more freedom to do the things he enjoys, such as smoking marijuana and hanging out in the streets, where he posts photos on social media of himself holding guns. Dawson shared some videos he posted on social media with Dr. Phil producers – and his parents were shocked and horrified to see what their son was up to right in their own neighborhood. Later, hear from Dawson’s aunt Abbie, who says her minivan was trashed after Dawson went joyriding in it at 110 miles per hour. Not convinced Dawson really understood what his future could look like if he kept idealizing this criminal lifestyle, Dr. Phil presented a group of people to explain the consequences of dangerous behavior, including a former gang member and a woman currently paralyzed as the result of a reckless car accident.

Episode 178: Family Destroyed By Sexual Abuse, Secrets and Lies

Aug 28, 2019 · 1h

Twenty-six-year-old Megan claims from the age of 7, she was repeatedly sexually abused and raped. As a teen, Megan claims her parents threw her out on the streets, where she says she was raped over 100 times. Megan claims she spent her 21st birthday chained to a bed – after being abducted, beaten, and sex trafficked. Megan’s mother, Beth, emailed Dr. Phil for help. Even though Beth claims her daughter’s trauma has left her “non-functioning,” she also says Megan needs to pull herself together and get a job, because she says she and her husband, Steve, are done bankrolling her.

Episode 179: “Our Mother Was Diagnosed with Munchausen By Proxy”

Aug 29, 2019 · 1h

Annie and Josh say their mother, Shauna Taylor, created non-existent illnesses and put them through medical workups that were painful and occasionally dangerous. Josh says not only did his mother constantly take him to the hospital where he says he had two unnecessary spinal taps, he claims she also locked him and his brother in a dog cage and threw them around the room. Shauna was eventually diagnosed with Munchausen syndrome by proxy and had her children removed from her care. Shauna’s then-husband, Bill, says he had no idea that Shauna was harming their children until he was contacted by social services, and the children were removed from their care. Josh and Annie want to know if Bill really had no idea, as he claims, or did he suspect that something was wrong? Josh and Annie say they are afraid they may become like their mother. And, hear from an international expert on Factitious Disorder.

Episode 180: The 47-Year-Old Relationship Virgin

Sep 3, 2019 · 1h

Forty-seven-year-old Adam says he needs Dr. Phil’s help because he’s never had a girlfriend, never been in love, and no woman has ever loved him. He says out of the hundreds of dates he’s been on, he rarely gets a third date. By 50, he says he wants to be married with children but fears he will never get there if he can’t even snag a third date. Dr. Phil sends Adam on a speed date with five single women to dissect what Adam may be doing wrong on dates. By the end of the show, after Dr. Phil gets in Adam’s ear, will one of these ladies give Adam a second chance?

Episode 181: Child Kidnapped, Starved and Beaten

Sep 4, 2019 · 1h

Elsa claims she was abused almost daily and beaten with ropes, chains and whips by the people she thought were her adoptive parents, Joe and his wife, Evangeline. Elsa claims Evangeline smashed her fingers with a hammer, cut off part of her tongue with a pair of clippers and even tied her to her highchair and threw her down two flights of stairs. When she would get grounded, she claims Joe and Evangeline would starve her for 1-2 weeks. Elsa says the abuse lasted for years until an unlikely person stepped up and helped rescue her. Find out what Detective Debbie Richmond discovered when she saw Elsa at the hospital. We’ll also hear why Elsa says she refused to talk to police, and how her aunt Susan convinced her.

Episode 182: A Thanksgiving Disaster, a Burned Toddler and a Family at Odds

Sep 5, 2019 · 1h

Jacob’s son Blake was burned at 2 1/2 years old on a treadmill in his sister Ellen’s home at Thanksgiving in 2014. Jacob claims Ellen was 100% responsible for his son’s injuries and scars. Jacob’s wife, Beth, says that their family was uninvited to further Thanksgivings by Ellen. Ellen says that she never uninvited Jacob and his family, is not responsible for Blake’s injuries and says that in the four-and-a-half years Jacob has held this grudge, Blake hasn’t developed scars. Ellen and Jacob’s brother, Ed, says that he’s tried to play mediator, but after Jacob went on a social media rant in February 2019, rehashing the accident and continuing to blame Ellen, he knew that this unhealthy family feud needed bigger help. Can Dr. Phil help these siblings mend fences?

Episode 183: “We Gave Our 31-Year-Old Daughter a Curfew and Tracked Her on GPS … But She’s Still a Liar and a Drunk”

Sep 6, 2019 · 1h

Twelve years ago, Sara says she gave birth to a baby girl and then, two years later, had a baby boy. After saying she did not connect with her son, Sara eventually gave him to his father to raise. Then, when she says she found herself too “stressed out to raise her daughter,” she gave her to her parents, Tracy and Bret. Now, Tracy and Bret say they wonder how their daughter could have just given up on motherhood. Tracy, Bret and Sara’s older sister, Heather, say now that Sara is childless, she still struggles with life and spends her time partying, to such an extreme that she acts like something out of “Girls Gone Wild.”

Season 17 FAQ

Quick answers about this season's release timeline and episode lineup.

When did Dr. Phil Season 17 premiere?

Dr. Phil Season 17 premiered on September 10, 2018.

How many episodes are in Dr. Phil Season 17?

Dr. Phil Season 17 has 143 episodes.

What is the first episode of Dr. Phil Season 17?

The season opens with Season 17 Episode 1, "Exclusive: The Model, the Hitman and the Victim". It aired on September 10, 2018.

Go to Season 17 Episode 1

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