The perils of being on Dr. Phil. Matthew Eaton, 34, and his wife, Laura, 26, appeared on the “Dr. Phil Show” and bragged about how they shoplifted and then sold stolen items on the Internet. The parents of three young children boasted how they had made as much as $1 million. Now, they can go back on talk about how they were arrested after going on Dr. Phil.
On the show, Phil McGraw says in a faux innocent voice, “I’m no lawyer or a cop,but isn’t that a federal crime?” Indeed, it is Dr. Phil, though some of his colleagues would add that he is not much of a psychologist either, here. While McGraw once said, “I’m not the Hush-Puppies, pipe and ‘Let’s talk about your mother’ kind of psychologist,'” doctors feel that he is not like any real psychologist by parading freaks for fun. They feel about the same about his show as lawyers feel about Judge Judy and Judge Brown.
Notably, in a nightmare for any criminal defense lawyer, Laura responded, “Yeah, it is.” That was helpful.
A federal grand jury has now indicted the couple and the video of the show is now a criminal exhibit.
Joining the video in the courtroom will be over 500 boxes of toys and other things were carted off from their home in suburban San Marcos.
Methinks a plea is in order. A jury is not going to be particularly happy to hear the couple talk about how they used their children as decoys: “Sometimes we just kind of go in together as a nice little family to make it seem like we’re normal people, and we don’t look like the kind of people that steal. We have our kids with us, and they usually always buy it.”
Nice.
For the full story, click here.
You’re right Mike, that is a relatively “new” modality of human services that is making progressive strides in helping individuals learn how to go on a job interviews, how to pay bills, shop and the like. It is somewhat unregulated in California, but over time I would imagine it will require licensure. The state will invariably want a slice of the pie..
Dr. Phil is an entertainer and sensationalist.
I suppose Dr. Phil is the Orly Taitz of cognition from what you folks posted above.
But psychotherapy may not be all it is cracked up to be either:
http://blogdredd.blogspot.com/2009/05/100-yrs-of-psycho-therapy-take-cover.html
Billy,
They probably call themselves “Life Coaches” by now.
Buddha,
Shibumi is a terrific book, as was The Eiger Sanction.
Thanks buddha, always open to a ‘hot’ literary tip. Man you are quick and “devastating”, it is all for the good though. Hopefully he will take what you “shared” under advisement and modify his thinking accordingly. In his case it is unlikely, few people change, especially racists like ‘da judge’..
‘The Eiger Sanction’ is a good movie.
The book by Trevanian is even better. He also wrote one called “Shibumi”. About ninjas. Very nice. A little dated now, but also a fun read.
Mike, just look at the rubbish that sells. “Men are From Mars, Women from Venus! Quackwatch posts a litany of pseudo-psychologists and health care professionals who are published. John Grey, the author of this “pulp fiction” has passed himself off for years as a relationship specialist and psychologist! He was debunked and exposed some years ago on national television, but his crappy books continue to sell to the boobcatchers. He along with his wife, (rather ex-wife) Beverly DeAngelis are graduates of a notorious diploma mill, that was shut down years ago in California. Quite paradoxically, both of these pseudo-psychologists (neither is licensed either), claim to be “relationship specialists”, whatever that is. If I am not mistaken they have both been married at least three maybe four times, according to there bios. This we call “serial monogamy” and anyone who comports themself to be a specialist in the realm of relationships should look at there own maladaptive inability to develop authentic relationships.
Good to read an inspiring post Mike. Loved the “pod” reference yesterday. I was all set to pop in the ‘Invasion of the Body Snatchers’ last night, but my girlfriend gave me a resounding, NO! We proceeded to watch one of Clint’s best. ‘The Eiger Sanction’, Jack Cassidy almost stole the film as the sinister, yet cowardly gay assasin.
Today’s “Celebrity Society” builds in ordinary people the hunger to get onto television in any way they can. People will make fools of themselves and humiliate themselves just to be on TV for a few minutes. It is a widespread phenomena, easily observed and I think represents the prevalence of skewed social norms rather than psychiatric/psychological disorder. Andy Warhol’s “15 minutes of fame” referred to not only the “fame” itself, but to the need for it that will cause people to do almost anything to get it. This couple wanted their moment in the spotlight so much, that they risked arrest and prison.
As far as Dr. Phil goes he was obviously a fraud when he first appeared on Oprah. Rather than psychology, he spouts his version of “common wisdom” which is usually to “toughen up and stop feeling bad.” That Oprah was taken in by him does her little credit. His history as a psychotherapist, as supplied by JT’s link is much less than exemplary. As a real Psychotherapist my feeling is that his work is a joke to begin with and his show is based on exploiting the need of the type of people that I referenced in the first paragraph of this post.
Most (if not all) clinical psychotherapists who work with clients or are involved in research put very little stock in the likes of Dr. Phil and his “carnivalesque” like t.v. show.
Interestingly, Dr. Phil, who hails from Texas is a kind of “maverick” himself. I don’t believe he is licensed to practice psychotherapy in Texas or California or any other state for that matter. I don’t believe he is licensed as an MFT or MFCC either. I wonder how he perpetrates this obvious flim-flam. His degrees are from regionally accredited institutions though..
Gloating about ones’ criminal endeavors on television can have its’ inherent pitfalls. Interestingly, people with a diagnosis of “antisocial personality disorder” are very narcissistic. They can’t wait to “share” with others the things they can get away with. Often the two personality disorders are fused at an early age. Now that these two “charmers” have been brought under control they will have the pleasure of receiving Dr. Hares’ Psychopathy checklist test while incarcerated. Depending on what state they are being “warehoused” in..
Byron,
It is admissible, because only the police or other representatives of the government need read you your rights, and then only when you’re in custody. In any case, as the article indicates, they will not be prosecuted solely on the basis of their statement on t.v., but also on the basis of their possession of stolen goods. Their statement on t.v. must have given the police cause to investigate for evidence of stolen goods.
I’m both a lawyer (GW actually), and a psychologist, so that would make me doubly disgusted at pop law and pop psychology shows. But since I don’t watch much TV, and never watched the aforementioned shows — which probably puts me way out of the mainstream — my disgust is just theoretical.
is this even admissable, since Dr. Phil did not read them their rights? Couldnt you say the testimony was coerced or even that they were just making it all up? Is it even testimony? They self incriminated.
not being a lawyer I am curious.
Anyway as stupid as they are they should not have been allowed to reproduce. to paraphrase Justice Holms – “these 2 imbeciles are too many to raise children”
AY:
Thats Funny.
This is a serious challenge to the old adage “There is honour among thieves”.
The video will not always stay in the evidence room, it is headed for that show about stupid criminals.
A family that shop lifts together, does not stay together very long.
Just taking a guess,but I would imagine that this is a prosecutors dream case.
I would say they should title their book “I Can Haz Arrest Warrant?” but that would be an insult to cats. While notoriously bad at grammar and spelling, even cats have better sense than to go on television and admit to crimes.