The BEST episodes of Dr. Phil season 13
Every episode of Dr. Phil season 13, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Dr. Phil season 13!
Dr. Phil is a talk show hosted by Phil McGraw. After McGraw's success with his segments on The Oprah Winfrey Show, Dr. Phil debuted on September 16, 2002. On both shows McGraw offers advice in the form of "life strategies" from his life experience as a clinical psychologist.
#1 - 1,000 Lies and Counting: A Husband Who Can't Tell the Truth
Season 13 - Episode 126 - Aired 3/30/2015
Melisa claims her estranged husband, Chris, is a pathological liar who lies about anything and everything — from small things, like what he had for lunch, to more elaborate lies, like posing as an airline pilot making $500,000 a year so he could view a luxury home. She says during their five years together, Chris has also struggled to hold a job, and she claims he has resorted to stealing money from her. Melisa and Chris are currently separated, but with a young child and another baby on the way, Melisa says she’s desperate to make things work. Chris admits he has a problem with telling the truth and insists he wants to change — but is that just another lie? Dr. Phil sits down with Melisa and Chris in search of a resolution. What’s at the root of Chris’ behavior? Meet Chris’ father, Steve, who says his son has been lying since he was a child. Has Steve been enabling his son’s behavior? And, should Melisa and Chris work on their relationship or call it quits?
#2 - “My Wife Chose Her Boyfriend over Her Children”
Season 13 - Episode 115 - Aired 3/2/2015
George says his estranged wife, Rachel, once was loving, fun and honest, but after 19 years and six children together, he claims she has become a liar, cheater and an unfit mother who puts boyfriends ahead of her kids’ needs. George claims Rachel has had sex with a boyfriend while their children were home, and on another occasion she even gave their youngest kids melatonin to make them sleep so she could go out partying — all of which Rachel denies. Rachel admits she had one affair during their marriage but claims it happened only after she discovered George had a girlfriend — and she blames him for neglecting her and their family. With a divorce imminent, the estranged couple face each other on Dr. Phil’s stage. How has their fighting affected their children? Don’t miss Dr. Phil’s advice and words of warning for the separated couple. Can they calm the chaos and learn to peacefully co-parent?
#3 - Young, Jealous Love
Season 13 - Episode 116 - Aired 3/3/2015
Ilene, 20, says her boyfriend of two years, Matt, 20, is destroying their relationship with his jealous and controlling behavior. She says he constantly accuses her of cheating on him, and nothing she has done to prove her faithfulness has eased his suspicions -- including quitting her job, deleting her social network profiles and passing a lie detector test. She says Matt’s lack of trust in her has turned to anger, and he often calls her demeaning names. She says he even cheated on her in retaliation and sent her an audio clip of the act. With a 1-year-old child together and another on the way, how can Ilene convince Matt she has been faithful? Matt admits he makes Ilene prove herself all the time but claims he is certain she has cheated -- and he even doubts that the baby she’s carrying is his. What’s behind Matt’s trust issues? Tune in to hear Dr. Phil’s theory. Can this relationship be saved?
#4 - Adoption Nightmare: “I Want My Baby Back”
Season 13 - Episode 117 - Aired 3/4/2015
Kristen, 22, says two years ago, she feels that she was manipulated into placing her newborn for adoption with her ex-stepfather, Adam, and his new wife, Stacy, who took her in while she was pregnant. Kristen says the two promised her she could be involved in the child’s life but claims they kicked her to the curb a week after her daughter was born, and she hasn’t seen the child since. She calls Stacy “evil” and “psycho crazy” — and even says she could have been drugged, because she says she has no recollection of signing the adoption papers. Adam and Stacy deny Kristen’s accusations and say she was in no way ready to care for a child — which is why they stepped up. They are adamant they followed the letter of the law and communicated openly with Kristen. Emotions run high when Dr. Phil brings everyone together in search of answers and a resolution to this adoption drama. Are Adam and Stacy freezing Kristen out? Has she given them reason to? And, is there any hope of fostering a peace moving forward? Plus, Kristen is now pregnant again — what are her plans for this baby?
#5 - “My Daughter Hasn't Spoken to Me in 7 Years: What's Wrong with Her?”
Season 13 - Episode 118 - Aired 3/5/2015
Peggy says she has no clue why her daughter, Jen, hasn't spoken to her in 7 years, and she thinks Jen owes her an apology. But Jen insists it’s Peggy who should be apologizing — for what Jen describes as decades of pain, drama and lies. Emotions run high when this mother and daughter face each other. Can they heal the wounds of the past and move forward? Plus, another woman says she gets dirty looks whenever she parks in a handicapped spot, but she says she's legitimately handicapped! Pfizer's Chief Medical Officer, Freda Lewis-Hall, M.D., joins Dr. Phil to talk about rheumatoid arthritis, a serious autoimmune disease.
#6 - In Sickness and in Health: “Should I Get a Divorce from My OCD Wife?”
Season 13 - Episode 119 - Aired 3/9/2015
Brian says when he married his wife, Laura, and vowed to stay with her “in sickness and in health,” he never expected 10 years later to be married to her OCD, too. Now, he says his wife’s condition is taking a huge toll on their relationship and family, to the point he’s considering divorce. Brian says Laura’s compulsions began six years ago, after the birth of their second child, and have become all-consuming — she even sleeps with a mask on and won’t let Brian touch her, for fear of contamination. Brian says he loves Laura, but he feels frustrated and alone, and he also worries about the effect her disorder is having on their children. Laura says she has a list of 91 different fears and rituals, which have turned her life upside down. She worries she is losing her family but says she doesn’t know what to do. Dr. Phil sits down with the couple in search of a way forward. What is driving Laura’s compulsions? Plus, Laura says her parents have no idea how bad her OCD has become — how will they react when they learn the truth? How can Laura manage her OCD and reclaim her life?
#7 - “Our 7-Year-Old Son Threatens to Kill Us!”
Season 13 - Episode 120 - Aired 3/10/2015
Kim and her ex-husband, Ryan, say they’re terrified of their 7-year-old son, Rylan, whom they adopted when he was an infant. They say Rylan has a fascination with knives, talks to an imaginary friend named “Bleeder” — who tells him to kill his entire family — and has even sent two teachers to the hospital. Desperate for help, the parents turn to Dr. Phil. What might be causing Rylan’s aggressive behavior? Could information about their son’s birth parents provide some clarity? Plus, Dr. Phil reviews home video of Rylan’s interactions with his parents and the police. Is he as dangerous as his parents fear?
#8 - Exclusive: Bobbi Kristina’s Boyfriend, Distraught and Out of Control: The Nick Gordon Intervention
Season 13 - Episode 121 - Aired 3/11/2015
In a national television exclusive, Dr. Phil conducts an emotionally-charged intervention with 25-year-old Nick Gordon, boyfriend of Bobbi Kristina Brown, the 22-year-old daughter of singer Bobby Brown and the late Whitney Houston. With his mother, Michelle, at his side, Nick expresses to Dr. Phil the mental anguish he says he has been suffering since Bobbi Kristina was found unresponsive in a bathtub in January, as well as from the tragic loss of Whitney Houston three years ago. Why does he say he has not been able to visit Bobbi Kristina, who remains on life support in an Atlanta hospital? And, why does he blame himself for not being able to save Bobbi Kristina or Whitney? Michelle says she fears for her son’s life, as he battles drug and alcohol addiction and has become increasingly self-destructive. Will Nick accept Dr. Phil’s offer of help?
#9 - Inside the Mind of the Man Who Shot the “American Sniper”: A Dr. Phil Exclusive
Season 13 - Episode 122 - Aired 3/16/2015
Last month, a jury convicted 27-year-old Marine Corps veteran Eddie Ray Routh in the shooting deaths of former U.S. Navy SEAL Chris Kyle — the inspiration behind the movie American Sniper — and Kyle’s friend, Chad Littlefield, at a Texas shooting range in 2013. Routh admitted to killing the men, but his lawyers argued that he suffered from severe mental problems, including post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), after returning home from service — and even received psychiatric treatment a week before the shootings. In an exclusive interview, Routh’s parents, Jodi and Raymond, open up to Dr. Phil about their son. What was he like as a child? And, when do they say they noticed a change in his behavior? Jodi admits she reached out to Chris, who volunteered to work with veterans suffering from PTSD, and asked him to help her son. Does she have any regrets? Plus, hear from Routh’s sister, Laura, who says she was the first person her brother confessed to on that fateful day. Did she ever suspect he was capable of such a horrific act?
#10 - Nine Seconds that Outraged a Nation/“My Racist Father Needs to Accept the Minorities in My Family”
Season 13 - Episode 123 - Aired 3/17/2015
In a 9-second video that quickly went viral, party-bound students from the University of Oklahoma’s Sigma Alpha Epsilon fraternity chapter were seen on a bus clapping, pumping their fists and laughing as they sang a racist chant. The video sparked outrage and reignited debate across the nation about issues of race. Dr. Phil sits down with two black students from the university — how do they feel about the video? And, what is the sentiment on campus about what happened? Plus, hear from La Salle University professor Dr. Charles Gallagher, a researcher in the field of racial and social inequality — what can we learn from this shocking incident? Then, Peyton says she knows about racism first hand, because her father, David, is an Imperial Wizard of the White Knights of the KKK. But Peyton says she has different beliefs — and she now has a biracial child, whom she desperately wants her father to accept. Dr. Phil has some tough questions for David, who defends his beliefs and insists he lives by “God’s law.” Is he twisting scripture for his own hatred? Is there any hope of salvaging this father-daughter relationship, or should Peyton cut ties for good?
#11 - Young, Beautiful and Missing/“Homeless Joe” Returns
Season 13 - Episode 124 - Aired 3/23/2015
Dr. Phil explores potential new clues in the cold cases of two missing women. First, 14-year-old Ashley Summers vanished in 2007 — just blocks away from Ariel Castro’s Cleveland “House of Horrors” — and aside from a brief phone call to her mother in 2008, she hasn’t been heard from since. Ashley’s mother, Jennifer, and step-grandmother, Linda, join Dr. Phil in search of answers. Could a newly-released FBI photo prove that Ashley is alive and well? Two facial recognition experts analyze the photo — what do they conclude? Then, in November 2011, Michelle Parker disappeared without a trace after dropping off her 3-year-old twins at the home of their father — the same day the bitter exes appeared together in an episode of People’s Court. Michelle’s father, Brad, says he believes Michelle’s ex had something to do with her disappearance — which her ex absolutely denies, despite having been named early in the investigation as the primary suspect. What happened to Michelle? Plus, when Dr. Phil last checked up on “Homeless Joe”, he was missing in action after abruptly leaving rehab in Texas. After being tracked down, Joe returns to Dr. Phil — how is he doing now?
#12 - Lifetime Grudge: Can Mother and Daughter Finally Bury the Hatchet?
Season 13 - Episode 125 - Aired 3/24/2015
Amber, 24, says her mother, Julie, failed her as a parent, and she wants an apology for what she claims were years of verbal, emotional and physical abuse. Amber claims that when she was between the ages of 7 and 14, her mother slapped her, punched her and threw items at her several times a week. Julie completely denies ever laying a hand on her daughter, except in self-defense, and says she doesn’t understand why Amber recently cut her out of her life. She says Amber has always been dramatic, and she claims their problems started when Amber falsely accused her father of the unthinkable. Dr. Phil brings Amber and her mother together in hopes of a resolution. Is there a chance at fostering a peace? Plus, don’t miss an update on guests Candi and Lyndsey, who started Dr. Phil’s 20/20 diet two months ago. How are they now?
#13 - “My Husband's Big Lottery Win is Ruining Our Marriage”
Season 13 - Episode 114 - Aired 2/27/2015
Jodie says ever since her husband, Edwin, won $1.66 million in a lottery pool two years ago, he has become angry, distant and secretive — and their marriage has gone downhill fast. She claims Edwin has squandered most of the winnings without her knowledge — even buying a house for one of his family members without consulting her — and she can’t trust him. She also says Edwin has a drinking problem, which she claims has resulted in explosive fights and arrests. Edwin denies having an alcohol problem and says he just drinks to escape Jodie’s nagging — and he feels she’s only with him for the money. Why does he say their marital problems started long before his big lottery win? And, how does he explain his spending? Plus, Jodie’s mom, Linda, says Edwin has become a jerk toward Jodie’s 11-year-old twin girls from a previous relationship, while treating his 1-year-old daughter with Jodie like a princess. Is Edwin playing favorites? The couple sits down with Dr. Phil in a last-ditch effort to repair the damage. Can this marriage be saved?
#14 - Help! My Daughter is Addicted to Dangerous Men
Season 13 - Episode 127 - Aired 3/31/2015
Rhonda says she fears her 18-year-old daughter, Jade, is putting herself in harm’s way by pursuing dangerous men, including a recent relationship with a man in prison! Rhonda says she’ll do anything to keep Jade safe, including turning off her cell phone at night, restricting her Internet access and even blocking certain TV channels -- measures Jade calls “psycho.” Dr. Phil sits down with mother and daughter. Is Rhonda being too controlling, or does she have reason for concern? Then, Vickey says the night her ex allegedly attacked and shot her in the face was a night she had been planning for -- by hiding seven guns throughout their house for protection. Hear her shocking story and why she says she believes her ex might know information about the disappearance of a missing pregnant woman. Then, watch as Robin McGraw -- along with her foundation, When Georgia Smiled, and The Home Depot -- provides a local shelter for women and children with a deserving surprise! And, teachers and students share with Robin how The Aspire Initiative opened their eyes about abuse. Plus, go along with Robin as she is invited to speak at Miami Dade College in honor of Women’s History Month!
#15 - “Falsely Accused of Murder and Now My Life is Spiraling out of Control”
Season 13 - Episode 128 - Aired 4/1/2015
Kezia says she is desperate to get help for her 27-year-old daughter, Derica, who she says has spiraled out of control since witnessing her best friend’s murder a year and a half ago — and then being wrongly accused of the crime. Derica says even though the charges were dropped, she has struggled to cope with the backlash in her hometown, and she admits she turned to drugs to escape reality. But now, Derica says she has been clean for five weeks — since learning she is pregnant, although she admits she still smokes cigarettes. Emotions run high when Dr. Phil sits down with Derica, Kezia, and Derica’s younger sister, Tristin. Can Derica find a way to get her life back on track? Tristin says Derica’s dangerous behavior started long before the murder and claims their mother is a big part of the problem — is she enabling Derica? Dr. Phil has some tough questions for Kezia — and a sobering wake-up call for Derica about the effects smoking can have on an unborn child. Will it make an impact and help her stay clean? Can this family come together to help Derica heal and move forward?
#16 - Flirty Emails and Suspicious Photos: “Is My Husband a Cheater or Just a Charmer?”
Season 13 - Episode 129 - Aired 4/2/2015
Sarah says she is convinced her husband of 20 years, Ed, is a liar and a cheater, and she has spent years gathering “evidence” to try to prove that he has been physically unfaithful. Ed admits he has flirted and sexted with other woman and that he had an emotional affair with a co-worker, which he continued even after promising to end things. But he insists the relationship never became physical, and it’s in the past. Will Sarah ever be able to trust Ed, and should she? Dr. Phil sits down with the couple in search of answers and a resolution. Sarah says she believes Ed is a sex addict, and a counselor even diagnosed him as such — is that possible? Plus, one thing Ed and Sarah agree on is that their marital dysfunction is hurting their two teenage sons. Hear from their 18-year-old son — what does he say about the situation? Sarah says she has started the divorce process but isn’t quite ready to pull the trigger. Can this marriage be saved, or is it time to walk away?
#17 - Decades of Hatred, Accusations and Altercations: A Fight for Custody That's Tearing a Mother and Daughter Apart
Season 13 - Episode 130 - Aired 4/6/2015
Marsha says she fought for -- and won -- custody of her grandsons because of what she calls her daughter, Brooke’s, dangerous, drug-using lifestyle. Now she says her relationship with her daughter is filled with mistrust, false accusations of abuse and bitter resentment. Marsha says she’s afraid to be around Brooke because she is often violent, and Marsha has called the police on her three times. Brooke admits she has used drugs in the past but says she is trying to make up for her mistakes and be a better mother -- but Marsha makes it difficult. She claims Marsha is abusive to the boys, locks them in the basement and isolates them from friends and family -- all of which Marsha denies. Dr. Phil sits everyone down in search of answers -- can this mother and daughter resolve their conflict?
#18 - “Is Our Son a Kleptomaniac?”
Season 13 - Episode 131 - Aired 4/7/2015
Nancy and Mark say their 18-year-old son, Chris, has been a thief and a liar for most of his life, and after taking him to dozens of doctors and holding him accountable for his actions, nothing has helped. They say Chris regularly steals items such as DVDs, candy, watches and money — from department stores, family and neighbors — and shows no remorse for his actions. Chris admits he gets a rush from stealing and says it’s bound to happen if he’s left alone. Does he have any desire to change? Chris’ 21-year-old sister, Meredith, says she resents having to “babysit” her brother and put her life on hold just to keep him on track. Dr. Phil brings the family together in search of answers and a resolution. Is Chris a kleptomaniac, like Nancy and Mark fear? What’s at the root of his behavior? And, how can Chris regain his family’s trust and take control of his life?
#19 - “I've Divorced My Ex Twice, but I'm Still in Love”
Season 13 - Episode 132 - Aired 4/8/2015
Gwen says she has married and divorced Derrick twice -- but she would take a third trip down the aisle if he would just get some help and fess up to his mistakes. Gwen claims that while married, Derrick hit her, stole from her, disappeared for months at a time and missed the birth of their child, among other offenses. What does she say she found on his phone that she calls deeply disturbing? And, why would she still consider giving him another chance? Derrick says Gwen is a “vindictive, sadistic succubus” who is out to ruin his life -- but if she could stop being that way, he’d love to be a family again. Concerned for the children caught in the middle of the dysfunction, Dr. Phil combs through the accusations from each side. Does this couple have a future together as spouses -- or as co-parents only?
#20 - “My Mother Gambled $2.5 Million Away and Blames Me for Being Broke”
Season 13 - Episode 133 - Aired 4/9/2015
Carie says her mother, Diane, was once a successful jewelry store owner who lived the high life in Las Vegas, but she gambled away $2.5 million and now lives in an RV — and she blames Carie for her troubles. Carie says she has tried to help her mother get back on her feet and even gave her a car — which she says Diane thumbed her nose at — and she’s fed up with her mother’s mooching and manipulating. Diane says her daughter should want to help her, because she provided her with a lavish lifestyle growing up. She also claims Carie left her high and dry when she needed her most, and she wants an apology. Dr. Phil reunites mother and daughter for the first time in more than a year. Did Carie turn her back on her mom, or is Diane lacking accountability? Don’t miss Dr. Phil’s advice for mother and daughter. Can they make amends and move forward in peace?
#21 - A Beautiful Teen Forced to Live a Horrible Nightmare: “I Was Held Captive by an Online 'Friend'”
Season 13 - Episode 134 - Aired 4/10/2015
Hope, 17, says three years ago, after an argument with her family, she posted a mean message about her mother online — and her life took a dramatic turn, when a woman responded and said Hope could stay with her. After accepting the offer, Hope says she never could have anticipated what happened next: Hope says she was drugged, beaten and forced into sex slavery for three horrific weeks before finally being rescued — an ordeal she says still haunts her. Hope says her mother, Desiree, lacks sympathy and wants her to just get over the past. Emotions run high when this mother and daughter sit down with Dr. Phil. Desiree insists she, too, was a victim in all this, but she has managed to keep moving forward. She says she loves Hope and has done her best to support her, including financially, but she can’t anymore — especially when she says Hope continues to make mistakes. Don’t miss Dr. Phil’s candid advice for Desiree — will it have an impact? Is there any chance for mending this relationship? And, how can Hope finally begin to heal?
#22 - “My Husband Makes Me Think I'm Crazy, Then Videotapes Me:” Accusations of Abuse Caught on Camera
Season 13 - Episode 135 - Aired 4/13/2015
Anthony, 26, and Melinda, 25, say their year-and-a-half marriage is on the brink, and they need help for the sake of their children. Melinda claims Anthony is controlling and abusive, uses drugs and spoils his 4-year-old daughter from a previous relationship. She says she worries about his 15-month-old child with her. After one recent explosive fight, in which Melinda says that Anthony refused to hand over their child, she moved six hours away and filed for divorce. Anthony admits he has been physically abusive with Melinda but claims she has attacked him as well, and he says he has the video to prove that her anger is out of control. With one child together and another on the way, can this couple learn to peacefully co-parent for the sake of all the kids? Also, Anthony’s ex-girlfriend and mother of his first child makes an impassioned plea to Melinda. Will it make an impact?
#23 - “Keep My Ex-Daughter-in-Law Away From My Family”
Season 13 - Episode 136 - Aired 4/14/2015
Thelma says her ex-daughter-in-law, Kim, was horrible to her son, Kenny, during their 16-year marriage and was a terrible mother to their six children. She accuses Kim of having had multiple affairs, used drugs and abandoned her family for months at a time. Thelma says that after Kenny finally divorced Kim three years ago, he suffered serious emotional difficulties, and Thelma stepped in and gained custody of her grandchildren, because she claims Kim wouldn’t step up. Thelma says Kenny still talks to Kim every day and gives her money — and Thelma has had it with what she calls watching Kim take advantage. Is Kim manipulating Kenny for money? Kenny admits he enables his ex-wife but says he just wants her to clean up her life and repair her relationship with their children. Kim admits she has battled addiction and was not the best wife but says she would “walk through fire for her children.” She says Thelma is “evil” and needs to stop bashing her to her kids. Dr. Phil intervenes in this family feud — can they stop the mudslinging and learn to peacefully co-parent? Then, Kim and Kenny’s two grown children speak out. Do they say they want a relationship with their mother?
#24 - Parenting While Intoxicated
Season 13 - Episode 103 - Aired 2/12/2015
Sisters Devin, 24, Riley, 18, and Autumn, 16, say their mother, Linda, has a drinking problem, and it is destroying their family. They say she is always drunk, belligerent and abusive. Linda’s husband, Scott, says Linda has become a burden on their family. Linda admits she’s an alcoholic who sometimes drinks as much as 18 beers a day, along with vodka and taking prescription medications but says she shouldn’t be the only one in the hot seat -- she says Scott has a drinking problem, too. How does Scott respond? Dr. Phil offers tools to help repair this broken family. Will Linda accept help? And, will Linda’s daughters give her one more chance?
#25 - From Top TV Newscaster to Drunken Mom
Season 13 - Episode 93 - Aired 1/29/2015
Christi says she was once a three-time Emmy-winning TV news reporter at the top of her career, but her struggle with alcohol addiction has now left her jobless, sleeping in bushes and estranged from her two adult daughters, Heather and Haleigh. Christi says her downward spiral began in 2010, when she became addicted to Oxycodone after a car accident. She says she hasn’t touched pills in years but admits she now drinks three or four nights a week, sometimes calling her daughters and leaving nasty voicemails. Christi says she knows she has a problem and is desperate to get her life back on track. But is she really ready to be totally honest? Emotions run high when Christi and her daughters are reunited for the first time in more than two years on Dr. Phil’s stage. Heather says her mother is a “con artist” who has struggled with drinking and drugs since Heather was a teen, and she wrote her off a long time ago. Will she be open to giving Christi another chance? And, where does Haleigh stand? Plus, when offered a chance to get sober, will Christi accept?