The BEST episodes of Dr. Phil season 18
Every episode of Dr. Phil season 18, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Dr. Phil season 18!
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 - Exclusive: Man Accused of Murdering Wife Freed After Friend Confesses
Season 18 - Episode 123 - Aired 3/11/2020
A brutal murder: Tracy Harris, a wife and young mother, was found naked, drowned, and possibly strangled in a river in 1990. The case went cold for 20 years, before Harris’ husband, Carl, was arrested. But right before his murder trial, somebody very close to him confessed. Today, Carl speaks out in an exclusive interview. Plus, a shocking reunion. Will Carl’s daughter forgive him after believing he murdered her mother?
#2 - Our Device Addicted Violent Teen Controls the House
Season 18 - Episode 111 - Aired 2/24/2020
Kathi says she lives in fear of her 14-year-old son, Nico, who plays video games up to 17 hours a day, has stolen his mom’s credit card and charged thousands to buy tokens for his games, and only went to school six days this year before refusing to attend because he wants to stay at home and game. Kathi says Nico’s violent outbursts are becoming exceedingly dangerous, and when she tries to get Nico to put down his video game controls, he rages, curses, and terrorizes the household. Kathi says Nico learned his violent behavior from his father, Evo, and Evo agrees. He says he is the ultimate sucker for his son even though Nico threatens his parents’ lives almost daily.
#3 - My Mooching Mom Has 5 Months to Get a Life
Season 18 - Episode 112 - Aired 2/25/2020
Time is of the essence for Cindy. Her daughter, Cheyenne, is a 24-year-old-college student and also her primary caretaker and sole financial supporter. Cheyenne’s boyfriend, Blake, calls Cheyenne Cinderella and wants to propose, but he says he doesn’t want Cindy ruling their future. Cheyenne says she will no longer be able to support her 56-year-old mom in five months when her college loans run out. The clock is ticking for Cheyenne and Cindy to find a way to both stand on their own.
#4 - A Blown Inheritance and Threats with a Loaded Gun: Our Mother is Out of Control
Season 18 - Episode 113 - Aired 2/26/2020
Siblings Kristle, Kayla, and Patrick all claim their mother Sherry is out of control. They say she’s blown through an inheritance worth over a quarter of a million dollars in the past 11 months by running up $500 bar tabs with her friends and strangers, and buying lavish things, like multiple motorcycles. But that’s not all. These adult children claim Sherry is popping non-prescribed pills and washing them down with rum after work. They claim her behavior has even become violent, including pulling out a loaded gun during an argument with Kayla on Christmas Eve. Sherry admits she spent the inheritance and pulled out the gun, but says abusing pills and alcohol is all in her past.
#5 - “Doomsday Couple” Found in Hawaii; Family of Missing Children Speak Out
Season 18 - Episode 114 - Aired 2/27/2020
It's a mystery that has America absolutely baffled. An Idaho teenager and her younger brother with special needs vanish and have not been seen by anyone in almost four months. Their mother, Lori Vallow, appears completely unbothered by the fact that her two children are just gone, and is in Hawaii seemingly carefree with her fifth and newest husband, Chad Daybell, who reportedly has extreme religious beliefs. Adding to the mystery, four untimely deaths surround Lori and Chad, yet she still refuses to say a single word about her children’s whereabouts. How could these children just go missing for months without a trace? Where are they? Today, family members of Lori Vallow speak to Dr. Phil to try and shine a light on this unbelievable situation.
#6 - Real Life “Pretty Woman” … Not So Pretty Ending!
Season 18 - Episode 115 - Aired 2/28/2020
Jessica says she believed that once she married her Prince Charming, Jerry, she would never have to work as an escort again. Well, flash forward 27 years later, and Jessica is still keeping men company for money! Her husband, Jerry, says he is just fine with Jessica’s profession, but claims that he and Jessica are on the verge of divorce because Jessica doesn’t trust him and thinks he’s cheating on her! Jessica claims her husband is a lying, uncaring, unsympathetic psychopath, as she has been abused multiple times by her clients. Can Dr. Phil help save this atypical marriage?
#7 - Drunk and in Denial
Season 18 - Episode 116 - Aired 3/2/2020
Three siblings, Ashley, Marena, and Tony, have come together to confront their mother, Traci, who they claim is a raging alcoholic. They accuse Traci of drinking six-to-seven nights a week and refusing to acknowledge or believe she has a drinking problem. Traci’s boyfriend, Jeff, says Traci is absolutely not an alcoholic, she just drinks because she is constantly stressed out by her children! Tony and Marena refuse to allow Traci to see her grandchildren until Traci admits that she has a problem. Are Traci’s children overreacting, or does Traci have a serious problem that needs to be addressed?
#8 - Extreme Sentencing: Bail Reform
Season 18 - Episode 117 - Aired 3/3/2020
Dr. Phil investigates a controversial new law known as "bail reform," where judges will no longer have the power to set bail for a long list of misdemeanors and nonviolent felonies. Dr. Phil meets two esteemed judges, Rosemarie Aquilina and Darrell Jordan, who are in strong opposition to each other on this issue. Then, hear from Akeem Browder, whose brother Kalief took his own life after spending three years in a violent jail for a crime he did not commit because he could not afford bail, and a woman whose nephew died in a car accident caused by a drunk driver who was released from jail weeks after his arrest. Plus, Duane Chapman, aka “Dog The Bounty Hunter,” who strongly opposes the new law claiming it favors criminals over the safety of the general public, will join the conversation. How will bail reform affect the average citizen?
#9 - Young Parents at War: Baby at Risk?
Season 18 - Episode 118 - Aired 3/4/2020
JenaLeigh’s brother, Wade, had a surprise baby with his ex-girlfriend, Margaret. JenaLeigh and her mother, Jeanne, say they are now worried about the baby’s safety because they claim his parents have a physically and verbally abusive relationship. And, to top it off, Wade is being evicted from the home he rents from his uncle, John, who claims Wade has turned it into a disaster. Can Dr. Phil help these young parents at war?
#10 - My Teen Son: Childhood Cancer Survivor To Gang Member
Season 18 - Episode 121 - Aired 3/9/2020
Sharon says her 15-year-old son, Gabe, a childhood cancer survivor, has been in trouble with the law since he got arrested at age 12 and is now hanging out with alleged gang members. Gabe’s dad, Jason, claims his wife sinks to Gabe’s level and doesn’t understand Gabe is who he is and can’t be forced to change. Gabe’s older brother, Jadian, says his parents allow Gabe to manipulate them. Sharon’s best friend, Rosalie, says both Sharon and Jason blame Gabe’s cancer for his behavioral problems. Gabe says he likes to hang out with his “homies” and says his mom gets too emotional about everything he does.
#11 - 14 Years Old, Out of Control and Desperate for Love
Season 18 - Episode 122 - Aired 3/10/2020
Heather claims her 14-year-old son, Jason, is completely out of control, runs away, refuses to go to school, steals, attacks police officers, and has even punched her in the face. Even worse, she claims he recently was involved in a shooting that led to her eviction! Heather’s sister, Amber, claims her sister is a terrible parent who ignored Jason his entire life. She says she believes Jason’s bad behavior is a desperate cry for love and attention. Can Dr. Phil turn this dysfunctional family around?
#12 - A Family of Lawyers Embroiled in a Dangerous Dispute
Season 18 - Episode 110 - Aired 2/21/2020
Dr. Phil meets a family of lawyers torn apart by a dark accusation. Heather claims to have been raped by her father and alleges that a video of the rape was then sold on the dark web for millions of dollars. Heather’s father, sister Jennifer, and niece Amanda all claim that this is a terrible, damaging lie – one of many told by Heather over the years -- but what is the truth of the matter? Does Heather produce evidence to support her claims? Tune in to find out!
#13 - My Top Model Son is Convinced He’s Mentally Ill
Season 18 - Episode 126 - Aired 3/16/2020
Kimberly says her son Blake is a successful model who has traveled the world. However, she says behind his success, Blake lives in constant fear of developing schizophrenia. This has caused nonstop drama in the household and the family to pull apart. She says Blake will spend 10-plus hours on Google obsessing over what could be wrong with him and seeks his family’s reassurance that he's not mentally ill. Blake’s twin brother, Chad, says his brother’s obsession has affected their relationship, and Blake’s girlfriend, Maxie, is worried this will hold him back from his modeling career.
#14 - Coronavirus: Facts vs Fears
Season 18 - Episode 127 - Aired 3/17/2020
Dr. Phil investigates the widespread pandemic known as the coronavirus. How afraid should we be? What are the facts? Dr. Phil speaks with a group of leading medical and health professionals who reveal their genuine concerns about this ever-growing, ever-changing medical phenomenon that is captivating the globe. First, eminent neurosurgeon Dr. Patrick Johnson discusses the fears around this virus along with distinguished molecular and microbiology professor Paula Cannon, PhD. Then, hear from Dr. Abdu Sharkawy, whose social media post about the pandemic was shared over 1.5M times. Plus, a coronavirus survivor and his wife relive the moment of his diagnosis. And, a woman in New York reveals she is so worried about the illness that she has isolated herself in her home and intends to do so for the next two months. Watch while Dr. Phil dissects the fine details of this complex and controversial illness. How bad will it get? When will it end? Tune in to find out!
#15 - Gen Z: Lifestyles of the Mooching and Wanna Be Famous
Season 18 - Episode 128 - Aired 3/18/2020
Dr. Phil's guests say they believe internet fame is their road to fortune – but are they willing to put in the hard work to “make it big”? Mariah Malibu says she’s a “star in the making” on her way to becoming the next Anna Wintour or Paris Hilton. She wants her own fashion empire and says she’s willing to ruin relationships if that’s what gets her closer to the top! Twenty-year-old TJ says he’s wanted to be a YouTube star since he was 9 years old, so three months ago, he quit his job and is now pranking people and filming it. But his parents say he needs to come back to reality and find a job that pays the bills. And Billy Blu says his goal is to be an internet “influencer” and create his own skin care business, all while his father foots the bill. Is his father ready to cut the purse strings? Are these GenZ’ers ready for a wake-up call, or are they well on their way to a lifestyle of the rich and famous?
#16 - What’s Going on With Our Daughter?
Season 18 - Episode 129 - Aired 3/19/2020
Vicky says she avoids interacting with her 23-year-old sister, Valerie, because she has full-blown mental breakdowns and angry outbursts almost daily. Vicky says she is extremely worried Valerie will end up on the streets if she doesn’t get help. Adam says his relationship with his daughter Valerie is nonexistent because he got tired of dealing with her threats of wanting to harm herself and others. He says Valerie threatened to jump out of his car while he was driving over 60 mph on the highway. Amy says her daughter Valerie will scream, punch holes in the walls, and hit people. She says it’s hard to be around Valerie because her daughter jumps to conclusions and randomly explodes. Valerie says no one understands how debilitating her daily struggle with anxiety is and how it makes her avoid public interaction at all costs.
#17 - Coronavirus: Parenting Under Quarantine
Season 18 - Episode 130 - Aired 3/24/2020
COVID-19 has changed life as we know it. Here, in the United States, nearly 100,000 schools have closed, resulting in over 40 million children forced to stay home and leaving their parents with a new set of challenges. From children struggling with cabin fever and teens trying to cope with losing their senior year of high school, to parents struggling to turn their homes into classrooms, Dr. Phil is tackling all these new parenting struggles and more. Today, from a remote location, Dr. Phil is speaking with parents and teens from around the country, answering crucial questions when it comes to living and parenting under quarantine.
#18 - Coronavirus Fears: “My Anxiety Is Crippling”
Season 18 - Episode 131 - Aired 3/25/2020
Guests join Dr. Phil remotely from around the country and world who say their anxieties are difficult to manage while coping during the coronavirus pandemic. Dr. Phil talks with 29-year-old Andrea from New York City, who says she is anxious day and night, fearing she could get sick and worrying about her parents who are halfway across the country. Jonathan, who is a journalist living in China, says he has experienced some of Andrea’s fears for the past few months and says being quarantined is a mental challenge. Then, Vanessa just learned that her 90-year-old mother, Fiona, was diagnosed with coronavirus and fears she won’t be able to be with her when she dies. And, Sarita, a widowed mother, fears she will have no financial stability. Dr. Phil injects some reasonable facts to help each person understand and rationalize their own situations so they can have a healthy perspective.
#19 - Coronavirus Naysayers: “We’re Still Going To Live Our Lives”
Season 18 - Episode 132 - Aired 3/26/2020
As COVID-19 spreads across the United States, state officials have begun to establish curfews, shut down public spaces, and institute a host of other restrictions. Ava, a former Dr. Phil guest, is making headlines again. The 21-year-old college student who defied all the rules went viral on TikTok for licking a toilet seat on an airplane, as she headed to spring break festivities. Ava says the coronavirus is fake news made up by social media. Then, law enforcement visited Pastor Tony Spell because, in continuing to minister to his congregation, he violated an emergency order banning groups of more than 50 people. While Pastor Tony admittedly had over 1,100 people at Sunday Service, he says not allowing large groups to worship but letting people shop is a persecution of the faith.
#20 - Coronavirus: How to Stay Safe
Season 18 - Episode 133 - Aired 3/27/2020
Grocery stores are being wiped clean of toilet paper and food, and there’s another product that people are stocking up on: guns and ammo. People who normally have never even given a thought to purchasing a gun are buying one. Is panic buying a gun really going to calm your fears? L.A. County Sheriff Alex Villanueva tells us how the largest sheriff's department in the country is handling this pandemic.
#21 - Quarantine: Mental Health Checkup
Season 18 - Episode 135 - Aired 3/31/2020
Dr. Phil wants everyone to stay as healthy as possible during this pandemic, and that includes your mental health. Dr. Phil talks with Dr. Daniel Amen, “BrainMD,” about maintaining good mental hygiene during times of great stress. The coronavirus pandemic has disrupted all of our lives, but to some, it could be life or death. Dr. Phil also meets Kaila and Isaac, who are extremely worried because their baby’s life-altering heart surgery was postponed due to the pandemic. Can Dr. Phil help this couple stay positive?
#22 - Coronavirus: Signs and Symptoms
Season 18 - Episode 136 - Aired 4/1/2020
The fear of the unknown has everyone wondering: what if I get COVID-19? What will happen to me? Dr. Phil's guests are people who are battling this disease and say it is nothing like they expected. The shocking symptoms -- and the hard truth. Plus, a nurse who is sick after treating patients shares what's really happening in hospitals on the frontlines. Hear why she says it's a broken system that could lead to more lives lost.
#23 - Help! I’m Going to Inherit a Messy Mansion, Millions and My Adult Sister
Season 18 - Episode 99 - Aired 2/6/2020
Lydia says she is living in her dream home with a spectacular view that reminds her of Italy and of being in love. She says she has it all: a happy second marriage, money to have hired help, and her adult daughter, Lori, living in her basement. But Lydia’s other daughter, Kim, emailed Dr. Phil because she says she’s terrified that not only is she going to inherit her mother’s overcrowded and messy mansion, but also her sister. Can Dr. Phil help Lori get out of her mother’s basement before it’s too late? You won’t want to miss this!
#24 - Cheerleader Hires Hit Man to Kill Parents – The Exclusive Interview
Season 18 - Episode 89 - Aired 1/23/2020
A high school cheerleader tried to hire “hit men” to kill her parents. Why did the teen want them dead? Her parents speak out in an exclusive interview. Will she face decades in prison, or can she be rehabilitated?
#25 - Two Cancelled Engagements, Fighting and Drinking: Should I Leave My Fiancé?
Season 18 - Episode 90 - Aired 1/24/2020
Loni emailed Dr. Phil multiple times saying her fiancé, Dustin, goes from sweet to furious in a split second, and has called her names in front of their 3-year-old daughter. His family questions why she stays -- but she says he just gets like that because he often drinks 12 beers a night and 60 over the weekend. Dustin admits he’s an alcoholic but he says the problem is that he lives in a state of boredom, so he turns on Dr. Phil and starts drinking until he passes out. Can Dr. Phil help Dustin acknowledge he has a problem?