He's said why, if I recall it is because if he was licensed then there would be confidentiality. What he does on TV isn't psychiatric and the actual psychiatric work is done by his team who is licensed.
I get why it looks shitty and it does but it's not really any different than Springer or Maury. Personally I think they are all exploitive of there guests. I think Dr. Oz is probably the worst.
Comparing Phil to Oz I at least feel like Phil doesn't make just straight up bullshit claims about treatments or drugs (at least to my knowledge). I could see his "arm chair" or "first year psych" takes being harmful in their own way though.
I guess the confusion comes in when people think that just because they have Dr. In their title that they are more than just a entertainment show host.
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u/fourleafclover13 27d ago
Dr. Phil does hold a doctorate in psychology, but he’s not a licensed psychologist, because he let his license expire by his own volition.
He has never been licensed to practice in California, where he films. And he retired his active Texas license back in 2006.