Dr. Phil doesn't miss a beat: The Britney opportunity

Jan 8, 2008, 13:30 GMT

03/23/2007 - Dr. Phil McGraw - © David Gabber / Photorazzi

Dr. Phil has urged Britney Spears to clean up her life for the sake of her children.

The US TV therapist - who visited the 26-year-old singer while she was in Los Angeles' Cedars-Sinai Medical Center over the weekend after she was deemed a "danger to herself and others" - said the pop princess needs to remember her family while she is attempting to get her life back on track.

In a message recorded exclusively for ETonline.com, Dr. Phil told Britney - who has two sons, two-year-old Sean Preston and 15-month-old Jayden James: "You can make this OK. Your family loves you. You may not always agree with what they say, with what they do but they've loved you when you weren't lovable. Turn to the people that love you and listen.

"You have two children and you are the one in this world to protect them. There is no sacrifice that your mother Lynne won't make for you, and there is no sacrifice that your father won't make. They are the people that want nothing from you and everything for you."

The TV personality, who is a long-term friend of the Spears family, had planned to record a special programme about Britney's problems, but was forced to cancel after the star's father Jamie voiced his concerns.

Dr. Phil posted a message on his official website saying: "We had planned to tape a 'Dr. Phil Now' show focusing not on the tabloid side of Britney's latest problems, but instead on the very serious issues surrounding this case.

"But because the Spears situation is too intense at this time, and out of consideration to the family, I have made the decision not to move forward with the taping at this particular time."

Despite his unique approaches being regularly criticised by people in the industry, Dr. Phil took the opportunity to give Britney the benefit of his own psychological advice.

He told US TV show 'Entertainment Tonight': "Britney needs to be in treatment, she needs to be in in-patient care for a period of time. Is she having a rough time right now? Yes she is. Why? I'm not really going to go into that at this point. But I can tell you this is a good person and I truly believe she'll get back to being a good person.

"People forget about Britney for all the time she was a young, talented, delightful woman."

(C) BANG Media International