What has happened to the shrinks?

[grahamg]

In this time of worldwide lockdown I was wondering what has happened to the "shrinks" like Dr. Phil on the Oprah Winfrey show?

Are they in evidence, trying to provide guidance to folks needing some help? What are they saying if they are on the airwaves?

I'm not sure we have a UK equivalent of Dr. Phil, though someone will remind me if there is one perhaps(?).

 

[Keesha]

Dr. Phil is still on but he’s working from home like most others. He’s helping people who are staying at home but finding it difficult ; like mothers of children who aren’t used to caring for them during the weekday. I don’t particularly like watching them.

Oprah’s final episode was May 11th, 2011 so it’s been almost 9 years that her show’s been off the air.

 

[Fyrefox]

Dr. Phil continues to produce live broadcasts from his home, with guests chiming in through phone, Skype, etc. He recently became embroiled in some controversy by appearing to advocate to Laura Graham the opening of the economy earlier than medical experts would recommend. His comment was something along the lines that the longer that we’re in quarantine, the more psychological problems we’re going to have. He elaborated that more people die in the U.S. from smoking, auto accidents, and swimming pool accidents than Coronavirus, yet we don’t close the country because of those deaths.

A firestorm followed Dr. Phil’s comments, with critics saying that people elect to smoke, drive cars, and use swimming pools but don’t choose to have the Coronavirus. It has been further pointed out that Dr. Phil is not a medical doctor much less a specialist in infectious diseases, but rather a doctoral level clinical psychologist. I do agree with him that prolonged isolation and quarantine leads to psychological problems; many of us are getting a bit ragged around the edges. This does not mean, however, that we shouldn’t listen to proper medical advice...