Season 12

Whether sex addiction is a real disorder or just an excuse for bad behaviour. Marcos and Yvette say they are unable to stop having affairs and Staci says she meets strangers for sex anytime and anywhere.

"The Bachelor" star Gia Allemand's mother discusses her recent suicide, and co-star Jake Pavelka gives an emotional tribute.

Dr. Phil sends a private investigator to check up on guests' fiances, whom they have never met in person; a woman flies to Nigeria to confront an online con artist; the man whose identity was stolen to lure former guest Dawn into a fake relationship.

A teen football star accused of rape and his accuser speak out about how one alcohol-fueled night changed their lives in an instant; his parents insist that their son is innocent and that the girl just wants attention.

A 16-year-old girl says four classmates raped her while she was intoxicated; one of the accused and his parents react; Leah says her 17-year-old daughter committed suicide after being raped and bullied; Alexis says she was also raped as a teen.

Self-professed monster-in-law Khalood returns with shocking news; her daughter has a heart-to-heart with Dr. Phil.

The parents of a missing child come together to tell Dr. Phil why they believe his stepmother may know more than she is admitting.

A mother learns the details of her 17-year-old daughter's online and offline activities.

The parents of a 15-year-old girl who appears to have been abducted and killed by a man she met on Facebook come forward to share their heartbreaking story.

The mother of teen "Modern Family" star Ariel Winter, who lost custody of the girl amid accusations of physical and verbal abuse, tells her side of the story.

Nick Carter of the Backstreet Boys discusses his struggles with drugs and alcohol; a teen high-school dropout admits to abusing drugs, stealing her parents' car and dating a man nearly 10 years older.

Parents say their teen daughter is making dangerous choices and confront her much-older boyfriend for the first time; Nick Carter performs.

Rapper DMX discusses his drug addiction, erratic behavior, arrests and a streaking incident caught on tape.

A woman living the high life suddenly falls deep in debt when her husband files for divorce; 28-year-old Steven still lives at home, on his parents' dime.

Nichole's husband denies getting violent when he drinks; a couple say their son's rage is out of control and they fear for their lives; two survivors of a road-rage incident caught on tape tell their story.

A 19-year-old beauty queen says her career was ruined when young women sent compromising photos of her to pageant officials, and she faces one of the former friends who admits to sending the images.

Bridgette says she is terrified of her abusive, controlling boyfriend, but she is too fearful to leave him; women who survived brutal attacks by their exes tell their stories.

A young woman who was the only survivor of a drunken driving accident that killed two of her friends tells of her subsequent reckless behavior and leaving others to care for her infant son.

Jessica's fiance says her anger and drinking are out of control, causing chaos in their blended family; the husband of a woman who lost 100 pounds does not support her transformation.

A woman wonders whether she should marry her brother-in-law to fulfill her deceased sister's dying wish; a wife says her shopping addiction is ruining her marriage; an obese former beauty queen asks why she is afraid to slim down.

Holly says her sister Andrea is ruining their relationship because of her bullying and attacks on people.

Tina's syndrome causes her to harm herself to get attention; Samantha fakes illnesses.

Two couples' explosive fights are caught on tape and destroying their marriages.

"Golden Sisters" Mary, Josie and Teresa; women who date much younger men; actress Tami Erin.

Malinda says she is in love with a registered sex offender and does not plan to leave him, even though she has a 4-year-old daughter.

Family members take polygraph tests in an unsolved murder case.

A couple say their 20-year-old daughter went from being a straight-A student to a heroin addict.

Lisa says her longtime husband is verbally abusive and controlling, sending her into the arms of her boyfriend.

A pair accuse each other of being a poor parent to their 16-year-old son; Alysia says her mother neglected her and her siblings, leaving her to be the mother figure.

Allan wants a better relationship with his 38-year-old twin daughters, who he has been at odds with since their mother died more than a decade ago.

Brenda claims her husband, Drew, physically and verbally abuses her 14-year-old son and ridicules her 20-year-old daughter, who is intellectually disabled; he denies being abusive and says he is trying to prepare them for the real world.

Dr. Phil continues his discussion with Brenda and Drew, who are at odds over the way Brenda says he treats her two children; Dr. Phil's wife, Robin, has a strong message for the couple; Lauren says her 2-year-old daughter was murdered by her stepmom.

Joey blames his wife's mother for the failure of his marriage; after learning that her husband had an affair with one of her friends, Ashley is afraid to let him out of her sight.

Valerie says her 19-year-old daughter, Alyssa, is a lazy, irresponsible mother who refuses to get a job and leaves her baby unattended; Alyssa says her mother and stepfather's strict rules make her feel like she's in prison; actor Antonio Sabato Jr.

Courtney must decide whether to return to her husband, who has been convicted of domestic assault; an abuse survivor's shocking story; Robin McGraw's important announcement.

Professional locator Troy Dunn helps to reunite a 19-year-old with the mother who gave her up; the custody battle involving baby Veronica.

A 65-year-old widow says she is in love with a man she has never met but has given tens of thousands of dollars; a private investigator tracks him down.

A catfish who orchestrated several online dating deceptions faces her victims; a man says his ex falsely accused him of posting online intimate photos and videos of her.

Sara says her ex has brainwashed and alienated their grown children against her; he and his new wife say they are afraid of her.

An anorexic, bulimic woman who weighs only 75 pounds and could die at any moment meets a woman whose eating disorder left her with permanent brain damage.

Ariel Castro abduction survivor Michelle Knight reveals the acts of cruelty that took place in the Cleveland house.

Ariel Castro abduction survivor Michelle Knight reveals details of more than a decade of captivity in the Cleveland house, the day she and the other women were rescued and what her life has been like since.

Cindy says her husband constantly accuses her of cheating, spies on her and even faked a suicide attempt to manipulate her into a confession.

Dr. Phil examines Mike's "evidence" that he says proves his wife is unfaithful.

Women say they worry about their sister's 9-year-old daughter being exposed to her new, alternative lifestyle, which includes a sexual fetish group.

Emily and Lori meet their sister Kim's boyfriend and learn a shocking secret about his past; Kim's 9-year-old daughter may be in danger.

Parents admit that since their divorce, they have made several serious allegations against each other, and their 9-year-old daughter and 15-year-old son are stuck in the middle of the turmoil.

Parents do not believe that their 19-year-old son committed suicide, and two witnesses agree to take polygraph tests to clear the cloud of suspicion they say follows them as the result of the parents' allegations.

Parents do not believe that their 19-year-old son committed suicide, and two witnesses agree to take polygraph tests to clear the cloud of suspicion they say follows them as the result of the parents' allegations.

Intoxicated "Survivor: China" winner Todd Herzog comes onstage to confront his family, who say he is a dangerous alcoholic.

Gypsy Willis, the former mistress of a doctor recently convicted in the 2007 murder of his wife, discusses the case and her own 2009 conviction of fraud.

Ty's wife and mother have not seen or spoken to each other in seven years, because his mother has made serious accusations against his wife, including involvement in her other son's death; the three face one another onstage.

Judy's husband of 30 years had a midlife crisis and an affair and filed for divorce, but now that she has a new boyfriend, he wants her back.

Tone and John disapprove of their brother's fiancee, who they say is rude, selfish, manipulative and abuses drugs; she says the siblings are responsible for all of the family drama.

A man accused of impersonating a doctor, a professional hockey player and a wealthy businessman tells his side of the story.

A pageant mom fights to have a website remove a sexually suggestive post featuring her 11-year-old daughter's photo; a 21-year-old mother of three explains her arrest for having sex with a 14-year-old.

Anna Benson ("Baseball Wives") tells of showing up heavily armed and wearing a bulletproof vest at the home of her estranged husband, ballplayer Kris Benson.

Samantha's war-veteran husband shot her with an AK-47, destroying her legs; Laurie's ex-husband shot and killed their 4- and 5-year-old sons.

A daughter of Dr. Martin MacNeill tells why she helped prosecutors build a case against him in the death of her mother and reacts to Dr. Phil's interview with her father's former mistress, Gypsy Willis.

A couple say their young-adult son has become angry and violent, and they are divided over whether to cut him out of their lives.

Kimberly is accused of throwing an alcohol-filled party with 26 teens in her home; Soraida says her ex posted her and her 16-year-old daughter's information on Internet escort sites, causing men to show up at their home; repairing one's reputation.

A former minor-league ballplayer, two actors and a young mother say they were victims of racial profiling.

Competitive twins and triplets say their relationships are suffering; a woman says her depression is ruining her marriage.

Parents say their 16-year-old daughter went from a straight-A student to violent and out of control during their contentious divorce.

Heather says her new husband is physically and verbally abusive and she fears that he will seriously hurt or kill her; he says that since he returned from Iraq he has had trouble controlling his anger and has abused her dog, but would never harm her.

Kelly says her 16-year-old daughter has an eating disorder, is suicidal, cuts herself, has overdosed on prescription medication and lashes out in anger on a daily basis; the girl says her mom is overreacting.

Rabecca says her mother tricked her into giving her custody of her 4-year-old daughter; her mother tells why she contacted Child Protective Services.

Brianna says she was raped by two high-school classmates at a party, and her mother coerced her into sharing her story with the national media, creating a backlash from her peers; her mother makes allegations of her own; author Mitch Albom weighs in.

A 24-year-old woman and a 50-year-old man have both served time for domestic assault due to their volatile relationship.

A woman discovers her husband has spent almost all of their money on his affairs with multiple women; a surprise for the parents of a toddler injured by a drunk driver.

A man is determined to prove his brother's death was a homicide, but his efforts are tearing his family apart.

A woman who can't stop picking at her skin; a man's perfectionism threatens to destroy his relationship.

Amber Portwood ("Teen Mom") discusses addiction, anger issues, prison and whether she can be a good mother to her 4-year-old daughter; a surprise for a deserving foster mother.

Parents say that even a GPS tracking anklet has not prevented 16-year-old Caitlin from running away from home; siblings tell of being shot by intruders and witnessing their friend's death.

Dr. Travis Stork helps 400-pound Robert and 300-pound Rose learn healthier eating habits.

Adam denies raping his wife and molesting their two toddlers, saying she is mentally unstable and angry that their marriage is falling apart.

A 51-year-old man says he has been stalked, wiretapped and hacked by an unknown group of people trying to terrorize him for the past four years.

Kristen says her nieces are angry, violent teens who abuse drugs and have been expelled from school for assaulting their classmates.

Mindy says her children are afraid of their father's violent behavior; he says she is a liar and a manipulator.

Stefany says she fears for the life of her 17-year-old, who has had an eating disorder since the age of 5.

Fifteen-year-old Baylea's out-of-control rages are sometimes so violent that police are called to intervene.

Shannon says her family did not visit her in the hospital after her ex-boyfriend nearly killed her; Kasey wants her adult son to stop playing video games all the time and grow up.

After five young people break into a home and the homeowner shoots one of them to death, the others are charged with his murder.

Danielle says her husband is jealous and abusive and was recently arrested for assaulting her, but she still wants to save their marriage.

Liz's marriage is on the verge of divorce because of her many addictions and illnesses; Sydney says some sounds, smells and touches irritate her so much that she must keep her distance from her fiance and children.

Brandi and her fiance are on the verge of splitting up because of the tension and fighting her lazy 20-year-old son causes.

Aubrey believes that her mother knew her stepfather was beating and molesting her from the ages of 8 to 16; her mother insists she had no idea what was going on.

Nineteen-year-old Nicki faces her family after having recently faked a pregnancy and childbirth; her mother fears for her mental stability.

Kristin says her daughters are using both cocaine and heroin, and she fears for the welfare of her unborn grandson; Dr. Phil uncovers shocking details about the sisters' childhoods.

Pregnant, drug-abusing Sara and her sister view a video of addicted newborns and must choose between treatment and jail.

Teen twins, the only living heirs of the Duke tobacco fortune, tell of the abuse they suffered at the hands of their father.

In an exclusive interview, 16-year-old twins Georgia and Walker “Patterson” Inman, who, at 21, will reportedly inherit $1 billion as the only living heirs of the Duke tobacco fortune, open up to Dr. Phil about the abuse they claim they suffered for more than a decade. The twins were born into a family of prestige and extreme wealth -- vacationing on the beaches of Fiji, having wild animals as pets and bringing diamonds to school for show-and-tell -- but say their lives have been anything but privileged. After their parents divorced and their father, Walker Inman Jr., won custody, they claim they lived each day in a state of pure terror -- burned with boiling water, forced to live in a feces-filled basement and held prisoner behind dead-bolted doors. How do they say they survived years of alleged torture? Their father, whom they claim abused drugs, died of an overdose in 2010, and the teens were reunited with their mother, Daisha Inman, with whom they now live.

Dr. Phil continues his exclusive interview with 16-year-old twins Georgia and Patterson Inman, heirs to the Duke tobacco fortune. How do they describe their relationship with their mom, Daisha, with whom they were estranged for most of their childhood? Then, Daisha opens up about her about her tumultuous relationship with the twins’ father, Walker Inman Jr., and why she says she was kept out of her children’s lives. Daisha, who is battling the bank for control of her children’s trust funds, which they gain access to when they turn 21, recently made headlines when she threatened to use an armed security team to scare away a process server. How does she answer to allegations that she is trying to drain the twins’ accounts and spend the money on lavish gifts? And, what do the kids have to say about their impending fortunes? Plus, Georgia and Patterson claim they survived years of abuse and neglect -- how can they move forward after the terror they say they endured?

Erin Caffey discusses her role in the brutal murders of her mother and younger brothers and how she felt when she learned that her father survived; her ex-boyfriend makes a shocking claim.

A 56-year-old widow says she is in love with a man she has never met in person and to whom she has given her life savings; Dr. Phil hires a private investigator to look into the boyfriend's claims and confronts him over the phone.

Marie says she is terrified of her violent husband and details his abuse of her; he says she is a compulsive liar and drug abuser with anger issues of her own.

Grandparents accuse their daughter-in-law of coercing her child into making false allegations of molestation against their son, who has been sentenced to life in prison for the crime.

Minny says her teen son's father abducted him and put him in what she calls a Mormon cult; emotions run high as the parents face each other on Dr. Phil's stage and the teen makes shocking accusations against his mother and her husband.

Minny's teen son tells why he shot himself and whether he is ready to let his mother back into his life.

Pam says her ex-husband is enabling their 23-year-old daughter's addiction by giving her money to use for drugs; he says he fears she will resort to prostitution or worse if he cuts her off.

The family of a 16-year-old gang member urges him to turn his life around; two former gang members have an important message for him.

Sandie's ex-husband's former girlfriend is stalking her, and she wants her prosecuted; the man wants both women out of his life.

Tracy says that several years ago she began having disturbing memories about sexual molestation and a murder occurring during her childhood; her mother says she is delusional.

A private investigator sorts through some of Tracy's painful childhood memories; Tracy's mother vehemently denies killing a young girl and burying her in the backyard, and takes a polygraph test to clear her name.

A divorced mother of four, living on the run, facing up to 45 years in prison for attempted murder, sits down with Dr. Phil.

Author Rebecca Musser ("The Witness Wore Red") discusses the abuse she says she endured at the hands of fellow FLDS members and the day she found freedom; Rebecca's father confronts her and tells why he is threatening to sue.

A wife and mother tells of learning that her husband had been communicating with men online, looking for sex, and had downloaded child pornography to the family computer, and says she fears for her own children's safety.

A man turns in his teen son for the brutal beating death of his young stepson, a year later confesses to the crime, then drops another bombshell in a phone interview with Dr. Phil from prison.

Dr. Phil continues his interview with a teen who says his father tried to frame him for the murder of his young stepbrother, then confessed to the crime himself; a cousin says she was asked to dispose of evidence; both take polygraph tests.

Despite his vehement denial of cheating, Dorothy continues to lash out at her husband daily, leading to violent arguments in front of their 12-year-old daughter.

A couple's nasty divorce and custody battle involve accusations of kidnapping, domestic violence, parental alienation and child abuse.

Deb says her husband's tangled web of lies and sexual affairs spanned more than a decade, and she thinks he has cheated on her at least 1,000 times; he says her obsession with proving he is unfaithful is destroying their marriage.

A woman disapproves of her daughter's decision to convert to Islam; the only minority juror in the George Zimmerman trial; author Lisa Bloom.

A man accuses his estranged wife of violent behavior, while she says he raped, kidnapped and abused her.

A 23-year-old woman claims her mother goes out drinking several days a week, leaving her to care for her four younger siblings.

Corey says that, when he was 10, his abusive stepmother manipulated him into shooting and killing his father and telling the police it was an accident; a woman who lost custody of her infant blames her sister.

A 16-year-old's two best friends stab her to death; family members and friends discuss the tragedy and possible motives.

Fashion enthusiast Lawrence Zarian gives a guest a makeover in hope that her demanding husband will not leave her; Ruben Studdard and David Foster perform.

A woman believes that her deceased son was poisoned by his wife.

Dawn says she fears her violent 8-year-old son, who flies into rages and has threatened to kill her; a woman with chronic pain and fatigue caused by fibromyalgia wonders if she will ever find relief.

A couple battle the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for the custody of their teen daughter, who they say has been held against her will by a hospital in a dispute about her diagnosis and treatment; a cancer survivor and a sun worshipper need help.

A man accused of child molestation is found dead in a field from a gunshot wound to the chest; his wife, ex-fiancee and mother debate what may have happened.

Frances' obsession with her 13 rabbits may be hurting her relationship with her daughter; Gary says he is part human and part dog and tries to live as much like a canine as possible; Lori hates that her 20-year-old daughter attends furry conventions.

Reagan says he turns to gambling and other women for an adrenaline rush because his wife refuses to have sex with him; newlyweds say they are in a sexual standoff that has pushed them to the brink of divorce.

A mother fears that her daughter's admitted drug use will lead her into the same dangerous situations that she experienced when she was younger.

Lisa's relationship with her family has been strained ever since she and her uncle were run over by a minivan while trying to break up a fight at her wedding reception; Sarah Jakes, daughter of Bishop T.D. Jakes.

Sheryl called off her wedding because she and her fiance constantly argue about money, and his family calls her a gold-digger; past guests Jacob and Lucy return with an update on their son, Izaiah, injured by a drunken driver.

A boy who shot and killed his pregnant mother and attempted to murder his father and sister grows up to kill his wife and her niece before committing suicide; family members struggle to deal with a toddler's murder and her mother's conviction.

A divorced couple fight over visitation rights for their daughter.

A look back at the past 12 seasons of the show, including memorable guests and success stories. Also: audience prizes and a Hawaiian getaway sweepstakes.

A couple say they have been threatened and harassed since they were depicted as villains on the reality show "Kitchen Nightmares."

Jeremy says that his wife, who is the primary breadwinner of the family and raises their two children, does not put enough effort into her appearance.

Ashley admits to verbally and physically abusing her husband in front of their two young children, often screaming at them so loudly she loses her breath or blacks out, and her son is starting to suffer from social and emotional issues.

Caitlin says that her husband abuses her verbally and physically, at one point causing the loss of their unborn baby, and that he has been physical with their two young children, who are afraid of him; he says she abuses him as well.

Diane says her 17-year-old daughter, Brianna, is an out-of-control drug abuser who has run away from home at least five times and does not respect authority. She says she recently forced Brianna into a youth shelter, hoping it would scare the teen straight, but nothing has changed — and she fears for her daughter’s life. Diane also claims her ex-husband, Michael, abandoned Brianna after their divorce — and she feels that contributed to the teen’s downward spiral. How does Michael respond? And, what ownership does Diane take in the situation? Brianna says her mother is overreacting and insists she’s just living the partying lifestyle by using Xanax, Molly, marijuana, PCP, heroin and alcohol. But is there something deeper at play? Emotions run high when the family comes together on Dr. Phil’s stage — and an unexpected moment happens. Will Brianna realize the dangers she’s facing and get the help she needs?

A mother and her daughter-in-law disagree over parental boundaries; a couple learn to rebuild their romantic relationship after having kids. Also: a performance by Ronnie Dunn.

A young woman who refuses to go to college or get a job, steals from her parents and hangs out with a bad crowd blames her mother for her current situation.

Ben says his wife changed for the worse as soon as they got married; she says he is a narcissist and may be cheating on her.

Barbie takes a polygraph test in a bid to prove to her boyfriend that she is not cheating on him and has not stolen $90,000 from him and his company; Robin McGraw checks in with three women who have overcome personal struggles.

Adult sisters say their mother chose drugs and alcohol over them throughout their childhoods, causing one of them to be born with fetal alcohol syndrome.

A woman with obsessive-compulsive disorder says most of her rituals are focused on trying to make herself more attractive than her sister.

The birth mother and stepmother of a 5-year-old boy said to have been locked in a closet and starved nearly to death tell their sides of the story.

A couple who placed an online ad to adopt a child confront the woman who promised to give her unborn baby to them but has never turned over a child.

Dr. Phil sits down with the mother and sister of Miranda Barbour, who claims she has killed at least 22 people since age 13.

Dr. Phil offers to help a couple salvage their marriage in what resembles a real-life version of Cameron Diaz's movie, The Other Woman. Anna says Pablo cheats. Tensions run high when three women face Pablo. Dr. Phil enlists the help of Bishop T.D. Jakes.

Lynn, 17, says her father molested and raped her three times, which he adamantly denies.

Chris and his 17-year-old daughter, who claims he has molested and raped her three times, take polygraph tests.

Theresa says her fiance's ex-girlfriend is jealous and obsessed with them, and Dr. Phil must intervene in the drama-filled love triangle.

Stephanie says her daughter went from a picture-perfect straight-A student and beauty-pageant queen to an out-of-control, violent drug abuser who has a gun and has threatened to kill her.

Amy says her friend's husband raped her and got her pregnant, and after an incident during a custody exchange, she took out a protective order against him; he says her accusations are revenge for him not leaving his wife.

Michelle Knight, the first of three women abducted by Ariel Castro and held for more than a decade, first appeared on Dr. Phil last year and revealed the true story of what happened inside Cleveland’s notorious house of horrors. Now, one year after being rescued, Michelle says she is stronger, happier and finally free — and joins Dr. Phil for the first time ever in front of a live studio audience.

Four siblings say their mother's hoarding is so out of control that nearly every inch of her 9,000-square-foot home is filled with junk, and their father says he moved out of the house two years ago because of the mess.

Dr. Phil enlists a private investigator and other specialists to verify the claims of a woman's "heart husband," whom she has sent tens of thousands of dollars and has never met in person; a former guest returns with an update and words of wisdom.

Janette says her husband has recently become mentally, verbally and physically abusive to her and their three children, and she fears that his behavior could turn deadly; a woman's abusive boyfriend disfigured her with hot cooking oil.

A fractured family is desperate to get help for a young teen who has a history of lying, acting out and showing inappropriate sexual behavior.

Janette says in the past year, her husband, Clint, has turned into someone she doesn’t recognize. She says his temper is frightening, and he’s become mentally, verbally and physically abusive with her and their three children, and she’s afraid his behavior could turn deadly. Recently, Janette says one of their arguments escalated and ended with Clint choking her unconscious, while their 11-year-old son tried to pull his father off of her. Janette says there have been multiple incidents, and their children are now frightened of their father. Clint admits he has anger issues and gets physical with his wife but says she nags and provokes him until he snaps -- and he says she should be afraid of him when he’s angry.

Exes Jeff and Valerie say they’re at a loss for how to help their 15-year-old daughter, Danielle, who they say has a history of lying, acting out and showing inappropriate sexual behavior. They say in kindergarten, Danielle began expressing herself sexually at school, and by second grade, was threatening physical harm and making sexually explicit comments to other students. They admit they have not been a united front while raising their daughter, who has been bounced around between them and her grandmothers while growing up.

Dr. Phil taps into the spiritual world with help from the next generation of psychic mediums, Thomas John and Bill Philipps. When did they first realize they had psychic abilities? And, what messages will they have for guests, viewers, audience members and Dr. Phil staff? Then, recovering addict Kathie says her daughter, Whitney, refuses to forgive her for her past mistakes, and she wants to make amends. Whitney says her mother abandoned the family after Kathie’s mother passed away in 2002, leaving Whitney to fight for — and win — custody of her younger sister.

Sara says her ex-husband, Mark, has brainwashed their three grown children against her, and she just wants to reclaim a place in their lives. Mark and his new wife, Mikel, say they’re afraid of Sara but are willing to face her onstage with Dr. Phil. Can these exes put the past behind them and make peace? And, is Sara’s 22-year-old daughter willing to fix their broken relationship?

Lynn and Paul say their 20-year-old daughter, Loni, went from a straight-A student to a heroin addict, and they’re desperate to get her help. After two felony arrests — including one for allegedly selling heroin to an undercover officer — Loni spent 30 days in rehab, but they say it wasn’t long before they discovered she was using heroin again — and stealing money and jewelry from family members to pay for it. Now, Lynn and Paul say Loni is living in a trailer with strangers, in the middle of nowhere, and they fear for her life. Dr. Phil sends mother-son intervention team Debbie and Brandon to track down Loni and offer her a chance to face her family and make a plan for a healthier future. Will Loni grab onto the lifeline?

In October 2013, Shay’s 19-year-old brother, Connor, was convicted of second-degree murder in the stabbing death of Shay’s boyfriend, Andrew, and sentenced to 20 to 60 years in prison. In a Dr. Phil exclusive, Shay and her parents share what they believe happened that night and why they feel Connor was acting in self-defense.

Thirty-year-old Ashley admits she has an “extreme” anger problem and verbally and physically abuses her husband of eight years, Aaron — at times, in front of their 6-year-old son and 3-year-old daughter. She says she’s quick to become enraged, often screaming so loudly at Aaron that she loses her breath or blacks out — and she admits she once even punched him in the face while he was holding their baby. What’s at the root of her rage? And, why does Aaron — a former Marine who fought in the Iraq war — put up with this treatment? Plus, Ashley admits she also takes out her anger on her son by screaming in his face, and he’s now suffering from social and emotional issues. Dr. Phil sits the couple down in search of a resolution. Can Ashley learn to control her temper, for the sake of her children? And, can this marriage be saved?

Former kindergarten teacher Cynthia says her life was torn apart when a classroom lesson led to her being convicted of official oppression, a misdemeanor, and sentenced to two years’ probation and 30 days in jail. Prosecutors claimed Cynthia told her students to line up and strike a 6-year-old boy, to teach him “how it feels to be bullied.” Cynthia says the whole ordeal was a big misunderstanding, and now she’s falsely labeled as a “bully teacher” — and might never lead a classroom again. How does she describe what happened that day?

Bailey struggles to move on with her life after a terrifying home invasion and kidnapping; for 18 years, Jose was the prime suspect in the case of his missing girlfriend, until another man pleaded guilty to her murder.

A 14-year-old's ex-boyfriend and her sister accuse each other of being involved in her death, and they both take polygraph tests.

Fany and her husband, Markus, say they’re at their wits’ end with Fany’s 16-year-old daughter, Claire, who admittedly drinks, smokes marijuana and has sex with numerous partners. Dr. Phil has some tough questions for the teen about her choices — and for Fany and Markus about their parenting. How can Claire get back on track?

Lavena says her 17-year-old son, Trevor’s, anger is out of control, and despite seeing mental health professionals for years, his behavior is growing more aggressive and defiant. She says Trevor screams, curses and breaks things during his rages and has even threatened to shoot people -- and never shows remorse for his actions. She says she fears he could snap and kill her, her husband, her 5-year-old twins -- or become the next school gunman.