Dr Phil: Why Doesn’t This 16-Year-Old Remember Destroying Her Home?

Dr Phil: Gorgeous, Violent, Raging and A Very Unsweet 16

Would you ever be able to call the police on a family member? That question got more complicated for Tom, because he is the chief of police in a small town where his 16-year-old niece Kristi is often in trouble. The teen has problems with anger, violence, school attendance, and drug use.

Ann and Mike are Kristi’s parents. They do not know how to control their daughter, and even they are living in fear of her violent temper, sleeping with their bedroom door locked and a bat nearby for self-defense. Ann said she is tired of feeling like a hostage and has offered her daughter a monthly allowance to move out.

Dr Phil: Afraid of Your Own Daughter?

Ann said she is afraid of Kristi, who can break doors, throw items, and lash out at people when she becomes upset. When they found a butcher knife under her mattress, they hid all the knives in the home. Ann is also tired of calling the police on her daughter, since her family is in law enforcement.

Brooke is Kristi’s 18-year-old sister. Brooke said that she moved out to get away from Kristi’s drama. I cannot blame her. Then there is the younger sister, 11-year-old Jordan, who does not think that Kristi is setting a good example for her. Ann and Mike were afraid that bringing Kristi on Dr Phil’s show could make things worse. In fact, they had to have her transported there against her will.

Dr Phil: Dad Ripped Down the Door

Dr Phil called Kristi a bully toward her parents, and then she had her watch a video of herself flipping out in her bedroom at home. Much profanity was exchanged when Kristi refused to perform chores, and her father futilely demanded that she return his iPad.

Based on the clip, it seems like things are out of control for everyone involved. Kristi attempted to position herself as the victim of bad editing, saying that this incident took place “right after my dad ripped the door off the hinges.”

Dr Phil: Kristi Tore Up The House

Ann said that they woke Kristi up at 2 p.m. to perform chores related to her pets. That is the reason her daughter became enraged, she said. Meanwhile, Mike reluctantly admitted that he did rip down the door in a fit of anger. But there’s plenty of other damage around the house, including a brush that Kristi threw into the wall.

Kristi also denied breaking dishes in a photograph her parents provided. She claimed she had no memory of ever breaking dishes at the house, and that she would not have done it intentionally. There are at least half a dozen holes in Kristi’s bedroom wall that have been patched up. In another video, Kristi confronted her mother during a doctor’s visit about performing chores.

Dr Phil: Bad Behavior Gets Results

Dr Phil turned to Ann and Mike to help them get some perspective. They may not even know what the other thinks about their current situation. Dr Phil shared some comments from the couple that they shared in individual interviews.

Ann admitted to Dr Phil producers that she had given up on trying to enforce boundaries to avoid Kristi’s wrath. “This is your partner in parenting here,” Dr Phil said, adding that this was teaching their daughter that bad behavior gets results and rewards. Kristi has no curfew and refuses to attend school on her own.

Dr Phil: Mom’s Facebook Party Photos

Next, Dr Phil shared some of Mike’s feedback about the situation. “If she was a boy, I would have knocked her out by now,” Mike said to producers. It sounds like he is ready for her to be out of the house, and Kristi interjected to add that he has threatened her life.

Then Dr Phil questioned whether Ann had a drinking problem, based on a series of photos he found on her public Facebook profile. He wanted her to realize that photos of her consuming alcohol and enjoying some pool time. Ann claimed the photos were old.

Dr Phil #ActualDiscipline: Keeping Teens On Track

Kristi was unlikely to be thrilled about whatever her parents decided to do for her after she appeared on Dr Phil against her will. But hopefully this was the chance they needed to reconsider their parenting approach and learn some new tools. Use the hashtag #ActualDiscipline to share your responses on social media.

Is your teen on the wrong path? Independence and a desire to test boundaries are normal responses for teenagers, but when taken to extremes, they can put your child and others in serious danger. Here are some steps you can take to keep control of the situation.

1. Find the Cause – Did something happen recently or has an old emotional wound been reopened?
2. Reflect on the Past – The consequences of a negative life event even as a toddler can ripple into the teen or adult years.
3. Communicate – Listen to your teen and be open to talking. Don’t feel like you have to give advice unless you are asked.
4. Be a Strong Parent – Your ultimate goal is to keep your child safe, so remember that you set the rules and stick to them.