Dr. Phil's Education Background

Phillip Calvin McGraw was born on September 1, 1950 in Vinita, Oklahoma. His is the son of Joe and Jerry McGraw. Joe McGraw was an equipment supplier in the oil fields of north Texas. McGraw has two older sisters, Deana and Donna, and one younger sister, Brenda. McGraw’s family moved as his father desired to pursue an education in psychology. This allowed McGraw to attend Shawnee Mission North High School in Overland Park, Kansas.
After high school, McGraw received a football scholarship to the University of Tulsa where he played middle linebacker. McGraw transferred to Midwestern State University in Wichita Falls, Texas. McGraw graduated from Midwestern State University in 1975 with a Bachelors of Arts degree in psychology. Mcgraw furthered his education with a masters degree in experimental psychology in 1976. In 1979, McGraw obtained his Ph.D in clinical psychology at the University of North Texas. His dissertation was titled “Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Psychology Intervention.”
After McGraw received his Ph.D he joined his father, Joe, at his established private psychology practice in Wichita Falls, TX. In 1983, McGraw and his father began presenting “Pathways” seminars. These seminars were pitched as training to provide individuals with the self help to create their own results.
In 1990, McGraw co-founded Courtroom Sciences Inc. (CSI). CSI was a trial consulting firm through which McGraw eventually came into contact with Oprah Winfrey. In 1995, Winfrey hired McGraw to prepare her for her Amarillo Texas beef trial. Winfrey was victorious in that trial in 1998. Soon after McGraw was invited to appear on Winfrey’s television show. McGraw’s appearance was so successful that it lead to a weekly spot beginning in 1998. In September 2002, McGraw launched his own show, Dr. Phil. The advice show has remained on the air ever since.
McGraw is married to his wife, Robin, and the couple has two sons.
More Celebrity Education Backgrounds:

• Oprah Winfrey
• Ron Howard
• Chelsea Handler