B&B's Tracy Melchior Asked Dr. Phil for Help With Her Mother's Hoarding

Actress Tracy Melchior (ex-Kristen, THE BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL) made an appearance in another daytime television series, but this time it was on DR. PHIL in the hopes of helping her mother, Robin, who is an obsessive hoarder. She appeared with her mother in the June 20 episode of the talk show. “My mom has always been a hoarder,” she confessed. “My mom’s house is vile. She has a very hard time throwing things away, even trash. She’ll hang on to newspapers, books, childhood toys. My mom is an animal hoarder as well. There’s flies buzzing around, there’s dog poop, cat poop… it’s overwhelming.”

Dr. Phil began by explaining to the concerned daughter exactly what hoarding is and urging her to understand her mother’s affliction. “It’s very frustrating, though,” Melchior admitted, “when she wants me to empathize with her and not hold her accountable because of her bad childhood while she was ruining mine. And that’s what’s hard.”

Dr. Phil tried to give Melchior hope that change was still possible. “She can’t give you what she doesn’t have today,” he assured, “but she might be able to give it to you very soon if I do some things with and for her that will change her ability to empathize and see things through other peoples’ eyes rather than be in survival mode.”

Dr. Phil took the audience on a tour of Robin’s home.

Robin opened up about her hoarding and admitted that she was aware of the problem and that while she understands there are items in her home that serve no purpose, she simply can’t get rid of them because she’s attached to them. But the hoarding has reached such a worrisome level that she is now in danger of being evicted from her home. “We are sitting here pissed off as hell,” Melchior said, wiping away tears. “And at the same time, sad for you. I wish I could say, ‘Mom, come live with me.’ I can’t. To invite my childhood into my home, I can’t. But the thought of you being homeless, that’s why these guys are here.”

Melchior also opened up about her difficult childhood where her mother wasn’t always around and how she and her sister had to fend for themselves, even finding food to eat. Then they shared footage of the actress paying a visit to her mother’s home and being appalled by what she saw. Unfortunately, while Dr. Phil attempted to help, he was ultimately unsuccessful as her mother never actually went to treatment. “I regret even Dr. Phil was unable to help my mom,” Melchior shared on Twitter after the episode aired. “Although a little embarrassed, I don’t regret going on the show. I learned if he can’t help her with all his resources, neither can I. When she needs me, I will be there, but I surrender to trying to change her.”

You can watch many of the segments from this episode of DR. PHIL below and check your local on demand channel to view the entire episode.

For more on your favorite B&B stars – past and present, keep reading the CBS edition of Soaps In Depth magazine.