Britney Spears' parents have accused television therapist Dr Phil McGraw of betraying their trust by speaking publicly about his visit with their daughter.
The therapist went to see Spears, at the request of her family, while she was in hospital last week after being admitted for evaluation following a custody dispute at her home.
Lou Taylor, a spokesperson for the Spears family, told NBC's 'Today' that Spears' parents had asked McGraw to visit her as a private favour.
Taylor said: "The family basically extended an invitation of trust as a resource to support them, not to make a public statement."
She also claimed that McGraw's intervention had damaged Spears' relationships with her mother Lynne and her younger sister Jamie Lynn.
Taylor said that the family "were looking for support here, not to add to the trouble that is already upon them".
After his visit to the singer, McGraw issued a statement saying that Spears was "in dire need of medical and psychological intervention".
Speaking on 'Entertainment Tonight', the television therapist said: "Somebody needs to step up and provide a vector to get this young woman into some quality care."
Yesterday, various news reports suggested that Spears' new boyfriend, paparazzo Adnan Ghalib, was trying to sell semi-nude pictures of her to tabloid publications.
