Dr. Phil denies he tried to exploit Spears

NEW YORK, Jan. 30 (UPI) -- U.S. television advice dispenser Dr. Phil McGraw said on "Good Morning America" that Britney Spears' mother first asked for his help more than a year ago.

McGraw said Lynn Spears contacted him because she wanted to know how to help her daughter and sought information regarding facilities where she might be treated.

McGraw was criticized after he visited Britney Spears while she was hospitalized for an evaluation earlier this month, then issued a statement about her condition and announced plans to do a Spears-themed episode of his "Dr. Phil" show.

"I don't think it helped the situation. I don't think it hurt the situation," McGraw said Wednesday in his first live interview since he visited Spears. "I'm an incurable optimist. I hope and pray that Britney will get help and that her life will be used as a great lesson for young stars that come in behind her. And if in some way I can shine some positive light on it in some way I will do that."

McGraw denied allegations he used Spears for publicity.

"If that is what I was interested in I had an entire year to do that," he said. "I don't do things sensationalistically."