"Dr. Phil Encounter"

In 1986, Jim Carroll and Dr. Phil McGraw, of the Dr. Phil Show, met in the driveway of one of Dr. Phil's friends. Jim was being recruited to attend the "You" seminar. Jim was convinced the seminar that had been created by Dr. Phil McGraw, Dr. Joe McGraw and Thelma Box was a cult. Jim was certain that Dr Phil was brainwashing participants and fleecing innocent victims out of enormous fees. You see, Jim's best friend had just completed the seminar and was adamant about needing to leave his wife.

marriage help

(A slim Dr. Phil in 1987.)

"Worshiping Dr Phil"

When Dr. Phil pulled up in his red Porsche, Jim approached the vehicle and immediately fell down on his hands and knees and started a mock worship by bowing up and down in front of him.

Dr. Phil instantly comprehended the situation. nstead of taking offense, Dr. Phil stared at Jim and said, "Don't come to the seminar if all you are going to do is breathe up all my air." Dr. Phil was jesting that he used mind-altering gas to brainwash seminar participants.

"The Seminar Challenge"

From that confronting beginning an unusual relationship was created between the two. Jim's belief that his friend had been misled, created an anger and animosity toward Phil. From the first night in the seminar, Jim stood and challenged Dr. Phil to prove that his program worked. Jim never really gave Dr. Phil a chance. Jim's anger controlled and hindered his ability to have a positive attitude toward any of the games and drills. Jim wrote Part I of the seminar off as a total waste and promised he wouldn't return for more.

During the ten days between Part I and Part II of the program, fellow participants began calling Jim for help. They recognized that Jim, like Phil, had the ability to lead people toward healing and healthier esteems. Compelled by those hurting few, Jim returned to Part II of the seminar and dished out $1,500.00 fee for his wife and himself.

"Dr Phil Pathway Seminars"

As Jim participated in the "YOU" seminar, (later renamed Pathway Seminars) he found that his perception of the seminar was immensely skewed. Neither Dr. Phil nor Pathway Seminars condoned or encouraged anyone to leave a healthy marriage to pursue happiness; instead they encouraged counseling and healing.

"Life Changing"

When Jim returned to Pathway Seminars, Dr Phil made him promise to give 100%, which Jim did. During the seminar, Jim and Phil came face to face in a heated contract negotiation that Phil won. As a result, Jim released his anger and REOPENED his heart. From that moment on, Jim's life was changed forever.

"Healing at Pathways"

Dr. Phil McGraw, Thelma Box and Dr. Joe McGraw were changing lives using Pathway Seminars. The seminars were a catalyst for growth, and NOT a mind-altering cult. It was a program that breathed life and healing into people's lives and provided marriage help.

"Training Under Dr Phil"

Jim was so impressed with the results of the seminars that he later returned as a trainer, and learned under the Direction of Dr. Phil and Thelma Box. Jim was intrigued with the idea of sharing the seminar with others, but was discouraged by the costs.

"Road Adventure Begins"

Jim Carroll Marriage Seminar

(Director - Jim Carroll)

In the Spring of 1993, Jim asked Dr. Phil for permission to share a similar seminar. At that time, Dr. Phil had retired from Pathways and was engaged in a new enterprise called Courtroom Sciences.

"Dr. Phil Encourages"

During the conversation Dr. Phil encouraged Jim to conduct the seminars. His advice was, "Jim, you have all the abilities and talents to reach these people. Anything that promotes the healing and welfare of others I'll support. That's what it is all about. Touching the lives of others." With that encouragement, Jim created The Road Adventure seminars. Jim touched thousands of lives in the next 8 years leading The Road Adventure seminars.

In February of 2003, Jim took all of his years of experience at Pathways and The Road Adventure and created The Marriage Boot Camp Seminars. Instead of the eight day seminar, Jim condensed the program into a four-day intense encounter for minimal costs.

Jim is currently featured on both TLC and Discovery Health in a series called MARRIAGE CAMP. The six-part series which began airing in 2007 is an incredible peak inside the Boot Camps. For more information about the show, visit Marriage Camp TV.