Rehab May Help Spears Keep Kids

Experts Say Merry-Go-Round Approach To Treatment Is Not Unusual

(CBS/AP)  Britney Spears' decision to check into rehab could help her in court as she to tries to retain custody of her two young children with estranged husband Kevin Federline, according to family law attorneys. That is, of course, if she actually completes a rehab program.

When Spears checked into Promises Malibu drug and alcohol rehabilitation center Thursday, it was said to be the third time in a week she has checked in to a center for treatment.

"It actually may reflect well on her that she's now gone back, if she stays and sees herself through the program," said Jason Adess, a family law attorney in Chicago. "That way she can present to the court that she has an issue, she has acknowledged the issue, she has gotten help and now she is able to resume primary custody of the children."

Spears' manager, Larry Rudolph, confirmed in an e-mail to The Associated Press on Thursday that Spears is in the Malibu center. He provided no further details.

Armed with an umbrella, a bald Britney attacked the paparazzi Wednesday night in an outburst.

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Timeline: Britney's Meltdown

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"It seems like Britney has reached a breaking point, that she's just gotten way too much attention from the media ... and she wants away from it," said Jill Dobson, editor of Star magazine.

There are reports that earlier in the evening, Spears was turned away by Federline when she tried to see their children and she then took out her rage on the photographers.

Experts say it's more self-destructive behavior.

"Shaving her head and getting a tattoo is the same as, you know, people cutting themselves with razor blades, you know cutters," said Howard C. Samuels, clinical psychologist at Wonderland Center. "It's a way of acting out so you don't really deal with the underlying issues that you are feeling at the time to me. That's what that was all about."

The 25-year-old pop star reportedly first checked into Promises on Tuesday, then left Wednesday morning, returning that night after visiting with lawyers and her family. Late last week she reportedly checked into a rehab center in the Caribbean, only to leave the next day.

Addiction counselors say one of the key challenges for stars seeking sobriety is to lose the celebrity and gain some humility.

"For her to sort of wake up and realize what she's done in the last week has got to create a lot of shame for her, " said Samuels. "And that's why she's run — because she hasn't wanted to deal with those feelings."

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Photos: Britney Spears
High-Profile Healing

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Another family law attorney, Joshua Forman of New York, said such a merry-go-round approach to rehab isn't that unusual for people new to the process. It takes awhile, he said, for someone to admit they have a substance abuse problem and to feel comfortable being treated in a confined program that can last four to six weeks.

"There's ins and outs and a lot of false starts with this sort of stuff," he said Thursday, adding he has had several clients go in and out of rehab. Often, he said, family members and friends must intervene and persuade people that for the good of themselves and their children they must stay.

If they do, Forman said, courts are often willing to forgive the false starts.

"As long as she finishes what she's done, goes in, gets help, gets treatment and stays clean, the court will look positively on that," he said.

Hours after Spears checked into Promises, Federline's attorney, Mark Vincent Kaplan, canceled an appearance in family court he had scheduled for Thursday and announced that no hearings in the couple's child custody case are scheduled for the future.

Neither Kaplan nor Spears' attorney, Laura Wasser, responded to messages Thursday asking who was caring for Spears' children in her absence.

Under a temporary agreement reached in January, Spears and Federline have joint custody of their sons, Jayden James, 5 months, and Sean Preston, 17 months. Spears was granted custodial custody, with Federline allowed lengthy visits on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays. The order expires at the end of this month.

Spears filed for divorce from the 28-year-old aspiring rapper in November, citing irreconcilable differences.

Since then she has engaged in bizarre public behavior. It culminated last weekend when, after reportedly leaving rehab the first time, she arrived at a hair salon and shaved her head bald, moved on to a tattoo parlor where she had red-and-pink lips inked onto her wrist, then went club-hopping across Los Angeles.

[bb19631]

brittany is getting more disgusting everyday. hopefully, she stays in the rehab this time around. she needs to straighten up and fly right. her kids need a mother, not a nut case. she went down hill after k-fed. i have lost all respect for her. her kids are better off w/out her.

[olebd]

So much for breast feeding the babies. I would hate to think what they are ingesting if she did breast feed them.

[mayaderen-2009]

She is disgusting - and NO, I have NEVER done anything even remotely like that, calimom1 - and I was a young mother who worked, went to college, and raised a daughter (after parting w/ her father when she was still a baby). Also, I never asked anyone for a dime to help. I am successful and have a really nice, smart kid that I am very proud of. I'm not the only single mom who has done well. We all have choices and nobody is forcing her to do anything that she doesn't want to do. The only thing worse is the way the media feeds on this. But then again, nobody is forcing her to be a celebrity either.

[msvicky1]

Talk about the pot calling the kettle black....the two of them deserve one another - although K-Fed seems to be the sober one now. And to Calimom1 - get a grip. No one told BS to drop her pants; and I am sure she has heard of birth control for one or the other. Frankly, if I had been her, the first thing I would have done was start birth control knowing K-Fed's fertile myrtle assets. Now that she is a has been she can't handle it, so she needs to go to rehab, get clean, come out and move to a trailer park in the south and raise her kids. She is not one to feel sorry for - there are too many other couples out there that would kill to have a baby or two. Raising kids will take away from her party girl image and K-Fed's "rapper" image.

[samthetvcat]

omg - 3rd check in to rehab in a week - any bets on how long she'll last this time around? I would like to think she'd be motivated to stay for the sake of her kids, but she's used to getting her way with everything - my bet is that this is just a stall tactic her lawyers cooked up to give them the weekend to plan a defense for a K-fed petition, and as soon as they can come up with some sound arguments she'll be outta there.

[rosie061]

I think that sleazy ho of a mother should lose her kids. She is out of control... like a kid in a candy store, like a alcoholic in a liquor store. She has 2 gorgeous babies who need their mother. If she keeps this *** up, she will be these kids "estraged mother"

[bluestardad]

This drugged, intercourse toy should lose her children!

[calimom1]

Everyone hits a hard spot in their life! Could you imagine having your "rock bottom" being advertised everywhere you go? She's a young mom... She has alot on her plate right now... Its funny how people can sit here and make comments on how bad she is... Like they have never done anything she is doing now...( The bald head is a cry for help!!!) Come on now, get a clue... Example: How many people have stumbled holding their child? I have four children and I am woman enough to say, I have! Now what, do you wanna call the "services" on me? How many children have fallen out of their beds? IT HAPPENS! I think that that is what started her problems! Calling her a bad mom... She had to watch every move she made... SHAME ON YOU ALL!

[anopinion1]

she will eventually give into hugh hefner's offers and head to playboy....
god would i love to see the headlines when that happens....

[zippiez]

Hey, BS!
If you're acting on instructions from your agent, fire 'em.
If you're acting on instructions from your attorney, fire 'em.
If you're doing this all on your own, you're full of yourself!

[pared1]

I'd worry about Kevin getting the kids as well. After all he did leave his then pregnant girlfriend to marry Spears.

[pghlady3]

K-Fed your an idiot, you should have kept the court date, and had the judge order the rehab. If that happens, and Brit leaves yet again, you get full custody, no questions asked. Brit is obvioulsy having major problems, you don't think shes going to leave again?

[saurerliz]

maybe if the press stopped following her around britney could have a private life...my prayers are with her and her children...God speed her recovery

[ssporleder]

What a train wreck...K-Fed will get those kids today.

[ssporleder]

What a train wreck...K-Fed will get those kids today.

[dredre2k]

Honestly I don't care what Britney does or where she goes. Please stop reporting this!

[reena6]

The few statements that I read, are outlandish. You would actually want a money hungry idiot to have those children...maybe they would be better off with someone else period until they both get themselves together. And if they would have kept their private life out of the public....they prob. would not have to be going through all of this anyway....they are just looking like rich trailer park trash.

[pghlady3]

She shaved her head because Fed-Ex wanted a drug test. The judge should take away all parental rights until she completes rehab.

[michaure]

i hope he gets those kids, what type of rolemodel is she for her own children. their better off with their dad.

[zoroastor]

You people need a life.