N.Y. doctor: Christie Brinkley, ex-husband need therapy

(AP) - Christie Brinkley should get custodyof her two youngest children - but she and her narcissistic husbandboth need therapy, a court-appointed psychiatrist said Tuesday attheir divorce trial. Dr.

News 12 Staff

Jul 8, 2008, 10:36 PM

Updated 6,014 days ago

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(AP) - Christie Brinkley should get custodyof her two youngest children - but she and her narcissistic husbandboth need therapy, a court-appointed psychiatrist said Tuesday attheir divorce trial.
Dr. Stephen Herman, questioned by the children's attorney,Theresa Mari, said the former Sports Illustrated model needstherapy as "an outlet for her anger and feeling of betrayal" byher unfaithful husband.
He said Brinkley, who's been married four times, also "needs tostart working on deeper issues" - including "her choice of malefigures."
"I'm not sure I'm a huge fan of psychotherapy. I believe thereare other ways to deal with this," Brinkley testified later. Butshe added that she "would do whatever it takes to convince thecourt" to grant her custody, even if it means going to therapy.
While doing a psychological report for the court, Herman met 11times with the parents, their 13-year-old son and 10-year-olddaughter.
He said Peter Cook is a "narcissist" who constantly needs tohave his insatiable ego fed. The architect "needs constantreassurance that he is a terrific guy," Herman said in the report.
Brinkley was feisty and combative while questioned by Cook'sattorney, Norman Sheresky.
"You wanted this trial so you could publicly flog yourhusband," said the attorney, noting that Brinkley had supportedkeeping the trial open to the public.
"Absolutely not," she retorted. "I didn't want this trial.It's humiliating for all of us. ... I really, really wanted tosettle this."
She said most of the scandal already had been aired in thenewspapers before the trial.
"I think I have done absolutely the best to hide any feelings Ihave about this from the children," she said. "For two years, Iconcealed all of this. I'm just trying to give the children thekind of life they had before."
The psychiatrist said shared custody "is not at all a viableoption." But he later agreed during cross examination that both"Christie and Peter have done a superb job of being parents." Andhe said Cook should be involved in his children's lives - forinstance, caring for them if their mother is away on business.
Brinkley also has a daughter, Alexa Ray Joel, with the musicianBilly Joel. The 22-year-old testified that Cook picked on her andonce shoved her head into a bucket of water after she showered toolong and caused a plumbing problem.
Before the scandal, Brinkley described Cook to an interviewer as"just the greatest father."
The primary focus of the trial has been on Cook's teenagemistress and his Internet sex activities. He has apologized forboth.
The court heard testimony last week from Cook, 49, and DianaBianchi, who was 18 during their affair. Cook said he gave Bianchia $300,000 payoff, had trysts with her in his office and Brinkley'sHamptons homes, and spent thousands of dollars on onlinepornography.
Infidelity was "certainly the immediate cause" of themarriage's collapse, said Herman, "but I think there were problemsbefore."
Herman said adults should be able to engage in Internet sex ifthe activities occur in total privacy, without the children findingout.