John claims that his 12-year-old son Jack is possessed by evil forces that are instructing the boy to kill his family. He says he’s so concerned that he started preparing for an exorcism. He claims to have a team in place ready to rid his son of evil because, if he doesn’t, then he may not be able to prevent the mass murder of his family or the unthinkable: he, himself, harming his own son in order to protect others.

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John’s ex-wife Jen says there is no way on earth she is going to let their son go through an exorcism because he is not possessed and says her out-of-control son is mentally ill. Jen claims the main issue is John, who she says uses harsh means, including spankings, to discipline their child.

WATCH: Has Father's Discipline Of 12-Year-Old Son Gone Too Far?

In the video above, Dr. Phil explains the importance of getting to the root of a problem before finding a solution.

"Fifty percent of the solution to any problem lies in defining it before you start pulling the trigger," he says.

This episode airs Wednesday. Watch more here.

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Hope For 12-Year-Old Whose Father Believes Is Possessed By Demons