Television therapist Dr. Phil McGraw says he was with Britney Spears as she left a Los Angeles hospital two days after a three-hour standoff with police that involved her two sons.

In a statement released Saturday to the television programs Entertainment Tonight and The Insider, McGraw said he's concerned for the embattled pop star and she needs psychological help.

Singer Britney Spears, seen here on Thursday night being taken out of her Los Angeles home, has been released from hospital following a three-hour standoff with police.
(ET/Insider/Hollywood TV/Associated Press)

''My meeting with Britney and some family members [Saturday] morning in her room at Cedars leaves me convinced more than ever that she is in dire need of both medical and psychological intervention,'' he said. 

Spears was taken to Cedars-Sinai Medical Center late Thursday and was reportedly on a 72-hour watch. It's not known who permitted her to be released Saturday morning.

''She was released moments before my arrival and was packing when I entered the room. We visited for about an hour before I walked with her to her car. I am very concerned for her,'' said McGraw, adding he planned to talk more about Spears on his daytime talk show this week.

McGraw counsels people on The Dr. Phil Show. Celebrity website TMZ.com reported the show discussing Spears will be taped on Monday and broadcast on Wednesday.

Reports said she and McGraw left the hospital via an underground tunnel, avoiding the paparazzi who had been outside the hospital since Thursday night.

Medical centre officials have not commented on Spears, and authorities haven't explained any details of her hospitalization.

"We're all just hoping and praying she's fine. She's a sweet, sweet girl, and people aren't seeing that side of her," Britney's aunt, Linda Brandon-Kjos, told People.com.

The website quoted another, though unidentified family source, imploring the world to refrain from rushing to judgment: "I just hope people can respect the fact that she needs help and keep the harsh criticisms to themselves."

Police step in

Spears, 26, locked herself and one of her sons in her bathroom at her home on Thursday night. She was supposed to turn her sons over to ex-husband Kevin Federline after a court-monitored visit.

The children were handed over just before 11 p.m. local time after a three-hour standoff with police. Spears was taken out, strapped to a stretcher and taken to hospital.

On Friday, she was stripped of legal custody of Sean Preston, 2, and Jayden James, 1.

Federline, 29, already had temporary custody because Spears, who had limited visitation rights, defied court orders. The two were married in October 2004 and divorced in July 2007.

Commissioner Scott Gordon has ordered another custody hearing for Jan. 14.

The pop singer's life has spun out of control since her divorce. She has been in and out of alcohol and drug rehab, behaved erratically, shaved her head and was photographed partying at all hours.