Therapist advised Arquette on introducing new girlfriend to daughter

Actor DAVID ARQUETTE consulted his therapist for advice on when to introduce his new girlfriend CHRISTINA MCLARTY to his seven-year-old daughter, because he feared it would be inappropriate.

The Scream star, who split from wife Courteney Cox in October, 2010, began dating TV reporter McLarty last summer (11), but he held off on telling little Coco about his new romance for several months until he was certain their love was for real.

During an appearance on The View on Friday (10Feb12), he said, "We (Cox and Arquette) had been separated for more than a year and up until then we had discussed getting back together and it just wasn't in the stars... So I talked to my therapist and I said, 'When is it appropriate to introduce my daughter to my new girlfriend?' And he said, 'After a couple months of a monogamous relationship and once you feel it out and think that it's appropriate.'"

But Arquette had nothing to worry about - McLarty's first meeting with the child went off without a hitch.

He continued, "It was probably about three months after (the relationship began) when she (Coco) had met Christina. You know, you want her to be comfortable, because one of her things is like the evil stepmother type thing - it's a real fear for children - and you want them to be able to get along. It's a lot to deal with, it's not easy but communicating is really important."

And Cox has already given the actor's new relationship her blessing.

Earlier this week (begs06Feb12), Cox revealed, "I met her (McLarty), she's really nice, she's really pretty... She had a good sense of humor, she was nice. Very tall, I'm not. Very young, I'm not."

McLarty was previously married to adult filmmaker Joe Francis, but ended the relationship just seven weeks after they wed.

Cox and Arquette split after 11 years of marriage.