Kim Richards On Rehab, Staying Sober, And Returning To The ‘Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills’ For Season 7

Kim Richards has gone through quite the transformation since her arrest and stint in rehab a year ago. From dealing with her issues with substance abuse to the death of her ex-husband and close friend, Monty Brinson, Richards has managed to turn her life around. In a recent interview with PEOPLE, the reality star opened up about her time in rehab, staying sober, and a possible return to The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills Season 7.

Richards’ interview comes prior to her appearance on The Mother/Daughter Experiment on Lifetime. In speaking about her struggles with sobriety, Richards admitted that her children were the ones she worried about the most.

“I felt terrible for my children,” Richards stated. “That was the thing that bothered me most. I cried because I hurt my kids. Sometimes I put my arms around them and I say, ‘I love you, I’m so sorry.’ I know they worried about me.”

Richards has four children: Brooke (30), Whitney (26), Chad (24), and Kimberly (20). As far as her kids are concerned, Kimberly revealed how she views her mother as her best friend, and that watching her mom struggle with alcoholism was “scary.”

As fans will recall, Richards hit rock bottom a year ago after she was arrested for public intoxication at a Beverly Hills hotel. The arrest and subsequent boot from The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills came at a particularly difficult time for Richards, who was also dealing with her ex-husband’s battle with lung cancer.

That being said, Richards’ oldest daughter, Brooke, was thankful that things worked out the way they did, despite all of the humiliation. “It got her strong for [my father, Monty] did pass away. Maybe if it hadn’t happened, things would have gotten really bad,” Brooke admitted. “But she went through rehab and she got stronger than ever.”

Kim Richards has managed to stay sober despite Brinson’s recent passing. In discussing her sobriety, Richards admitted to her past mistakes but also alluded that her children are the one reason she has been able to work through her issues.

“There are no guarantees. I’ve made mistakes, but I keep trying. I’ve never done anything intentionally to hurt my children,” she stated. “And I hope, for their sake and for the sake of one day my beautiful grandchildren who will come, that this is it.”

Although she hasn’t regained her full-time status on The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills, Richards was featured as a guest star this past season. Even more, an inside source told Star Pulse that Richards was invited to attend the Season 6 reunion special. Apparently, the cast members of the show were more than happy to welcome Richards back.

“Kim made a triumphant return to film the reunion and everyone was very happy to see her,” the source explained. “Her sister Kyle was very emotional and so happy to see Kim received with such an outpouring of love. Kim said she was sober and had been going to AA meetings.”

The insider went on to add that Richards used her appearance at the reunion to make her case for a return to full-time status next season. “It was clear that Kim was using this as the opportunity to make the case for her return next season,” the insider stated. “She kept saying how good it was to be back and how much she missed everyone.”

Producers have yet to announce which cast members will be returning to the series in Season 7. Considering Richards’ compelling story and her history on the show, there is a good chance that she’ll be back in the thick of things before too long.

Fans can watch Richards when The Mother/Daughter Experiment premieres Friday night on Lifetime.

Tell us! Do you want to see Kim Richards return to The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills next season? Let us know in the comments section below.

[Image via Bravo]