Fergie -- who sings New Year's Eve at the Venetian Ballroom, then leads the party at Palazzo's Lavo -- doesn't think she'd be as successful in her career or relationship without therapy. It helps her keep life in perspective and to set and accomplish goals.

For about 10 minutes each session, she goes into hypnotherapy to receive "the power of positive suggestion."

"If you're in a negative place, it helps you get out of that and empower yourself," she said. "If you're in a place where you're positive, it can take you further in that positive light, to really, really excel in your life."

I'd like to add that if you've never gone to therapy, it's not what you think. You don't necessarily sit around and cry about your mommy, at least not in cognitive behavioral therapy.

It's just talking with a mind expert who pinpoints your strengths and weaknesses, and offers realistic approaches to minimize downers and maximize joy.

"I believe everybody should be in therapy," Fergie said.

I agree. Taking your brain to a therapist is like taking your teeth to the dentist, without the drill. You wouldn't try to adjust your teeth by yourself, would you?

CELLULITE FOR CELLULOID

As for getting fluffier, Fergie ate an extra 15 pounds to portray a robust prostitute in the upcoming musical film, "Nine." Fergie -- deemed Maxim magazine's 10th hottest person last year -- loved the process of pigging out.

"I stopped working out. And I just started eating whatever I wanted. I went to In-N-Out Burger. I really went for it," she said.

"I didn't stare in the mirror," she said. "I didn't have to be worried about sucking in my stomach or anything. It was actually great, looking bigger. ... And just the way my body moved felt different."

It's not for naught, she hopes. This is a potentially big movie break for her in a musical film directed by Rob ("Chicago") Marshall, starring Daniel Day-Lewis, Sophia Loren, Nicole Kidman, Judi Dench, Penelope Cruz, Kate Hudson and Marion Cotillard.

"This is gonna be great for people to see me step outside of the realm they're used to seeing me as, so they can understand I can play different characters and transform."

Post-filming, it's been tough for Fergie, 33, to get the weight off through normal workout routines.

"I thoroughly enjoyed it -- then I felt like a complete glutton," she said. "It's not just shedding right off, trust me."

She's motivated to feel in shape for her 2009 tour with the Black Eyed Peas, for her "overall mind-body connection and self-esteem" -- and "to be able to be in a bathing suit when I go on vacation with my man," fiance Josh ("Las Vegas") Duhamel.

They get married in 11 days. Duhamel, by the way, is a foot taller -- he's 6 feet 4 inches tall; she's 5-4 -- so sometimes he picks her up to kiss her.

"He's my big strong man," she said. "When we go to the movies -- we counted -- I have to walk double-time in order to keep up with him."

HER NAKED STORY

Unlike some celebrities, Fergie -- friends call her "Fergie" or "Ferg" -- doesn't whine about losing anonymity. But she does miss one thing: crowd-surfing at rock festivals.

"I remember going to the Warped Tour with my sister and crowd-surfing to NOFX and MxPx," she said. "But now, they would strip me naked if I went crowd-surfing. They would take off all my clothes!"

NEW YEAR'S EVE SHOW

For her New Year's Eve show, Fergie is bringing Duhamel and her family. It'll be one of her first big outings since wrapping "Nine."

"I haven't been going out at all. So for me it'll be a nice night to let loose and have a good time and do some dancing," she said. "And I'm doing the countdown! That'll be fun."

The Venetian Ballroom tickets cost $75 to $200. (Coolio also performs.) Her Lavo "mistress of ceremonies" ticket fetches $150 to $250. (Call 414-9000 for either.)

Fergie's last big to-do here was a red-carpeted, dual birthday celebration with Quentin Tarantino (she played a random victim in his horror film, "Grindhouse") at The Mirage's Beatles Revolution Lounge in March.

"We had a cake fight," she said. "We got lap dances. We just did it up. It was fun. It was Quentin and I. We couldn't have a normal birthday. We had to pull out all the stops."

Doug Elfman's column appears on Mondays, Tuesdays and Fridays. Contact him at 702-383-0391 or e-mail him at delfman@reviewjournal.com. He also blogs at reviewjournal.com/elfman.