THERE ARE THREE DIFFERENT WAYS IN WHICH PSYCHOTHERAPY FOR ABUSIVE PARENTS MAY BE CONSIDERED. FIRST, THERE IS THE ACKNOWLEDGEMENT THAT ABUSIVE PARENTS HAVE A NEED FOR AND A RIGHT TO HELP, EVEN IF THE CHILD DOES NOT INDIRECTLY BENEFIT. THUS, THERAPY SHOULD BE PROVIDED TO THESE ADULTS, EVEN IF THERE IS NO BENEFIT TO THE CHILD. A SECOND CONSIDERATION OF THERAPY FOR THE PARENTS IS THE ADVANTAGE TO THE CHILD OF THE PARENTS' IMPROVED STATE OF MENTAL HEALTH. A THIRD WAY OF CONSIDERING THERAPY FOR THE ABUSING PARENT IS TO FOCUS PRIMARILY ON THE CHANGES IN THE ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIORS OF THE PARENT TOWARDS THE CHILD. GIVEN THESE THREE PURPOSES OF PSYCHOTHERAPY FOR PARENTS, THIS ARTICLE DISCUSSES SOME OF THE COMPONENTS OF EFFECTIVE THERAPY FOR ABUSIVE PARENTS AND EXAMINES HOW SUCH THERAPY VARIES FROM THE THERAPY MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS USUALLY AND TRADITIONALLY PROVIDE TOR THEIR PATIENTS. THE WAYS IN WHICH THERAPY CAN IMPINGE ON THE PARENTS' ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIORS TOWARDS THE CHILD ARE THEN EXAMINED. FINALLY, GIVEN THERAPEUTIC GAINS IN THE PARENTS, THE AUTHORS EXAMINE THE QUESTION OF HOW ONE CAN ASSESS THE READINESS AND ABILITY OF THE PARENTS TO PROVIDE ADEQUATE PARENTING FOR THE ABUSED CHILD. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED)...DMC