TWO GROUPS, ONE FOR MOTHERS AND THE OTHER FOR THEIR CHILDREN, MET ONCE A WEEK FOR 6 MONTHS IN ADJACENT ROOMS. A PHYSICIAN AND A SOCIAL WORKER ACTED AS COTHERAPISTS FOR THE MOTHERS' GROUP. AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST SKILLED IN PLAY THERAPY RAN THE CHILDREN'S GROUP AND WAS ASSISTED BY TWO VOLUNTEERS AND TWO STUDENTS. FOUR OF THE SEVEN MOTHERS SELECTED FOR THE PROGRAM HAD ASKED FOR HELP, STATING THEY WERE AFRAID THEY WOULD HARM THEIR CHILD. THE OTHERS NEEDED MORE ENCOURAGEMENT TO ATTEND. THE MOTHERS EXHIBITED MANY OF THE CHARACTERISTICS ASSOCIATED WITH CHILD ABUSERS--LACK OF SELF-RESPECT, SOCIAL ISOLATION, RELATIONSHIP PROBLEMS, AND UNREALISTIC EXPECTATIONS OF CHILD AND FAMILY. THROUGH PARTICIPATION IN THE GROUP, THE WOMEN DEVELOPED SELF-ESTEEM BY LEARNING THAT THEY WERE NOT THE ONLY MOTHERS WITH PROBLEMS AND BY DISCOVERING THEIR OWN AREAS OF COMPETENCE. SOCIAL ISOLATION WAS ALLEVIATED THROUGH REGULAR CONTACT WITH GROUP MEMBERS. THE MOTHERS ALSO ACQUIRED KNOWLEDGE OF CHILD-REARING SKILLS AND LEARNED MORE REALISTIC STANDARDS OF CHILD DEVELOPMENT. AN INDEPENDENT INTERVIEWER WHO VISITED THE FAMILIES BEFORE AND AFTER THERAPY NOTED A REDUCTION OF TENSION IN ALL THE HOMES AFTER THERAPY. IN THE CHILDREN'S SESSIONS, CLINGING OVERATTACHMENT WAS REPLACED BY INDEPENDENCE THROUGH CAREFUL HANDLING OF BOTH MOTHER AND CHILD WHEN THEY SEPARATED FOR THEIR GROUP SESSIONS. INHIBITIONS DISAPPEARED AS THE CHILDREN ESTABLISHED REGULAR, TRUSTING RELATIONSHIPS WITH ADULTS. THE CHILDREN LEARNED CONSTRUCTIVE PLAY AND DEVELOPED THE ABILITY TO ENJOY PLAY. SOCIAL SKILLS WERE LEARNED THROUGH GREATER CONTACT WITH OTHER CHILDREN AND ADULTS, AND RAPID PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL DEVELOPMENTAL PROGRESS WAS MADE. FOR EXAMPLE, ONE WHINING BABY DEVELOPED INTO A CHATTERING, EXTROVERTED TODDLER OVER THE COURSE OF THE SESSIONS. BEFORE AND AFTER EACH SESSION, MOTHERS WERE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO TALK WITH THE PLAY THERAPIST AND TO JOIN IN THE CHILDREN'S PLAY. SEVERAL FACTORS ARE THOUGHT TO HAVE CONTRIBUTED TO THE PROGRAM'S SUCCESS: EXCLUSION OF UNSUITABLE CASES (E.G., PSYCHOTIC PARENTS); CLOSE LINKS BETWEEN THE MOTHERS' AND CHILDREN'S GROUPS; AND AVAILABILITY OF BACKUP SUPPORT FROM SPECIALISTS. ONE PROGRAM BENEFIT IS THAT HEALTH AND SOCIAL SERVICE PERSONNEL NO LONGER ARE RELUCTANT TO IDENTIFY POTENTIALLY ABUSIVE PARENTS. A LIST OF REFERENCES IS INCLUDED. (LKM)