Trained activity therapists used activities and activity groups to prepare inmates with psychiatric issues and problems for more advanced therapy, to support ongoing therapy, and to provide successful experiences for inmates to add or develop old or new basic abilities. The inmates who participated in the study were from a special-needs unit. Thirteen inmates attended 3-4 sessions monthly for 6-8 months, 16 inmates participated for 8-16 months, and 17 inmates participated for 16-24 months. They rated the following programs, techniques, and approaches: games, current events, remotivation, mental health groups, one on one, music, stress management, general discussion, puzzle and word games, coping skills, movies, paper exercises, groups that make a person think, and educational groups. They rated the activities according to whether they enjoyed them, benefited from them, or regarded them as helping prepare for the future. Results revealed that all three groups enjoyed movies, current events, and music groups, although they rated them low for benefit and preparing for the future. Participants enjoyed and benefited from groups that allowed for expression of limited information of self, including remotivation, educational groups, and groups that encouraged them to think. They also regarded these groups as preparing them for the future to varying degrees. They did not enjoy groups that required self-disclosure, information processing, problem solving, risk taking, and trusting other group members. They regarded some groups (stress management, coping skills, advanced remotivation, and mental health groups) as preparing for the future. Findings indicated that the activity program made a positive contribution to the overall therapy program, that consistency of programming was vital, and that the results offered guidance to other therapists attempting similar programming. Tables and 9 references (Author abstract modified)