Activity Group Therapy for Emotionally Disturbed Pre-School Children

Abstract

Treatment services for preschool children with emotional problems is a neglected area in the network of mental health facilities. This might be partly due to pressures of schools and courts to treat the large number of disturbed children in the latency and adolescent age groups and partly to the lack of adequate models. One agency offering comprehensive services for children between the ages of two to five and in operation since 1962 is described in the following article. Though structure of the agency, funding and admission procedures are mentioned, major emphasis is on the theoretical and practical application of activity group therapy to this age group. Case studies are used to illustrate the most frequent symptoms encountered and the treatment followed.