Groups of six to ten boys or girls ranging in age from thirteen to fifteen met weekly for an hour and a half for nearly three years. They had been traumatized by emotional deprivation and economic hardship and were considered 'hard to reach'. Acting out of feelings was believed to be more suitable to such inarticulate individuals than interview therapy. A permissive, accepting 'good family' setting was offered, in which much gratification of infantile needs took place at first. Gradually the patients became able to face reality by fair and realistic testing of their problems and behavior. Feelings were ventilated, and the therapists also concerned themselves with the patients' lives outside the meetings.