A preliminary report is provided on a therapeutic nursery school program at Louisiana State University Medical Center in New Orleans. The program emphasizes the mother-child unit rather than the child as a single individual. Within the mother-child relationship, attention is given to altering perceptions and expectations, to experience of and sharing of affect, and to the development of new behaviors and practices. Long- and short-term treatment goals are set for each mother-child unit. There are therapist-educators for the children and educators for the mothers. Examples of the treatment process are provided. (DB)