This book investigates how the daily, non-therapeutic hours in a residential setting can be transformed into a deliberate, effective component of treatment for emotionally disturbed children. The authors, drawing on their extensive backgrounds in clinical child care and residential treatment, argue that the routine interactions occurring outside of formal therapy sessions are critical to a child's psychological development. They present a framework that integrates theoretical psychological principles with practical, day-to-day management strategies to ensure that every hour of a child's life contributes to their therapeutic progress. By treating child care as a sophisticated clinical tool rather than mere supervision, the authors provide a comprehensive model for residential staff.

Experts and practitioners in the field of residential child care recognize this work as a foundational text for understanding the therapeutic milieu. Readers frequently note the practical utility of the authors' approach in bridging the gap between clinical theory and the realities of daily institutional life.