Following 4 weeks of unsuccessful conventional therapy, five trainable mentally retarded males (CA 7-12 years) were placed in a behavior modification group-therapy-readiness program (BMP). Immediate gratification, short range delayed gratification, and long range delayed gratification were used. Teachers were encouraged to continue the BMP in their classrooms. Desirable behavior was exhibited significantly more often (p less than .005) during the BMP than before. There was no significant difference between the BMP sessions and followup sessions. Extinction was avoided through the use of varied reinforcement schedules and cooperation of the teachers. Operant techniques successfully readied mental retardates for a group therapy setting. (Author)