Similarity between counselor and client has been identified by research as a component of successful treatment outcome. The client's positive perception of the treatment mileau has also been found to have a positive relationship with post-treatment success. The present study focused on the dynamic relationship between counselor-client similarity and the client's perception of the treatment environment. The subjects were residents and the counseling staff at a state institution for delinquent female offenders.

Counselor-client similarity was assessed by the California Psychological Inventory (C.P.I.). Similarity was based on the differences between counselor and client scores on the four classes of personality assessment of the C.P.I. The client's perception of the treatment environment was measured by the Correctional Institutions Environment Scale (C.I.E.S.). This instrument measures the client's perceptions of the treatment program, the degree of interpersonal relationships, and the emphasis on institutional order and control within the correctional environment.

The institution had nine separate cottage living units. One counselor was assigned to each cottage. While the overall treatment philosophy was behavioral, there were two modes of treatment: individual counseling and group counseling.

In addition to the major question regarding counselor-client similarity and the client's perception of the treatment environment, the study investigated the differences in the clients' consensual ratings of the treatment environments in the different cottage living units. The differences between the clients' consensual ratings in the two treatment modes were also analyzed.

The control variables of the client's age, race, educational level, I.Q., length of time in counseling, and the counselor's age, race, and score on the C.P.I. were adjusted for with multiple regression analysis. Findings indicated no significant relationship between counselor-client similarity and the client's perception of the treatment environment.

Significant differences were found between the cottage units regarding the clients' consensual perceptions of their treatment environments. Significant differences were also found between the consensual perceptions of clients involved in group counseling and those in individual counseling, with group counseling clients giving higher ratings of their treatment environment.