The relationship between client perceptions and counselor effectiveness in a group setting was examined. An attempt was made to identify client-perceived counselor qualities which are related to outcome (change in grade point average) in a group counseling program designed to effect academic recovery with probationary students. The students, assigned to various treatment groups, consisted of 40 males and 27 females on academic probation. Six doctoral students served as the Efficient Study group leaders, and a counselor-structured, integrated didactic and experienced treatment approach was utilized. A slightly modified version of a semantic differential checklist developed by Fuhriman was used to measure client perceptions. Due to various analysis problems it was concluded that only the client perceived dimensions of counselor optimism and responsibility were significantly related to counseling outcome. The findings offer support for the proposal that the successful counselor is one who uses his "unique self" effectively, especially if his unique self is responsible and optimistic. (Author/RSM)