The goal of correctional counseling seems to be the public protection as reflected in the elimination of, or at least the reduction of, recidivism. In practice, the goals are much narrower in scope and more limited in time than this idealized goal would suggest. Where bona fide counseling is actually occurring, it is more likely to involve efforts to help offenders function more effectively in their present environment than in some future situation. Contrary to popular belief, very little formal counseling occurs in most correctional settings due to the usually very high counselor/client ratio. Other misconceptions concern correctional clients' motivation for counseling, credentials of correctional counselors, the nature of counseling theories, and the counseling environment. In researching the effectiveness of correctional counseling, basic standards need to be established concerning what counseling really is and under what circumstances it can realistically be expected to be successful. 27 references.