One major disadvantage of a closed group versus an open group is that?

• A. closed groups cannot provide depth therapy.
• B. it promotes paranoid feelings in group members.
• C. if everyone quits, you will be left with no group members.
• D. closed groups are much more structured.

Answer: (C)

Membership continuity in group counseling is being tested here. Closed groups keep the same members for the duration, which helps build trust and stability, but it also means the group can be dissolved if everyone quits because there’s no mechanism to bring in new participants to replace them. That potential for a complete loss of the group is the main drawback of a closed format.

Depth of work and dynamics aren’t inherently limited in closed groups, paranoia isn’t an automatic outcome of having a fixed group, and being closed doesn’t by itself make a group significantly more structured. The key practical risk is that, without new members entering, the group may end if all current members leave.