Dropping a disruptive adolescent member from a group often leads to which outcome?

• A. A Decrease In Member Trust
• B. An Increase In Member Trust
• C. Group Member Attrition
• D. Group Member Apathy

Answer: (A)

Trust is essential in any group counseling setting. When a disruptive adolescent member is dropped from the group, it signals to the remaining members that the group may not be a safe or predictable space for them either. This can lead to self-protective changes: members may be reluctant to share openly, fear that they could be next, and question whether the group and its leaders can manage conflicts fairly. The result is a drop in trust in the group process and in the leaders’ ability to sustain a supportive, confidential environment. While removing a disruptive member might reduce ongoing disruption, the most immediate and likely outcome for the others is a decrease in trust.