Wednesday, 1 October 2025

Clinical Screening Checklist FEU

 

Here’s a one-page clinical checklist version of the Familial Epistemic Undermining (FEU) model, streamlined for child-protection and family-assessment settings. It’s written in neutral, professional language for frontline use.



Clinical Screening Checklist: Familial Epistemic Undermining (FEU)


(Use in child-protection, custody, or family-therapy contexts)


Purpose:

To identify patterns where one caregiver and their support network undermine a child’s trust in the other caregiver, creating persistent confusion, mistrust, and potential developmental harm.



I. Child-Level Indicators


☐ Child consistently rejects or doubts one caregiver’s statements, even when verifiably true.

☐ Child refers to that caregiver as “tricking,” “lying,” or “not to be trusted.”

☐ Child appears confused about whether events/statements are real or fabricated.

☐ Child defaults to believing one caregiver/network without seeking evidence.

☐ Child exhibits defensive loyalty to one caregiver, showing hostility or fear toward the other.

☐ Child demonstrates difficulty distinguishing between “could be a trick” vs. “is a trick.”



II. Caregiver/Network Behaviours


☐ One caregiver (and/or their allies) repeatedly denigrates or discredits the other caregiver.

☐ Caregiver actively frames the other caregiver as manipulative or deceitful.

☐ Caregiver restricts or controls the child’s access to the other caregiver’s perspective.

☐ Network members (family/friends) echo and reinforce the negative framing.

☐ Child is encouraged to act as a messenger or “judge” between caregivers.



III. Relational Dynamics


☐ Evidence of triangulation: child is placed in the middle of parental conflict.

☐ Conversations between child and target caregiver are frequently reframed as “tricks.”

☐ Neutral third parties (teachers, clinicians, extended family) notice stark differences in how the child relates to each caregiver.

☐ The mistrust is context-specific (directed at one caregiver only, not generalized).



IV. Risk/Impact Indicators


☐ Child reports ongoing confusion, mistrust, or fear around knowing what is true.

☐ Child shows signs of anxiety or stress when asked to evaluate claims from the target caregiver.

☐ Relationship with target caregiver is significantly impaired despite no independent evidence of harm.

☐ Child’s attachment style appears insecure/disorganized in relation to the target caregiver.

☐ Long-term risk: difficulty forming trusting relationships, impaired social cognition.



V. Professional Guidance

Do not assume rejection = evidence of abuse; assess whether rejection arises from direct harm or from FEU transmission.

Look for patterned reinforcement from one caregiver and their network.

Consider structured observation, collateral reports, and independent evidence before conclusions.

When FEU is suspected, interventions should prioritize:

Neutral, verifiable truth-testing activities with the child.

Reducing triangulation (keeping the child out of adult conflict).

Restoring safe, predictable access to the undermined caregiver.

Psychoeducation for the alienating caregiver/network.



Note:

This checklist is a screening tool, not a diagnostic instrument. It should be used in conjunction with comprehensive family assessments, attachment measures, and evidence-based practice guidelines.


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