What is the Family Relations Test?
It can be hard to know how a child really feels about the people closest to them. The Family Relations Test gives us a structured way to explore that. Here is what it involves.
What a child says and what they feel are not always the same.
The Family Relations Test (FRT) is a standardised psychological assessment that helps us understand how a child or young person feels about key family members, such as parents, siblings or carers.
What it tells us.
Developed by psychologists and supported by a strong evidence base, the FRT offers valuable insight into a child's emotional bonds, loyalty conflicts and internalised feelings of affection, anxiety or hostility within family relationships.
Who can carry it out.
Because it uses structured, validated materials, the FRT needs specific professional training and interpretation by qualified practitioners.
How we use it at Oakdale.
We use the FRT alongside other relational and attachment measures to build a comprehensive, multi-method understanding of each child's emotional world. That means the recommendations we make are accurate, meaningful and rooted in evidence-based practice.
Not sure where to start?
Our clinical team can talk through your options and help you work out the right next step, whether that is for you or for someone you care about.