What about programs and policies that encourage or even require interviewers to start from a place of believing the participant?

Certified FETI does not endorse any position within the larger scope of policies and programs amongst organizations and communities that are inherently biased or presumptive.

A certified FETI interviewer must take each and every report of an experience seriously and strive to do everything possible to understand the participants experience without interpretation or bias. The very definition of “believe” is an action verb. It means to accept (something) as true; feel sure of the truth of and to hold (something) as an opinion; think or suppose. Synonyms of “believe” include “be convinced by, trust, have confidence in, consider honest, and consider truthful. This is totally antithetical to the third element of the FETI Framework – neutral and equitable. To start by believing would automatically mean to begin from a place of bias.