Autism and the Power Threat Meaning Framework
The Power Threat Meaning Framework (PTMF) offers an alternative way of understanding mental health difficulties and distress, moving away from the traditional diagnostic model that centres on categorising and labelling symptoms within a medical framework. I explore this in my book, No Place for Autism?, where I examine how the PTMF challenges the pathologising lens often applied to individuals. Developed by a group of psychologists and mental health professionals in the UK, the framework shifts the focus towards understanding the social, political, and cultural factors that influence distress, viewing it not as a symptom of illness but as a meaningful response to adversity.
At its heart, the PTMF acknowledges the profound impact of power dynamics, societal structures, and personal experiences on mental health. It highlights how distress and difficulty often arise from threats to an individual’s personal and social identities, relationships, and circumstances. These threats may include trauma, violence, loss, abuse, or other adverse experiences that disrupt well-being. Rather than reducing distress to a clinical checklist, the framework seeks to uncover its meaning by exploring how individuals interpret their experiences within the contexts of their lives. It takes into account the broader social, cultural, economic, and environmental factors that shape these experiences, recognising that distress is often a response to inequality, discrimination, and systemic oppression.
Importantly, the PTMF avoids imposing diagnostic labels, instead encouraging a narrative approach that empowers individuals to construct their own understanding of their distress. It supports people in making sense of their experiences, recognising their inherent strengths and resources, and crafting narratives that move beyond the limitations of a medicalised view of mental health. By placing individuals’ stories and contexts at the forefront, the PTMF offers a collaborative and humane alternative, one that emphasises the social and cultural dimensions of distress and fosters a more inclusive and empowering approach to mental well-being.
Autism and the PTMF
When viewed through the lens of the PTMF, autism emerges not as a pathology to be diagnosed but as a richly textured way of being that stands at odds with societal norms. Autistic people often feel like foreigners navigating an alien world, one designed by and for the members of the neuro-majority. This sense of otherness is rooted in the power dynamics that shape societal expectations, privileging the majority’s behaviours and communication styles whilst marginalising neurodivergent ones. These dynamics manifest in structural exclusion, social stigma, and a lack of acceptance, leaving many autistic individuals feeling disempowered and disconnected.
The threats autistic individuals face are often external, stemming from a world that fails to accommodate their sensory, social, and emotional needs. Sensory overload, social misunderstandings, and the constant need to mask or conform to societal standards create chronic stress and distress. These threats are compounded by systemic inequities, such as limited access to appropriate supports and a lack of understanding within educational and professional environments. For many, the resulting feelings of isolation and overwhelm are not inherent to autism itself but arise from the relentless demand to adapt to a world that refuses to adapt in return.
In this context, the PTMF’s emphasis on meaning provides a transformative perspective. Autism, far from being a deficit, is a way of experiencing the world with profound depth and uniqueness. Autistic individuals are often gestalt processors, finding connections and patterns that others may overlook and bringing a deep curiosity and focus to their interests. Their narratives of selfhood, shaped by these distinct ways of processing and relating to the world, challenge the dominant narrative of autism as a clinical condition to be treated. Instead, the PTMF invites us to value these narratives for their authenticity and strength, recognising the inherent worth of autistic perspectives.
Equally important is the framework’s insistence on understanding the broader context of autistic lives. Societal structures, cultural attitudes, and the availability of accommodations shape the experiences of autistic people, determining whether they can thrive or are forced into survival mode. In a world that so often values “having” over “being,” autistic individuals embody the profound importance of authenticity, curiosity, and connection. Their struggles are not personal failings but reflections of a society that prioritises conformity over diversity.
By applying the PTMF to autism, the focus shifts from fixing autistic people to addressing the systemic inequities and oppressive structures that undermine their well-being. It offers a vision of a society that celebrates neurodiversity, one in which autistic individuals are valued not for how well they can fit into existing systems but for who they are. The PTMF invites us to imagine a world where autistic people are not foreigners in the land of "having" but recognised as vital contributors to the land of "being," where their authenticity is celebrated and their experiences understood as essential to the richness of humanity.
Example: How the PTMF Deals with the Gaslighting of Autistics
Gaslighting, a form of psychological manipulation designed to destabilise and confuse its victims, poses unique and devastating challenges for autistic individuals. The PTMF provides a lens to understand the specific dynamics at play when autistics experience gaslighting, offering both insight into the harm caused and pathways for healing. By identifying the power relationships involved, the threats created, and the meaning autistic individuals derive from these experiences, the PTMF allows for a richer understanding of how to address the damage inflicted by this form of abuse.
Power Relationships in Gaslighting Autistics
At its core, gaslighting is a power dynamic, and autistic individuals are often at a structural disadvantage due to societal norms that prioritise the modes of communication and emotional expression of the neuro-majority. In many cases, gaslighters exploit this imbalance, using their position of perceived authority—whether as parents, partners, caregivers, educators, or colleagues—to dismiss, distort, or deny the reality of autistic experiences. These power relationships are often intensified by the pervasive belief that autistic people are unreliable narrators of their own lives, a stereotype rooted in systemic ableism. This dismissal of autistic perspectives creates a fertile ground for gaslighters to erode trust, amplify self-doubt, and maintain control.
For non-speaking autistics, gestalt language processors, or those with alexithymia (difficulty sourcing, identifying, and describing emotions), the power imbalance is even greater. Gaslighters can weaponise the autistic person’s communication differences, portraying them as confused, irrational, or even delusional. This dynamic can leave the autistic individual with little recourse to defend their perception of reality, further entrenching the gaslighter’s dominance. The result is an overwhelming sense of disempowerment, as the autistic person’s voice is systematically silenced or dismissed.
The Threats of Gaslighting
The threats created by gaslighting are multifaceted and deeply damaging, particularly for autistic individuals. At an interpersonal level, gaslighting undermines the autistic person’s ability to trust their own perceptions, memories, and emotional responses. This can lead to a profound sense of confusion and self-doubt, exacerbated by the autistic tendency to hyper-analyse and search for patterns. Gaslighting often exploits these analytical traits, creating a loop of second-guessing and self-blame that can feel inescapable.
On a broader level, gaslighting poses an existential threat to autistic identity. Many autistic individuals are already navigating a world that feels foreign and hostile, and gaslighting reinforces this alienation by severing their connection to their own truth. For hyper-empathic autistics, the threats are even greater, as they may unconsciously absorb the emotions and distorted realities of the gaslighter. This emotional enmeshment not only deepens confusion but can also lead to emotional dysregulation, sensory overload, and burnout.
The cumulative impact of these threats can be devastating, often resulting in heightened anxiety, depression, and trauma (are you depressed and anxious because you’re autistic, or because your in a gaslit relationship?). For those trapped in environments where gaslighting is a constant—such as autistic adults still living with abusive caregivers—the threat extends to their physical safety and long-term autonomy. Without intervention, the psychological toll of gaslighting can leave autistic individuals feeling isolated, powerless, and disconnected from their own sense of self.
Meaning-Making in the Context of Gaslighting
Despite the profound harm caused by gaslighting, autistic individuals often find ways to make meaning from their experiences, a process the PTMF acknowledges as essential to healing. Autistic people are natural pattern-seekers and meaning-makers, and many use these strengths to piece together the fractured reality created by gaslighting. For some, this involves recognising the systemic ableism that underpins their experiences, reframing the abuse not as a reflection of personal failure but as a symptom of societal power imbalances.
Others draw strength from their neurodivergent identity, reclaiming their voice and truth as acts of resistance. The narrative approach encouraged by the PTMF allows autistic individuals to reconstruct their sense of self, often by validating their lived experiences and rejecting the distorted narratives imposed by gaslighters. This process of meaning-making can be deeply empowering, helping autistic people to reconnect with their strengths, values, and communities.
Crucially, the PTMF’s emphasis on social context helps autistic individuals see their experiences within a broader framework, recognising that their distress is not an isolated or individual failing but a response to systemic oppression and interpersonal harm. This shift in perspective can be profoundly liberating, offering a pathway out of the cycle of self-blame and into a space of self-compassion and empowerment.
Healing and Support Through the PTMF
The PTMF highlights the importance of addressing the power dynamics and systemic factors that enable gaslighting, as well as providing autistic individuals with the tools and support needed to rebuild their sense of agency. Therapeutic approaches informed by the PTMF prioritise validation, boundary-setting, and narrative reconstruction, helping autistic people to reclaim their reality and redefine their relationships with power.
For those still living in gaslighting environments, the PTMF offers a roadmap for survival and eventual escape. Strategies such as documenting experiences, seeking external validation from trusted sources, and connecting with neurodivergent communities can provide a lifeline, reminding autistic individuals that their reality is valid and their voice deserves to be heard.
Ultimately, the PTMF reframes gaslighting not as a failure of the individual but as a consequence of systemic inequalities and abusive power dynamics. By centring the experiences and resilience of autistic people, the PTMF provides a compassionate and empowering framework for understanding and addressing the harm caused by gaslighting, offering hope for healing and justice in the face of this insidious form of abuse.
Why the PTMF Should Be the Default Model for “Coaches”
The rise of unregulated “autism coaches” and “ADHD coaches” reflects capitalism’s commodification of neurodivergence, offering overpriced services that rarely address systemic barriers whilst perpetuating individual blame. This model, grounded in capitalist profit-seeking, is ill-equipped to meet the needs of neurodivergent individuals. Instead, the PTMF offers a radically better approach—one rooted in understanding systemic power dynamics, identifying threats, and empowering individuals to make sense of their experiences in context. If adopted, the PTMF could redefine the coaching industry by focusing on empowerment, authenticity, and systemic accountability rather than exploitation and conformity.
The PTMF provides a framework that aligns with the core needs of neurodivergent individuals by shifting the focus from “fixing” people to addressing the societal structures that create distress. This is a critical departure from the traditional coaching model, which often reinforces ableist narratives by promising to help clients “overcome” their differences or “fit in” with the majority’s expectations. Unlike many coaching approaches that commodify neurodivergence, the PTMF centres on collaboration and understanding the individual within their broader social, cultural, and economic contexts. By identifying power imbalances—such as workplace discrimination or educational inaccessibility—and exploring the threats they create, the PTMF empowers individuals to advocate for accommodations and systemic change, rather than internalising shame or self-blame.
Moreover, the PTMF rejects the transactional nature of capitalist coaching models, which prioritise profit over genuine care. Instead, it aligns with a matristic ethos, valuing mutual support and collective well-being. For neurodivergent individuals, this means creating spaces that nurture their strengths and identities, recognising that their challenges often arise from a lack of systemic support rather than any inherent deficit. Coaches working within the PTMF model would focus on building trust, validating lived experiences, and fostering autonomy, rather than monetising vulnerability.
To combat the exploitative dynamics of the current coaching industry, the PTMF offers a framework that prioritises equity, empowerment, and systemic change. If autism and ADHD coaches were trained in the PTMF, they could serve as allies in dismantling the barriers neurodivergent individuals face, rather than perpetuating the cycle of commodification and conformity. The coaching industry has an opportunity to transform itself, but this requires moving beyond capitalist paradigms and embracing models like the PTMF, which place the needs, rights, and humanity of neurodivergent people at the forefront.
Final thoughts …
To wrap up, I want to emphasise that the PTMF is not the way, but a way—a framework that has resonated deeply with me and aligned with my own healing journey as an autistic person. It’s a lens through which I’ve been able to make sense of my experiences and reclaim my narrative in a world that so often seeks to define me by its own standards. For me, the PTMF fits neatly within liberatory frameworks, offering a path forward that centres the individual rather than the system, and challenges the status quo in ways that feel both empowering and affirming.
What I find most meaningful about the PTMF is its unflinching acknowledgment that the systems we inhabit—systems designed for the neuro-majority—are not just failing us but are actively disabling us. Yet, the PTMF goes far beyond the social model of disability. It doesn’t simply stop at recognising the barriers created by inaccessible environments or systemic ableism; it seeks to understand how power dynamics, threats, and meanings are uniquely experienced and interpreted, acknowledging that these threats will affect people differently depending on their intersecting identities, and that individuals will ascribe their own personal meanings to the challenges they face. It refuses to reduce distress to a checklist of symptoms or strip it of its context, instead asking us to explore the stories behind it and the systems that perpetuate it. In doing so, it honours the complexity of our lives and the diversity of our ways of being, whilst also recognising that privilege exists even within neurodivergence—for example, white autistics in the US are diagnosed at significantly higher rates than African American autistics. The PTMF encourages us to examine these inequities, the power structures that create them, and the meanings each of us ascribes to these experiences, fostering a deeper understanding of both our individual and shared realities.
The PTMF has been transformative for me because it centres the autistic person—their voice, their truth, and their agency. It offers an antidote to the medicalised, deficit-based narratives that dominate mainstream approaches to neurodivergence. It invites us to see ourselves not as broken or in need of fixing but as whole, as valuable, and as worthy of being understood on our own terms. And it doesn’t stop there: it also calls on society to reflect on the systems and structures that oppress us, recognising that the problem is not within us but in the world we are forced to navigate.
Whilst the PTMF might not be for everyone, it has been a powerful tool for me in reclaiming my voice and my place in this world. It has helped me to hold onto hope while advocating for systemic change, and to find strength in my identity as an autistic person. For those seeking a framework that prioritises empowerment, context, and liberation, the PTMF offers a meaningful way forward. It’s not the only way, but it’s a way that has made all the difference for me.
February 2025 Update
It’s strange to look back on my writing from even a year ago and see how much has shifted—both in the world around me and within myself. Since coming out as trans in 2024 and beginning my transition, I’ve found myself revisiting pieces like this with a new lens, seeing layers of meaning I hadn’t fully appreciated at the time. The truth is, transitioning wasn’t just a personal milestone; it was a reclamation of self in a world that often denies our existence. And yet, it’s happening against the backdrop of a country that feels increasingly hostile to people like me. The president’s attacks on the trans community, paired with sweeping rollbacks of our rights, have made this a time of both profound self-discovery and deep uncertainty.
In the midst of all this, the PTMF has remained an anchor. The framework helps me make sense of the intersection of my personal growth and the systemic oppression I face as both a trans and autistic person. It validates the overwhelming feelings of threat that come with living in a country where the president has made my very existence a political target. But more than that, it helps me hold onto truth, even when the systems around me attempt to gaslight me into believing I don’t belong. The PTMF reminds me that my distress is not a failing on my part but a reaction to an environment that is, at its core, openly hostile.
What stands out most to me now, as I reread my old writing, is how much the PTMF honours complexity—of identity, of experience, of the systems we’re forced to inhabit. It’s this nuance that continues to make it such a vital tool for navigating these troubling times. The framework allows me to hold multiple truths at once: that my transness is both the origin and the destination, a constant within me that I’m finally free to embrace, and that the threats I face are as much about systemic power as they are about individual interactions. It helps me see the ways these threats manifest differently for others, depending on their intersecting identities, and to hold compassion and solidarity for those whose battles may not mirror my own.
The PTMF also gives me a way to confront the stark reality of this moment in history without losing myself to despair. It helps me reframe the president’s attacks on trans people not as a reflection of our worth but as a reaction to our strength, our resilience, and our refusal to conform. It lets me recognise the power dynamics at play while finding meaning in my own resistance—whether that’s showing up for my students, writing these words, or simply continuing to exist in a world that wishes I wouldn’t.
This period of upheaval has also underscored how much the PTMF’s principles align with my commitment to liberation. It doesn’t just name the threats or dissect the power structures—it points us toward healing that is rooted in agency, in connection, and in reclaiming our stories. It has helped me see my transness as a source of strength, my autism as a source of insight, and the intersection of both as a radical act of defiance against a world that demands conformity. And in these times, when survival itself feels like an act of resistance, that clarity is more important than ever.
As I continue to navigate these overlapping crises—political, personal, systemic—I find myself sharing the PTMF with others who are struggling to make sense of their own experiences. It’s not the answer, but it is an answer, one that has helped me find grounding in the chaos. For those of us living on the margins, whether as trans, autistic, or otherwise marginalised people, the PTMF offers a way to push back against the narratives that would erase us and to find power in our stories. And in a time when so much feels out of our control, that is no small thing.