This guide is about domestic abuse in the context of neurodiversity and neurodivergence, and the specific considerations that arise when supporting Neurodivergent men who have used violence and abuse in their intimate relationships. Neurodiversity is a growing global paradigm and movement, and the content of this guide will be of interest to many countries beyond the United Kingdom (UK). In recent years in the UK, neurodiversity has been identified as a research and operational priority by His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service and the Ministry of Justice, reflecting growing recognition that Neurodivergent people are over‑represented across the criminal justice system and frequently experience poorer outcomes than their neurotypical counterparts. The Home Office Standards for Domestic Abuse Perpetrator Interventions 1 now require service providers to consider and respond to the needs of a neurodiverse client base, yet many practitioners report having little guidance, training or confidence in how to work in a neuro‑inclusive way.
This guide has been developed to help address these gaps by providing clear explanations, practical tools and research‑informed strategies for working effectively, safely and inclusively with Neurodivergent clients. It draws upon contemporary research, practitioner expertise, and insights from Neurodivergent‑led organisations to clarify key concepts and provide applied guidance that can be used across one‑to‑one, groupwork, case management and assessment contexts. Specifically, the guide aims to:
- Increase awareness, understanding and practitioner confidence around neurodiversity and neurodivergence within the domestic abuse perpetrator intervention sector. This includes introducing key concepts such as spiky profiles, executive functioning, sensory processing, masking and the Double Empathy Problem, and explaining how these may influence engagement, communication, and emotional regulation in interventions.
- Examine and clarify the differences between coercive control and structural control, supporting practitioners to distinguish between abusive behaviour and the coping strategies many Neurodivergent people rely on to manage anxiety, sensory overload, transitions and unpredictability. The guide explores how these dynamics can intersect – including how structural needs may become coercive in relationships with existing power imbalances – and provides accessible language, examples, and practice tools for navigating this complexity.
- Support organisations to design accessible and predictable environments, processes and programme structures that recognise the sensory, communication and processing needs of a neurodiverse client group. This includes guidance on building layout, intervention spaces, session structure, communication styles, assessment processes, adaptations, and the application of the adapted SPACE framework 2 (Sensory, Predictability, Acceptance, Communication, Empathy).
- Promote the development of Neurodivergent‑friendly workplaces where Neurodivergent practitioners are recognised, valued and supported. Many facilitators, caseworkers and specialists within the sector are themselves Neurodivergent, and inclusive organisational cultures improve wellbeing, retention, practice quality and ultimately client outcomes.
Ultimately, this guide aims to equip practitioners with research and practice‑informed guidance about how best to engage Neurodivergent men from a victim‑survivor centred and informed approach, ensuring interventions are accessible, ethical, effective, and grounded in accountability. It advocates for services that are inclusive for all rather than disabling for some, recognising that neuro‑affirming practice enhances engagement, supports meaningful behaviour change, and increases safety for victim‑survivors.
References
(1)
The Home Office Standards for Domestic Abuse Perpetrator Interventions
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(2)
Autistic SPACE: a novel framework for meeting the needs of Autistic people in healthcare settings | British Journal of Hospital Medicine
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