Resources for Supporting Survivors of Domestic Violence

The resources in this article are for informational purposes only; individuals should consult with a licensed health care provider before taking action. The article was last updated in February 2026.

People who are experiencing domestic violence and members of their support system can use this list to find information about seeking professional help, finding housing, legal assistance, and free or low-cost resources.

In This Article:

Identifying Symptoms and Signs of Domestic Violence

Is This Abuse? NDVH: list of behaviors that qualify as physical or psychological abuse.

Domestic Violence and Abuse, HelpGuide.org: list of warning signs and behaviors that a person might be in an abusive relationship, including physical, emotional and sexual abuse.

Signs of Abuse, NCADV: list of traits that abusers often have in common, and warning signs that a relationship is abusive.

Domestic violence against women: Recognize patterns, seek help — Mayo Clinic: explains common patterns and escalation in abusive relationships, signs to watch for, and when/how to seek help.

Get the Facts About Intimate Partner Sexual Violence, RAINN: focused guidance on intimate partner sexual violence, including warning signs, safety considerations, and support options, complementing broader domestic violence “signs” lists.

Signs of domestic violence or abuse, Office on Women’s Health: answers to frequently asked questions about domestic violence, abuse and seeking professional help.

Elder abuse, Office on Women’s Health: answers to frequently asked questions about domestic violence and abuse inflicted upon older adults.

Male Victims of Domestic Abuse, Rainbow House: list of warning signs that men may be experiencing domestic violence or abuse, and statistics about male survivors of abuse.

Resources about Trauma Recovery and PTSD

Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, National Institute of Mental Health: clinical information about post-traumatic stress, risk factors and therapeutic interventions.

Facts About Women and Trauma, American Psychology Association: landing page for resources about trauma, including definitions, risk factors and opportunities for help.

Self-Care Activities (PDF), Trauma Survivors Network: printable self-care menu covering emotional, mental, social, and spiritual self-care strategies that can support trauma recovery and PTSD-related stress (useful as a client handout or for psychoeducation).

Clinical Practice Guideline for the Treatment of Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (Adults), American Psychological Association: evidence-based PTSD treatment guideline summarizing recommended interventions (helpful for social work students/clinicians looking for standards-of-care and treatment options to discuss with clients/referrals).

Resources to Use in Therapy, Minnesota Trauma Project: downloadable worksheets, activities and strategies for counselors to explore when working with clients who have survived traumatic events.

Organizations Dedicated to Ending Domestic Violence

National Center on Domestic Violence, Trauma and Mental Health: offers training, support, and consultation to advocates, providers, legal professionals, and policymakers working to improve agency and systems-level responses to survivors and their children.

Asian & Pacific Islander Institute on Domestic Violence: provides training, technical assistance, policy analysis, and information on gender violence, current research, and culturally specific models of intervention and community engagement.

Futures Without Violence: offers programs, policies and campaigns to empower people and organizations working to end violence against women and children around the world.

Institute on Domestic Violence in the African American Community: provides research, advocacy and resources to support African American communities, including families, individuals, and organizations serving the community.

Yale Childhood Violent Trauma Center: provides trauma-informed treatments and services to children and families who have experienced violence.

National Coalition Against Domestic Violence: collaborates with national organizations to support policies that serve and protect victims and survivors of domestic violence, and creates campaigns to bring awareness to the cause.

National Indigenous Women’s Resource Center: provides national leadership to end violence against American Indian, Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian women by supporting culturally grounded, grassroots advocacy.

Break the Cycle: provides youth leadership opportunities, policy advocacy, and community education about teen dating violence.

Jewish Women International: provides violence prevention programming, financial literacy, economic security and interfaith community building for Jewish women.

Community United Against Violence: supports healing and leadership of people in the LGBTQ community who have been affected by violence and works with broader communities to replace cycles of trauma with cycles of safety.

The Center for Survivor Agency and Justice: advocates for survivors of intimate partner violence at the structural and agency level.

Legal Resources about Domestic Violence

Resources for Survivors and Advocates, Asista: landing page of links to legal resources for immigrants from an organization that supports frontline advocates and attorneys who provide legal assistance to immigrant survivors.

Report from the Field: Domestic Violence Survivors & the Impact of COVID-19, American Bar Association: webinar recording with information about legal responses for practitioners, advocates and survivors.

Resources for Survivors, U.S. Department of Justice – Office on Violence Against Women (OVW): federal hub linking survivors and advocates to information and support related to domestic violence, dating violence, sexual assault, and stalking, including guidance on reporting and accessing services.

Free and Low-Cost Domestic Violence Resources

myPlan App: mobile app to help with safety decisions if you or someone you care about is experiencing intimate partner abuse or violence

Ruth, National Domestic Violence Hotline: a free, confidential chat-based support option designed for people who can’t safely call; offers guided help for understanding abuse, exploring options, and connecting to additional resources when needed.

Online Support Groups for Survivors, Tech safety: information for survivors who want to connect with online support groups.

Books about Trauma Recovery

Best Books on Life after Domestic Violence, Domestic Shelters: list of recommended books for survivors of abusive relationships to read or discuss with a provider.

Life After Abuse: Helpful Books to Check Out, NDVH: recommended books for survivors based on their circumstances and experiences.

Books for Healing, Break the Silence: books about healing from trauma after experiencing abuse, for survivors or people who want to help support the recovery of a loved one.

Where to Find a Professional Counselor or Social Worker

Find a Social Worker, Help Starts Here: list of free online portals for people seeking a social work professional in their area.

How to Find a Licensed Social Worker, OnlineMSWPrograms: information about finding a social worker in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.

Social Worker Finder, HelpPRO: free online portal to find a local social worker where users can search by categories including distance, specialization, insurance and age group.

Find a Domestic Violence Therapist, Psychology Today: searchable database of therapists that specialize in domestic violence counseling, organized by city and state.

Psychologist Locator, American Psychological Association: database for finding a psychologist by location.

Resources about Housing and Shelters

Homeless Shelters, The Salvation Army USA: free online portal for finding a homeless shelter nearby.

Domestic Violence Shelter Search Tool, DomesticShelters.org: searchable tool to find nearby domestic violence programs and shelters in the U.S. and Canada, with filters and direct contact details.

Homeless Shelters, Homeless Shelter Directory: interactive map for people searching for a local homeless shelter.

Helping DV Survivors Achieve Safe & Stable Housing, Safe Housing Partnerships: video explaining different approaches to helping survivors of domestic violence find housing.

Transitional Housing, Women’s Shelters: information for women seeking temporary housing, organized by state.

Homelessness Assistance Programs, U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development: interactive map for identifying local housing assistance programs and grantees in each state.

Domestic Violence Shelters, Safe Horizons: information about the eight shelters and short-term residences provided by Safe Horizons.

Helping Someone Experiencing Domestic Violence

Offering Support, NDVH: list of articles about how to offer support to a friend or loved one who may be experiencing domestic violence.

How to Help a Friend Experiencing Domestic Abuse, WomenSV: Practical “do’s and don’ts” for friends/family, including what to say, how to safety-plan without escalating risk, and how to connect someone to support.

Digital Stalking Safety Tips: Protect Yourself Online, Domestic Violence and Abuse Protection (DVAP): Survivor-centered steps for protecting privacy on phones/accounts and responding to tech-facilitated abuse (tracking, monitoring, online harassment).

10 Ways to Help Domestic Violence Survivors, Fairfax County Department of Family Services: Concrete guidance for supporting someone you know, which includes listening, safety planning, sharing resources discreetly, documentation considerations, and confidentiality.

Personalized Safety Plan, NCADV: fill-in-the-blank prompts for survivors to develop a safety plan.

Bystander Tools, Green Dot: interactive site that explains different intervention styles for bystanders who want to get involved in advocacy or confrontation.

Understanding Domestic Violence, Aid to Victims of Domestic Abuse Inc.: educational materials about violence prevention, including illustrations of how abuse can manifest in various ways.

Workplace and Employer Resources

When Work is Safer than Home: Supporting Workers Experiencing Violence, Workplaces Respond: landing page for resources about different needs that survivors may have in the workplace.

Gender-Based Violence and the Workplace, New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence (OPDV): guidance for employers and agencies on implementing survivor-centered, trauma-informed workplace practices (policy considerations, training priorities, and systems-level best practices for addressing GBV’s impact at work).

Survivors & the Workplace, Workplaces Respond: Landing page of resources and information about survivors and the workplace during the COVID-19 pandemic.

En español

Qué esperar cuando se comunique con nosotros, La Línea Nacional Contra la Violencia Doméstica: qué esperar al llamar a la La Línea para obtener ayuda inmediata de un consejero.

Groups de Apoyo en Línea para Sobrevivientes, Tech Safety: administrado por el Proyecto de red de seguridad, NNEDV, este blog analiza la tecnología, la privacidad y la seguridad para poner fin a la violencia doméstica.

Apoyo para los Trabajadores que Sufren Violencia Doméstica y Sexual Durante la Pandemia, Workplaces Respond: asociación de ocho organizaciones nacionales legales para prevención de la violencia, lideradas por FUTURES y financiadas por la Oficina de Violencia contra la Mujer del Departamento de Justicia de EE. UU.

Hotlines for Immediate Help

National Domestic Violence Hotline: a free 24/7 phone line to speak with a trained advocate by calling 1-800-799-7233

National Sexual Assault Hotline: a free 24/7 phone line to speak with an advocate by calling 800-656-4673 or using an online chat.

StrongHearts Native Helpline: a confidential phone line specifically for survivors in Native American communities, available 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. CT at 1−844-762-8483.

love is respect: a 24/7 phone and text line for teen dating violence support, available by chat, texting “loveis” to 1-866-331-9474, or calling 1-866-331-9474

Crisis Text Line: a free text line for anyone experiencing mental distress, anxiety or feelings of depression.

Peace Over Violence: a 24/7 emergency hotline for survivors seeking support, shelter or other resources by calling 213-626-3393, 310-392-8381, or 626-793-3385

Are you interested in a career supporting survivors of domestic violence? Learn more about how to become a licensed clinical social worker from Online MSW Programs, or visit the National Association of Social Workers’ Career Center.

Information last updated: February 2026