Direct physical harm
Hitting, slapping, pushing, kicking, choking, grabbing, restraining, throwing objects, blocking exits, forced confinement, or threats with a weapon.
Physical abuse guide
Find support after physical harm, threats, or control.
This guide is for people looking for resources after physical abuse connected to a workplace, care setting, facility, family situation, relationship, housing arrangement, authority figure, or person who controlled safety, services, money, records, or access.
SafetyDocumentationPower dynamicsCare settingsPrivate support
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Physical abuse resource guide
What counts
Physical abuse can include force, injury, threats, restraint, or intimidation.
Physical abuse is not limited to visible injuries. It can include conduct that makes a person unsafe, traps them, controls movement, threatens harm, or uses a position of power to make reporting feel dangerous.
Abuse tied to power
Harm by someone who controls job duties, care, housing, transportation, placement, medical access, money, family contact, benefits, records, or daily safety.
Retaliation and intimidation
Threats after disclosure, pressure to stay silent, forced apologies, punishment, isolation, surveillance, reputation attacks, or threats against children, work, housing, or immigration status.
Settings
The right support path depends on where the harm happened.
Supervisor, coworker, client, or customer
Workplace physical abuse may also involve harassment, retaliation, unsafe assignments, job threats, or pressure from someone with authority.
Workplace guideFacility, foster, residential, medical, or therapy setting
Abuse in care can involve records, staff roles, supervision failures, safety complaints, and systems that may feel hard to navigate alone.
In care guideFamily, relationship, or housing safety
Physical abuse at home may require safety planning, confidential contact, shelter resources, counseling, and careful timing before taking action.
View hotlinesMultiple issues or unclear category
If the setting overlaps with harassment, assault, abuse, retaliation, or authority, use the private intake flow to narrow resources.
Find SupportChecklist
What to document if it is safe.
Only save records if doing so will not put you at greater risk. If someone monitors your phone, email, browser, or documents, use a safer device or trusted contact when possible.
Incident details
- Date, time, location, and what happened
- Names, titles, relationships, and roles
- Photos of injuries or damaged property
- Medical visits, diagnoses, or discharge papers
- Witness names or people told afterward
Pattern details
- Threats, messages, calls, emails, or voicemails
- Changes after you reported, resisted, or tried to leave
- Access to weapons, keys, money, documents, or transportation
- Work, care, housing, custody, or facility records
- Prior reports, complaints, or police calls
Safety details
- Safe ways and times to be contacted
- Trusted people who know what is happening
- Places you can go in an emergency
- Devices or accounts that may be monitored
- Emergency contacts, medicines, IDs, and important documents
Next steps
Start with safety, then choose the resource path.
If you may be harmed right now
Call 911 if you are in immediate danger. If calling is unsafe, move toward a public place or trusted person if possible.
Call 911If you need to talk privately
Hotlines can help with safety planning, options, and emotional support before you decide whether to make a formal report.
View hotlinesIf you need help sorting it out
Answer a few private questions and our team can help point you toward resources relevant to your situation.
Find SupportIf work, care, facility, or authority issues matter
Some physical abuse cases also involve institutional responsibility, retaliation, employment, custody, or civil rights questions.
View rights resourcesRelated reading
Helpful articles
Trauma-Informed Intake
How support providers can reduce pressure and help people explain what happened.
What Evidence Helps?
A practical FAQ on records, timelines, witnesses, messages, and support documentation.
Abuse During a Job or Interview
What to consider when harm happened during a job-related setting.
FAQ
Common physical abuse questions
Do I need visible injuries to ask for help?
No. Physical abuse can include threats, restraint, intimidation, choking, blocking exits, forced confinement, or attempts to control your movement or safety, even when injuries are not visible.
What if the abuse overlaps with sexual harassment or assault?
That is common. Use the intake flow or call us so the support path can consider both physical safety and harassment, assault, abuse, retaliation, or authority issues.
Should I confront the person who hurt me?
If safety is uncertain, avoid confronting the person alone. Consider speaking with a hotline, trusted person, advocate, or emergency service first.