Best Domestic Violence Support Groups

The National Domestic Violence Hotline (NDVH) provides confidential support and valuable resources for domestic violence survivors 24 hours a day, seven days a week and they are led by highly-trained advocates.

Although the National Domestic Violence Hotline (NDVH) is not an actual support group with members, this organization provides the best one-on-one support of any organization on the Internet. They are equipped to deal with people currently in crisis and in need of immediate support, as well as those who have left an abusive relationship.

If you're interested in contacting NDVH, you can call them or use the live chat option on their website. What's more, their highly-trained advocates are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. As a result, they offer free, compassionate, and confidential support to anyone who needs it, any time of day.

So, whether you just need to talk or you're in the middle of a crisis situation, there is always someone there to help you when you need it most. Additionally, their highly trained advocates can offer intervention information, education, and referral services in Spanish and ASL in addition to English. They can help you find a shelter or support group in your area that meets your needs.

You can contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline for the live chat option or call 1-800-799-7233 for confidential assistance from trained advocates. For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database.

Hope Recovery, dedicated to providing helping adult survivors of abuse and sexual trauma, offers a variety of support group options.

Of all the online support groups we researched, Hope Recovery seemed to have the most options for support as well as the best handle on using an online format for supporting survivors of domestic violence. This nonprofit organization is committed to providing support for adult survivors of abuse and sexual trauma.

What's more, they have a wide variety of support group options as well as newsletters, workshops, and other resources. For instance, their application has options for several domestic violence recovery support groups, faith-based support groups, a post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) support group, and even a male survivor support group.

They also have a detailed application in order to join one of their private groups. And they offer Facebook groups as well. As for security, they recently upgraded their security practices and require a password for their members to open and read their emails. This practice is especially useful for survivors whose ex-partners stalk them online or engage in digital abuse.

Hope Recovery also provides a free publication, Bridge of Hope, which is their online trauma and dissociation publication. This publication is filled with useful information and can be downloaded directly from their website. They offer a similar publication, Nourishing Hearts, which focuses on healing from trauma and eating disorders.

Overall, Hope Recovery's online support groups are designed to support survivors of abuse and sexual trauma. They provide a variety of online support groups, workshops, newsletters, and publications to help educate and support those who are working toward healing. And because many sexual trauma survivors also deal with PTSD, dissociation, eating disorders, and even addictions, they offer support groups and resources to help people deal with these issues as well.

Fort Refuge is an active online community that provides private support groups and forums for survivors of abuse and encourages participants to share and speak freely and honestly.

Designed for people over the age of 16, Fort Refuge is an online community that provides private forums and private chat rooms for survivors of abuse. What's more, they are open to anyone regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, gender, and mental health history.

Founded in 2008, Fort Refuge continues to grow and evolve. What's more, their online community is anonymous, doesn't solicit or accept payments, donations, or grants, and has no political or religious affiliation. Their only requirement is that all members agree to and abide by their extensive list of membership guidelines.

You also will find a number of useful resources on their site. These include online articles, documentaries, bookstores, recommendations, and poetry by survivors. While not as large as some of the other online support groups, Fort Refuge is a grassroots site that is run by survivors and for survivors.

Overall, they come together to discuss both their struggles and their victories. And even though they do not have the largest membership numbers, they are one of the most active support groups online.

Designed to be a safe space for domestic abuse victims, survivors, and advocates, the DomesticShelters.org Victims and Survivors Community offers support through inclusive dialogue and participation.

This private Facebook group is one of the most active places online for domestic violence victims and survivors. In fact, the members of this private group communicate with one another daily by sharing their thoughts, past experiences, and unedited stories about their experiences. What's more, occasionally a professional will comment on a post to offer direction or general advice.

DomesticShelters.org, which runs the Facebook group, is the first and the largest online searchable database of domestic violence programs and shelters in the United States. They also offer a number of resources and articles that are useful for survivors looking to better understand abuse, safety planning, healing, and more.

In fact, their editorial advisory board is comprised of authors, researchers, and program operators. So, the information they provide is up-to-date and based on the most recent research in the area of domestic violence.

Specifically designed for young people ages 13 to 26, the Love Is Respect program provides 24/7 supports and guidance, plus an easy-to-use website that offers several resources and helpful insight.

Offering 24/7 access to trained advocates, teens can text, call, or chat live with someone who can offer them support and guidance. And although the teens using this service are not in organized groups where they can talk to other teens about what they're experiencing, they can get input and direction anytime they feel they need it simply by using their smartphone.

This type of format seems to be really helpful for today's teenagers, who have limited time and unpredictable schedules, making it difficult for them to attend a group at a set time each week.

Overall, Love Is Respect is an extension of NDVH and is designed for young people ages 13 to 26. They provide information, support, and advocacy to teens and young adults who have questions or concerns about their romantic relationships.

Love Is Respect also makes its services available for concerned parents, teachers, and counselors who want input on how best to support a teen in an abusive dating relationship. In addition to their online support, they also offer comprehensive educational materials, quizzes, testimonials, and interactive pages to help educate teens and prevent future relationship abuse.