Impacts of Physical Abuse

Physical Abuse Treatment and Therapy in Toronto

What is Physical Abuse?

Physical abuse is intentional physical injury inflicted upon an individual with cruel/malicious intent. It can occur as an isolated incident or over a period of time. Physical abuse can include:

• Pushing or shoving

• Hitting, slapping, kicking

• Punching

• Stabbing or cutting

• Burning

• Throwing objects at an individual or using an object to hit them

• Locking an individual in a room

• Holding an individual for someone else to assault

Fortunately, there are many effective virtual and in-person treatments and therapies in Toronto that can help children who are struggling with the impacts of physical abuse.

What are Common Signs of Physical Abuse?

Children who are physically abused may show the following physical and/or behavioural signs:

Physical Signs

• Black eyes, rope marks, lacerations, open wounds, cuts, burns, bite marks

• Fractures or broken bones

• Bruises located on faces, ears, buttocks, backs, chests, back of legs

• Bruises that look like objects (i.e. hand, fist, rope, belt)

• Presence of several injures that are in different stages of healing

• Unexplained injuries or injuries that are inconsistent with their explanation

• Presence of various injuries over a period of time

• Injuries that are inconsistent with the child’s age and developmental phase

• In infants and preschool children – facial injuries

Behavioural Signs

Infants and Toddlers:

• Withdrawn, overly compliant, or detached from people

• Difficult to comfort and may not turn to adults for help

• Vacant stare or lack of emotion

• Cringe or flinch if touched unexpectedly, or avoids touch

• Clinging dependency

• Extreme vigilance

Preschool-Aged Children:

• Extremely compliant and/or eager to please

• Seems frightened of their parents/caregivers

• Fear of going home

• Seek affection from anyone

• Extreme aggression with other children or temper tantrums

• Difficulty with self-regulation (i.e. controlling their bladder, their anger or sadness)

• Language or speech delay

School-Aged Children:

• Difficulty concentrating or short attention spans

• Seems frightened of their parents/caregivers

• Fear of going home

• Bedwetting

• Clinging dependency

• Extreme aggression with other children or temper tantrums

• Difficulty relating to others

• Extremely withdrawn, distant

• Manipulative

• Wears unseasonable or extra clothing to cover their injuries

• Signs of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder

Adolescents:

• Low levels of academic achievement

• Extreme aggression towards others, angry outbursts, fighting

• Substance abuse

• Difficulty developing and maintaining relationships

• Social or emotional immaturity

• Repeatedly running away or refusal to go home

• Withdrawn, lack of interest in activities

• Dissociative reactions

• Anti-social behaviours

• Signs of depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder

Adults:

• Injuries that are inconsistent with the individual’s lifestyle

• Delay or refusal to seek medical treatment; frequent changes of doctor

• Weight loss

• Flashbacks and nightmares of the abuse

• Depression, anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder

How to Support Children who are Physically Abused?

• For instructions:

  • Have positive quotes/visuals around the room to promote positive emotions

  • Display work by the children in the room to promote a sense of belonging

• For social skills:

  • Use role-play to teach the child problem-solving skills

• For emotional regulation:

  • Teach the child self-regulation strategies to help them calm down (i.e. colouring, listening to music)

  • Teach the child how to reframe negative self-talk into positive self-talk, and provide them with phrases for common negative thoughts

Physical Abuse Support for Families

For individuals and families in Toronto struggling with physical abuse, there are a variety of in-person and virtual treatments that may be beneficial, including:

• Programs and groups for kids that focus on behaviour and self-regulation

• Individual and family therapy

• Social skills training

• Emotional regulation training

• Dialectical behaviour therapy

• Play therapy 

• Trauma-focused cognitive behavioural therapy

• Behavioural therapy

• Parent training for behavioural management for kids