People First Therapy Group expands trauma care with VCAP support for survivors

People First Therapy Group, a nonprofit Center City practice, is offering trauma therapy in Philadelphia and helping survivors of sexual violence use Pennsylvania’s Victims Compensation Assistance Program to help cover counseling costs. The practice also provides telehealth across several states, sliding-scale fees when available and therapy for children, teens, adults, couples and families.

Why it matters: - Survivors of sexual violence in Pennsylvania may be able to access counseling support even if they cannot pay upfront. - People First Therapy Group is using a state compensation program to lower a common barrier to trauma care. - The practice says its nonprofit model is designed to make therapy available regardless of ability to pay.

What happened: - People First Therapy Group, a nonprofit mental health practice in Center City, provides trauma therapy in Philadelphia and works with Pennsylvania’s Victims Compensation Assistance Program. - The practice sees clients in person at 1800 John F. Kennedy Blvd., Suite 1406, and offers telehealth in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Delaware, Connecticut and Colorado. - The practice says clients can schedule an intake consultation through its website. - People First also invites Philadelphia residents to seek therapy even when cost has delayed care.

The details: - Under VCAP’s Sexual Assault Counseling Claim, survivors of sexual violence that occurred in Pennsylvania may be eligible for up to $5,000 toward counseling if they were 18 or older at the time of the crime. - Survivors may be eligible for up to $10,000 if they were under 18 at the time of the crime. - Survivors do not need to have reported the crime to police or another authority to apply for the counseling benefit. - VCAP determines eligibility and award amounts, and the program covers costs not paid by other sources such as insurance. - People First says interested clients can fill out a form on its website, and a clinician will follow up to discuss whether VCAP may apply. - The practice serves children, teens, adults, couples and families. - Each therapist uses a personalized, HIPAA-compliant telehealth room as a virtual office. - People First says each therapist sets their own fees and offers sliding-scale slots when available. - The practice also runs a subsidy program for clients who qualify. - People First is an out-of-network provider that emails clients a monthly superbill they can submit to their insurance company. - Reimbursement depends on each client’s out-of-network benefits.

Between the lines: - The VCAP connection gives the practice a direct way to reduce out-of-pocket costs for survivors who may already be coping with trauma and financial strain. - Matching clients with clinicians based on need and training can matter more in trauma care because safety and fit affect treatment. - The nonprofit structure signals a focus on access, while out-of-network billing means clients may still need to navigate insurance reimbursement.

What's next: - People First says clinicians will review inquiries and help determine whether VCAP may apply. - Clients seeking trauma therapy can continue to book intake consultations through the practice’s website. - The practice will keep offering in-person care in Philadelphia and telehealth in its licensed states.

The bottom line: - People First Therapy Group is pairing trauma therapy with state-funded counseling support to make care more reachable for survivors in Philadelphia and beyond.