Founded in 1974, Network of Victim Assistance (NOVA) supports, counsels and empowers victims of sexual assault and other serious crimes in Bucks County and works to prevent and eliminate violence in society through advocacy, training, community education and prevention programs.
You May Also Consider (sponsored)
Quick Start Online Therapy: Tell Us a Little About Yourself and Get Matched With a Therapist Right for You
Take a simple guided quiz and let us know your preferences. Get matched to an online therapist right for you. Convenient and affordable online therapy from your phone, tablet or computer.
Have you been in therapy before?
Services Offered
Children's Advocacy Center
The Bucks County Children's Advocacy Center provides a safe, child friendly environment where law enforcement, child protective services, prosecution, victim advocacy, medical and mental health professionals can collaborate in order to develop effective, coordinated strategies to investigate reports of suspected child abuse, as well as promote a healthy healing process. These strategies are child-focused and unique based on each individual situation. Community Crisis Response
The mission of the Bucks County Crisis Response Team (BCCRT) is to facilitate crisis intervention services to crime victims and their communities in the aftermath of a traumatic event in Bucks County and surrounding counties. Interventions include but are not limited to: assessing the impact of the event on the community; developing intervention plans; and providing individual and group crisis intervention. The Bucks County Crisis Response Team is available to provide support to agencies and other community crisis teams upon request.
Counseling
NOVA is committed to helping victims of crime so that they may better understand the trauma which they have experienced, find the tools to cope and move forward with healing. A range of counseling services are available to victims and the significant people in their lives.
*Individual Counseling NOVA provides private short-term counseling to help victims and the important people in their lives. The duration of counseling typically lasts between 12 to 15 sessions, over three or four months.
*Group Counseling NOVA offers support groups to assist individuals who have experienced issues of victimization by providing a safe place to share thoughts and feelings . Group participation can assist clients with additional insight, interaction and support to begin to take control of their lives.
NOVA offers the following groups on a regular basis: - TREM (Trauma Recovery and Empowerment Model) groups - for adult survivors of interpersonal violence - Trauma Informed Yoga Groups - for teen and adult survivors of interpersonal violence - Thrive-group for female adolescent survivors of sexual violence - Parent Support group - for caregivers of children who have been sexually abused
NOVA also provides support groups on an as-need basis, including homicide groups, groups for survivors who identify as LGBTQ+, and male sexual assault survivor support groups. Groups begin meeting when a sufficient number of participants are confirmed.
*Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy TF-CBT is an evidence-based practice for children under the age of 18. This type of therapy provides children with information about the trauma they have experienced and teaches them emotion regulation and anxiety management skills. This form of therapy allows them to process their experience of trauma in a safe and supportive way. It is a short-term treatment protocol that also involves the child's caregiver(s).
*Trauma Support Program The Trauma Support Program provides evidence based trauma treatment for children who are victims of crime and have barriers to counseling in a traditional office. This program also supports the child's family, including caregivers and siblings, and provides skills to help others cope with the child's trauma in a way to create the best environment for the child to heal.
Restoring Families Program The Restoring Families Program is a comprehensive, evidence-based program that works with children who are identified to have problematic sexual behaviors. Children 7-14 and their caregivers work through a group curriculum to address the inappropriate impulses and actions.
Mobile School Counseling Not all children have the transportation options needed to receive services. While working in tandem with a caregiver at home or in an office setting is considered best practice, mobile counseling in area schools is an option to provide counseling services to children.
EMDR Some of NOVA's clinicians are trained in EMDR, or Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. EMDR is an evidence-based practice that allows a person to process previously unprocessed trauma, using bilateral stimulation of the brain through eye movements, tapping, or sounds.
Fees and Payment
NOVA is a non-profit 501 (c) (3), community-based organization. Services are made possible through the financial support of federal, state, and local government grants and contracts, United Way of Bucks County, corporations, foundations, and private donations.
Services Offered To: Adults Couples Teens Children
Payment: Pro-bono
If You Call, Please Let Us Know How it Went:
Were You Able to Make an Appointment?
One quick last question. Who was seeking counseling today?
Do you know the reason they are not accepting clients?
A community counseling agency is a group therapy practice that offers affordable mental health services. Most are independent non-profit agencies, state agencies, or publicly-funded agencies. A few may restrict who is eligible for services, so it is a good idea to check when you call.
Community counseling agencies are generally more affordable than other therapy providers, but how much more affordable they are will depend on whether you qualify for a discount or sliding scale fee (or if they accept your insurance). Many, but not all, have a policy that they won't turn away anyone due to inability to pay. You should ask about their fees when you first call.
Expect to talk to kind people who want to help you find the care you need. Most community agencies strive to connect you with a live person within 24 hours, if not immediately. If you're asked to hold or leave a message, don't give up; just leave a message and wait. You should hear back pretty quickly.
Most agencies try to set up an initial assessment appointment within a week (some do within 24 hours), though the waitlist to start therapy is usually longer—about a few weeks on average. If you're not eligible or if the agency is not right for you, it's usually still worth it to call or drop in, because staff are knowledgeable about local options and can often refer you to one.