In commitment with Women's Way's Gender Wealth Institute, we provide accessible
financial counseling on a sliding scale to help close the gender wealth gap for low-wealth
women and girls in Philadelphia.
Our financial counseling is trauma-informed and rooted in your story, not just your
numbers. We recognize how experiences like housing instability, job loss, caregiving stress,
justice involvement, and financial harm shape beliefs about money, safety, and self-worth.
As a team led by a Certified Trauma-Competent Professional and Accredited Financial
Counselor (AFC®), we create a non-judgmental space where you can unpack shame,
anxiety, and fear around money and replace them with practical tools and compassionate
accountability. Sessions are paced to honor your nervous system, with clear guardrails,
simple next steps, and an emphasis on emotional safety as you make financial changes.
What We Do
In 1:1 counseling sessions, we focus on real-life decisions that impact your day-to-day stability and long-term goals.
You can use counseling time for:
Money Management & Cash Flow Planning
What's coming in,
what's going out,
and why
Debt Management
Understanding interest, choosing a payoff strategy
(snowball or avalanche), and creating a step-by-step plan
Budgeting for Stability
Systems like zero-based budgeting and 50/30/20
tailored to your life
Understanding Credit Reports and Scores
Repair or build credit with
confidence
Building Savings
For emergencies and future "dreams" with realistic targets and automation strategies
Risk Management Basics
Insurance, protection, and simple estate planning
concepts so your progress is protected
Narrative Money
Story Work
Every client begins with a conversation about their "money story": the beliefs, memories, and experiences that shaped how they relate to earning, spending, saving, and asking for help. You will have the option to engage in narrative-based exercises one-on-one, inspired by FAST's group Narrative Workshops, without needing to attend a group program.
In this work, we may:
Reflect on early money memories and messages you received at home, in relationships, and in systems (schools, workplaces, justice system, etc.)
Identify money "scripts" that are helping you, hurting you, or keeping you stuck in survival mode.
Gently reframe those narratives into scripts that support safety, agency, and generational change.
This narrative lens stays present throughout counseling so that budgeting, saving, and debt strategies align with your values, trauma history, and long-term vision for yourself and your family.
Sliding Scale Fee
Thanks to our commitment with Women's Way and FAST's donor support, we offer free and low-cost counseling using a sliding scale based on the Federal Poverty Level (FPL). Your fee is determined by household size, annual or monthly income, and where you fall between 100% and 400% of FPL.
HOW THE SLIDING SCALE WORKS
Households near 100% of the Federal Poverty Level pay no fee for sessions.
As income increases (for example, 125%, 150%, 175%, and up to 400% of FPL), session
fees increase gradually (from $10 to $100 per session), staying significantly below typical market-rate counseling
We review your income together at intake, explain where you fall on the scale, and
confirm your per-session rate before you commit.
If your financial situation changes (job loss, reduced hours, new caregiving responsibilities), we can revisit your sliding-scale level so counseling remains
accessible during transitions
Who We Serve
FAST's purpose is to create a better way of life for families by helping strengthen corevalues, increase access to education, and improve financial health. Our counseling prioritizes women, caregivers, and families in Philadelphia who are navigating trauma, poverty, housing instability, or justice system involvement and want a safe place to talk about money. Our primary demographic is focused on women ages 18 to 65 living in Olney and surrounding areas. We especially welcome:
Women
Experiencing economic insecurity who want judgment-free support
Parents & Caregivers
Working to stabilize their homes and model new money
patterns for children
Returning Citizens
And system-impacted individuals rebuilding their financial lives after incarceration or legal system contact
About Our Counselors
Financial counseling is offered through The FAST Foundation, led by an Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC®) and Certified Trauma-Competent Professional. Our counseling team combines formal training in trauma and financial counseling with lived experience working alongside women and families impacted by poverty, housing challenges, and systemic inequities.
As participants in the Women’s Way Gender Wealth Institute’s Financial Coaching Cohort, we share a commitment to closing the gender wealth gap in Philadelphia. This experience informs our approach to evidence-based financial counseling and supports our mission to keep services accessible through a sliding scale fee.
How to Get Started
Free 30-minute consultation: Schedule a call to share your goals, ask questions about
trauma-informed financial counseling, and learn where you land on the sliding scale.
Intake session: If it feels like a fit, we complete a short intake, explore your money story, and set your first 1–2 financial priorities. Ongoing counseling: Sessions can be weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly depending on your capacity, with clear, manageable action steps between meetings.
