Cash-pay therapy? In this economy?!
I get it. Therapy is expensive, especially if you're looking for something specific, with a highly experienced and educated therapist. This is why sliding scale rates are so important.
But, let's be honest — most sliding scales come with homework. Pay stubs. Tax returns. A form asking you to prove you're struggling enough to deserve a break.
If you grew up in a system where you had to earn your worth, prove your sincerity, and explain yourself to people with authority, the typical sliding scale process might feel uncomfortably familiar.
That's why we don't work that way. Wayward offers sliding scale therapy in Arizona and Washington with three rates, and you pick the one that fits for you. No proof of income. No explaining yourself. No catch.
How the Equitable Payment Structure works
Every client chooses one of three rates for a 50-minute online session:
-
Who it’s for: Money is tight right now, and paying the full market rate would mean skipping sessions or skipping bills.
-
Who it’s for: You can pay a standard rate for specialized therapy without real strain.
-
Who it’s for: You have financial cushion and want to help keep Support Rate spots open for someone else.
Same therapist. Same care. Same length of session. The only difference is the fee. And you can change your rate whenever your life changes. Lost a job? Got a raise? Just tell us. No paperwork, no awkward conversation needed.
Why no proof?
Because requiring proof in any system or relationship is built on suspicion. There's an assumption that people will lie. Then, the people who need the most help are required to jump through the most hoops. So, people quietly give up and go without support.
We'd rather trust you. In practice, people are remarkably honest about what they can afford. In my experience, the ones who can pay more usually do, and the ones who need the Support Rate get access to great therapy without being interrogated first.
There's a therapy reason, too. Many of the people we work with were taught that their own judgment couldn't be trusted, and that their needs were selfish. Deciding what you can afford, without asking anyone's permission, is a small act of self-trust. We think that matters.
How to choose your rate
If you're not sure, ask yourself:
Would the Market Value Rate mean cutting into groceries, rent, or bills? Choose the Support Rate.
Can you pay $195 a session without financial strain? Choose the Market Value Rate.
Do you have a comfortable income, support from family, and a desire to give back to your community? Consider the Redistribution Rate. This rate allows us to offer lower-cost spots in the first place.
There's no wrong answer. Pick the one that lets you keep showing up.
Why Wayward is cash-pay
Wayward Therapy Collective doesn't bill insurance. That was a deliberate choice, not an oversight:
No diagnosis required to get care. Insurance only pays when there's a diagnosis on file, and that diagnosis becomes part of your health record.
Nobody else decides what you need. Insurers can limit sessions or decide what counts as "medically necessary." Healing from religious trauma rarely fits on their timeline.
More privacy. Your therapy stays between you and your therapist.
The sliding scale is possible because of it. Setting our own rates is what lets us offer the Support Rate at all.
Still want to use benefits? If your plan includes out-of-network coverage, you may be able to get part of each session reimbursed. At the end of each month, we'll send you a receipt called a "superbill" to submit to your insurance. Many HSA and FSA cards can also be used for therapy, but check with your plan first.
Because you're paying out of pocket, you can also request a Good Faith Estimate before your first session, so you know what to expect. It's a federal requirement, and honestly, a good one.
Your rate is your call
You spent enough years having other people decide what you deserved. This doesn't have to be one of them.
Common questions
Is the Support Rate a lesser version of therapy? No. Every client gets the same therapist, the same session length, and the same quality of care.
Can I switch rates later? Anytime. Just let us know before your next session.
Do I have to tell you why I picked my rate? Nope. That's the whole point.
Does Wayward take insurance? No. Wayward is cash-pay only, though you may be able to use out-of-network benefits or an HSA/FSA.
Wayward offers online therapy across Arizona and Washington, specializing in religious trauma, faith deconstruction, purity culture, and spiritual abuse, with affirming care for the LGBTQIA+, BDSM/kinky, ENM and poly, and anything else considered unconventional by today's standards. New here? Start with What Is Religious Trauma?
If you're a woman or gender-nonconforming adult in Arizona or Washington, Book a Free Consult. Not in that group? Join the Waitlist and we'll reach out as the collective grows.
If you're in crisis or thinking about harming yourself, call or text 988 to reach the Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, or go to your nearest emergency room. This post is for education and isn't a substitute for therapy.
