Accessible Doesn’t Mean Free — Why Investing in Wellbeing Matters
We believe that wellbeing should be accessible to all.
That no one should be turned away from gaining support because of money.
That spaces where people can come together to heal should be inclusive, flexible, and built on trust.
We still believe all of that.
But we’re also learning to say something else — something that’s taken time, reflection, and courage:
Accessible doesn’t mean free. And sustainable doesn’t mean selfish.
For a long time, we have absorbed the cost of trying to make things work for everyone. We offered free sessions, donation-based spaces, reduced rates — often without boundaries or limits. Sometimes we were supported by funding. Sometimes we weren’t. And often, we simply took the hit.
Because it felt right. Because it mattered.
Because we didn’t want anyone to feel like support was out of reach.
But the truth is: when we’re not financially supported, the whole model starts to wobble.
And that’s not fair to the people we work with — or to ourselves.
The Real Cost of Holding Space
There’s a quiet labour behind every session: the time, training, emotional presence, ongoing learning, preparation, admin, reflection. This al takes time and effort.
When we’re underpaid (or not paid at all), we don’t just feel it in our bank accounts. We feel it in our bodies, our capacity, our energy. Over time, what starts as generosity becomes depletion. And that’s not what we want to bring into the spaces we hold.
So we’ve had to learn — sometimes the hard way — that if we want to offer deep, consistent, quality support to our community… we have to be supported, too.
A Shared Responsibility
Here’s how we’re holding that balance now:
We continue to offer:
Reduced rates for the majority of our sessions
Funded or donation-based options when available (including pay it forward spaces)
Free community offerings, where we can
And we ask, with care:
If you can pay full price — please do
If you’re in a position to pay more — you help make space for someone else
If you need support — we’ll do our best to meet you there
This is a community-supported model. Every time someone pays the full rate, they’re not just accessing care — they’re keeping the whole ecosystem going.
So… Are You Ready?
We know it can feel vulnerable to spend money on yourself — especially on care, especially when life feels uncertain.
But we also know this:
Your wellbeing matters. And your investment helps ensure this space continues to exist — for you, and for others.
So, if you're in a place to step in — whether that’s with a full-price session, a pay-it-forward gift, or a gentle conversation about support — we’re here. And we’re grateful.
💬 Ready to invest — in yourself, and in a model that works for all of us?
→ Book a session
→ Donate money for a pay-it-forward space
→ Volunteer your time if you can
Thank you for being part of something that values care, equity, and sustainability — all at once.
Blog written by Susie Hooper - Co-Founder of Pause & Breathe, with the help of AI. This is the first time I’ve used AI to help me outline a blog post - I’d be really interested in any feedback you have about it!