By Kewal Wright
Founder of The Welcome Wellspring

Working across the wellness field for nearly 30 years, I have witnessed and experienced amazing transformations that have come through a vast spectrum of holistic care. I have worked in yoga, mental health services, reiki, birthcare, and psychedelic-assisted therapies, and delved into a wide variety of healing work throughout my lifetime. In every space, one issue has remained clear: while the need for wellness is universal, access is not. Too often, financial barriers prevent people from receiving care that could meaningfully impact their lives.

As practitioners, you know the power of your work and for many, it is a service born of your heart for helping. You’ve seen how skillful support can shift someone’s perspective, ease their pain, or open them to more peace or well-being. Most of us come to this work through our own healing processes and we know the longing to feel better. We have felt how amazing it is to finally find something that helps in the unique ways that we need help. To need support and actually receive it, is a healing experience in itself. Everyone deserves to be met in that way, and finances should not be a barrier to receiving help.  This is why I started The Welcome Wellspring, an Arizona non-profit that exists to bridge these worlds, connecting those who offer support for mental and physical well-being with those who need it, regardless of financial status.

Why Accessibility Matters

Wellness services are vital for maintaining physical and mental health. Each person’s need is unique and may vary across their lifespan. Conscious movement can reduce stress, inspire community connection, and give expression to emotion in a non-verbal process. Therapy provides tools for navigating life’s challenges. Acupuncture, reiki, and sound relaxation can support restoration and bring the body into a more balanced state. Having the support of a death doula during times of grief or motherhood support when navigating the early years of parenting can make all the difference for someone moving through intense life transitions. There is is a vast spectrum of options that can help whatever stage a person is going through.

Yet, for many, these services remain out of reach. With sessions often costing $85–$200 per hour, ongoing care is not possible for low-income individuals and underserved communities. Even when insurance applies (which is rare for most “alternative” wellness services), high copays and deductibles may discourage people from seeking help.

Through The Welcome Wellspring, we reduce financial barriers, making it possible for more people to access the services they need, and the ripple effects are profound. Healing doesn’t stop with the individual; it extends to families and communities. This is why The Welcome Wellspring offers sliding scale options for our own events, in addition to offering a support fund that helps pay for wellness services with our network of providers.

Community Partnership: Supporting Independent Businesses & Organizations

We know that most wellness practitioners do this work because they feel a genuine call to help. Many already offer sliding scale services or donate services. As independently owned businesses and service organizations, this can be a hardship. Practitioners need support and acknowledgment too. The Welcome Wellspring aims to help from that angle as well. Our partnerships focus on independently owned, small businesses and practitioners who serve their local communities with heart. In this way, we amplify both accessibility and the sustainability of small wellness practices and community-based organizations.

At The Welcome Wellspring, we are proud to partner with local, independent wellness practitioners and organizations who are already doing meaningful work in their communities. These collaborations not only expand access to quality care for those who need it most, but also shine a light on the small businesses and heart-led providers who bring support and connection to their communities. By amplifying awareness of these practitioners, we help ensure that their services are recognized, valued, and sustained, creating a cycle where both individuals and communities thrive through accessible, compassionate wellness.

How We’re Funded

As a new non-profit (founded in January 2025), our work is fueled by donations from individuals, foundations, and partnerships with local businesses.  We also offer our own events on a sliding scale model and these events help support our mission.  (Join us for Gong Yoga Nidra sometime!) We engage in community fundraising to sustain and grow our programs. As a tax-exempt charity under Section 501(c)(3), we are also pursuing grants to expand our impact.

Here as a Resource

If you or someone you know is seeking wellness support, know that you are not alone. The Welcome Wellspring exists to connect you with the resources you need to feel better and thrive. Our website shares 17 Wellness Partners in the Phoenix metro area as well as some online/virtual services, offering a spectrum of options, including fitness, counseling, acupuncture, nutrition and herbal support, deathcare, motherhood support, reiki, sound meditation, and more. If you need recommendations for wellness providers, check our Wellness Partners. If you’d like to connect with community, have a supportive experience, or simply get involved, consider joining us for one of our events. If finances are a barrier, applications are open for our support fund.  Visit our website TheWelcomeWellspring.org for more information.

Everyone deserves the support to experience peace, restoration, and well-being. Community-based care is one way we can help each other achieve it.