T prices seem to vary quite a bit. i think it is possible to find someone who offers the same specialities that you are looking for but also charges less or has a sliding scale. i don't see it as an either/or.

i guess maybe if i had an established relationship with a T that i thought was fantastic i'd sacrifice a little but most of the Ts i've seen have had sliding scales. at this point i think i'd be a little put off by a T who didn't offer their poorest clients a sliding scale since therapy is so expensive. i know that some Ts do pro bono (free) for people who can't afford it at all. that probably isn't too common i'd guess.