Counselling insurance

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Professional indemnity insurance for counsellors UK
Professional indemnity insurance for counsellors UK
Professional indemnity insurance for counsellors UK
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What is counselling insurance?

Insurance for counsellors is rarely a single product. Usually, one or more insurance products will be required depending on the specific needs of your counselling business.

Given the nature of your work as a counsellor, professional indemnity should always be central to your insurance mix. If you meet clients face-to-face, you may need to add public liability. Electronic business equipment insurance might be required if you depend on expensive computer equipment for your work.

How much does counselling insurance cost?

The minimum cost of professional indemnity insurance for counselors is £7.67 per month. However, this price will increase as your level of coverage increases.

Self employed professional indemnity insurance
Professional indemnity

from £7.67 per month

Provides you with legal defence against claims of professional mistake or negligence causing a financial loss to your clients.

Up to £2,000,000 cover

Zero excess

Dedicated legal team

A+ insurer

Competitive prices

Core cover
Self employed professional indemnity insurance

Professional indemnity

from £8.89 per month

Provides you with legal defence against claims of professional mistake or negligence causing a financial loss to your clients.

Up to £2,000,000 cover

Zero excess

Dedicated legal team

A+ insurer

Competitive prices

Core cover
Self employed professional indemnity insurance

Professional indemnity

from £9.54 per month

Provides you with legal defence against claims of professional mistake or negligence causing a financial loss to your clients.

Up to £2,000,000 cover

Zero excess

Dedicated legal team

A+ insurer

Competitive prices

Core cover
Self employed professional indemnity insurance

Professional indemnity

from £20.41 per month

Provides you with legal defence against claims of professional mistake or negligence causing a financial loss to your clients.

Up to £2,000,000 cover

Zero excess

Dedicated legal team

A+ insurer

Competitive prices

Core cover
Self employed professional indemnity insurance

Professional indemnity

from £22.78 per month

Provides you with legal defence against claims of professional mistake or negligence causing a financial loss to your clients.

Up to £2,000,000 cover

Zero excess

Dedicated legal team

A+ insurer

Competitive prices

Core cover
Commercial legal expenses insurance.
Business legal protect

Cover of £100,000 commercial legal expenses included with your policy subscription.

Protects you and your business against a range of issues not typically covered by professional indemnity or public liability.

IR35 & HMRC investigations

Legal matters concerning your business

Negative PR (£25,000 cover)

Criminal prosecution

Compliance & regulation issues

Unpaid invoices (over £200)

Also includes free telephone advice & help from qualified professionals.

Tax and commercial legal advice

Counselling for you and your staff

Access to a legal template library

Identity theft assistance

Included
Self employed public liability insurance.
Public liability

from +£4.76 per month

Protects your business against claims of causing an accidental injury or property damage to either your clients or a third party.

Up to £2,000,000 cover including products liability

No excess

Expert legal team

A+ specialist insurers

Covers claims against your client caused by your business

Business equipment insurance.
Electronic business equipment

from +£7.00 per month

Pays for repair or replacement if your portable electronic equipment (and accessories) get damaged or lost.

Equipment up to £10,000 cover (£3,500 per item)

Accessories are included (£500 per item)

Hired equipment is covered

Worldwide - your devices are covered anywhere you are

Personal accident insurance.
Business owner protect

from +£10.07 per month

Reimburses your taxable business expenses while you’re recovering from a serious illness or injury.

Up to £2,000 a month

Up to 6 months following the first 30 days of illness

Any tax deductible expenses included

Receive a lump sump payout if you suffer an accident leaving you with partial or total disablement:

£5,000 lump sum

Fast customer service

Quick payout

Answer 4 questions then select the policies and limits you need.
Answer 4 questions then select the policies and limits you need.
What people say
2 March
Extremely impressed

Extremely impressed with the professional and supportive service I received.

Kellie Williams
on Google
16 February
Very efficient

After shopping around for business liability cover, I found suited, I had a few questions and Jana from suited was very efficient...

Chezza
on Trustpilot
14 February
Great!

The website is easy to use and the process is intuitive, clear and easy to follow.

Matt M
on Trustpilot
11 February

I was recommended Suited, because I’d been stalling. Simple to use website, offered clear, concise information and selection...

Mokolada
on Trustpilot
12 December

Really fantastic service by the suited insure team! Always found the insurance side to be a bit confusing but the team took me...

Michael Ryan
on Google
15 September

A simple and flexible service for what I required. Great communication from start to finish.

Matthew Allen
on Google
1 August

I was looking for business insurance this easy to use and very well explained web site made the process simple and painless. Had a quote...

Piers Field
on Trustpilot
In detail

Why do counsellors need insurance?

Counsellors are exposed daily to clients who don't feel themselves and need someone else's guidance to get emotionally and mentally better. This responsibility does carry legal obligations and risks if things go wrong. 

Financial claims from unhappy clients

Sometimes, counselling advice can lead to adverse outcomes. If your advice goes badly wrong, a dissatisfied client can demand compensation.

Accusation of overstepping the boundaries

As a counsellor, you conduct a lot of one-on-one sessions. If you say something and it’s taken out of context or considered discriminatory, you may face legal action.

Client injury on your premises

If you see clients face-to-face at your premises, there are risks of trips or falls during sessions with you.

Contract or professional body compliance

Specific insurance will be required if you are an independent counsellor or aspiring to become a member of an association or a professional body. Professional indemnity insurance will be essential, and public liability might also be required. 

Damage to your work equipment

Suppose you use a laptop or computer to store your clients' files or conduct video sessions; if this gets lost, damaged or stolen, this will cause significant work disruption and financial burden.

Professional indemnity insurance for counsellors

Most self-employed counsellors should have professional indemnity insurance.

Professional indemnity is a legal cover that defends you if you face a legal claim due to your work. It provides legal advice and representation and pays compensation if due.

What does professional indemnity insurance for counsellors cover?

Professional indemnity protects counsellors from claims or accusations of wrongdoing from their professional advice or work product.

Cover includes:

  • Failing your duty of care
  • Making a mistake
  • Acting negligently
  • Giving the wrong advice or recommendation

For example:

  • A client claims your professional advice caused them harm
  • You failed to give the correct direction to a client when you should have
  • You shared a client's confidential information with an unauthorised party
  • You acted in a discriminatory manner 
  • You caused offence

Choosing a counselling professional indemnity limit that’s right

Selecting a reasonable professional indemnity limit for your counselling work is not always obvious; consider the following:

  • If you're part of a counselling organisation, they usually specify the professional indemnity limit they require—some need as high as £2,000,000.
  • If you're an independent counsellor, consider your level of qualification, experience, history of disputes with your clients, and the type of therapy you provide—the more complex your work, the higher the limit you might need.
  • Think about what downside there might be if your advice goes wrong. How much might it cost to rectify?
  • Some insurance providers offer as little as £50,000 of cover, which might be tempting as the price will be low. However, with the rising cost of legal services, ask yourself if this amount will go far enough to cover solicitors' fees and possible compensation.

Does professional indemnity insurance cover my counselling activities worldwide?

Your professional indemnity policy's ‘territory or geographical limits’ and ‘jurisdiction’ sections specify if your counsellor insurance will respond when working in different countries.

Territory or geographical limits:

The territory or geographical limit specifies where you can virtually or physically deliver your services. For example: “Worldwide.”

Jurisdictional limit:

The jurisdictional limit specifies which legal jurisdictions your policy will defend you if you are sued. For example: “Worldwide excluding US and Canada.”

Contract governance:

Any contracts or agreements you enter into with your clients should specify the ‘governing law’ for that contract, which is the jurisdiction in which parties can seek legal remedy for breach of contract.

Avoid entering contracts not governed by your local jurisdiction and/or excluded by your counselling professional indemnity insurance.

If you work with US and Canadian clients, you can reduce your risk by not entering contracts governed by US and Canadian laws.

Switching your professional indemnity insurance

Typically, in the UK, if you cancel a professional indemnity policy, you can no longer claim against it.

Therefore, if you switch your counsellor insurance provider, be sure your new policy covers your past work; this is called “retroactive cover”.

Should I keep professional indemnity insurance if I pause my counselling activities?

It’s wise to keep your professional indemnity if you’re taking a break or retiring from counselling. Claims against professional misconduct can surface months or years after you delivered the work.

Remember: If you cancel your policy, your insurance coverage will end, including coverage for any previous work.

How long you keep your cover in place is up to you. Consider the type of counselling you did and the likelihood that a client might bring a claim against you. 

Public liability insurance for counsellors

Public liability insurance is also becoming commonly needed by independent counsellors.

Most counsellors meet clients at their homes, at their clients’ homes or the office. Face-to-face meetings can expose counsellors to liability if clients trip or fall.

Public liability takes care of instances where your client may have had an accident and is now asking for compensation. Alternatively, you managed to damage a client’s property (e.g. knock over an expensive vase) and asked to pay for it.

What does counsellor public liability insurance cover?

Public liability provides legal defence and covers a possible payout if you're found liable for property damage or causing an injury.

Cover includes:

  • accidental injury or death
  • accidental property damage

For example:

  • A client visits you at your home and is injured in a slip or fall 
  • You see a client at home and ruin their new carpet by knocking over a cup of coffee

Other insurance counsellors buy

As a counsellor, your other insurance coverage needs may differ based on your situation. Do you rely on expensive computer equipment for your work? What if you were unable to work due to illness? Would you be able to handle unpaid invoices? Do you have employees?

Commercial legal expenses insurance

Most commercial legal expenses insurance will protect counsellors against various tax and legal issues you may encounter due to your profession, which are not covered by professional indemnity or public liability.

At Suited, we combined £100,000 of commercial legal expenses insurance with helplines and other tools to better assist counsellors in dealing with these issues. We call this Business Legal Protect, and it’s part of your subscription.

Business Legal Protect offers qualified advice and assistance with:

  • Legal and accountancy matters concerning your business
  • Criminal prosecution
  • Compliance & regulation issues
  • Unpaid invoices (over £200)

For example:

  • HMRC flags you for an IR35 investigation
  • You need legal help chasing a major unpaid invoice
  • You need guidance on compliance issues for your business

Electronic business equipment insurance

As an independent counsellor, your business operations probably heavily rely on electronic equipment.

Regardless of whether you own or rent this equipment, it is crucial to carefully consider obtaining an electronic business equipment insurance policy that provides coverage for potential damages or replacement costs in the event of any unexpected accidents.

Counsellors we insure

Suited offers comprehensive insurance policies that cater to the needs of a wide range of counsellors, including:

  • Student counsellors
  • Career counsellors
  • Mental health counsellors
  • Rehabilitation counsellors
  • Child counsellors
  • Crisis counsellors
  • Couples counsellors
  • Trauma counsellors
  • Grief counsellors
  • Eating disorder counsellors
  • Spiritual counsellors
  • and more..

Shopping for counsellor liability insurance

Finding the right insurance for counsellors can be difficult. So, it's helpful to remember the following tips, no matter which insurance provider you decide to go with:

Cheap counsellor insurance

Don't just focus on finding cheap counsellor insurance - consider the quality of after-sales service too. Make sure you can easily reach your insurance provider when you need to. At Suited, we provide multiple contact options and ensure a prompt response.

The reputation of the insurer is important

Having reliable insurance is crucial for those moments when you require it the most. At Suited, we only work with financially stable insurers who hold an A+ rating, ensuring that you receive a payout when you need it.

Many providers charge fees to amend or cancel

Many insurance companies offer low initial prices, but this could be a tactic to conceal additional fees for monthly payments, policy amendments, or cancellations. We at Suited do not charge any other fees, and you can cancel your policy at any time without incurring any additional costs.

Some policy wordings are restrictive or have a high excess

While some insurance providers may offer attractive prices, they may compromise on the coverage provided. Suited's professional indemnity and public liability policies come with a £0 excess, ensuring that you receive the full coverage you need.

In this section
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FAQs

Common questions

Is professional indemnity insurance compulsory for counsellors?

Counsellors are not required by law to have a PI cover in place.

Will the work of my employees be covered by Suited therapists & counsellors insurance?

Yes, any work by bonafide employees of your business is covered.

What is the difference between therapy and counselling insurance?

From the insurance point of view these professions are very similar. With Suited you can include both of these professions in your PI and PL cover.

How is the cost of professional indemnity insurance for counsellors and therapists calculated?

At Suited we only take into account your annual turnover, that's it. We do not charge per person. PL cover cost is based on the limit you select.

Answer 4 questions then select the policies and limits you need.
Answer 4 questions then select the policies and limits you need.
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Counselling insurance UK
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Go retroactive

Include retroactive cover to insure previous work.

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Holiday mode

Pay less when not working by hibernating your PI cover.

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Monday—Friday, 8:30am to 5:30pm

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If your plans change

No problem, Suited uses a simple subscription model making it easy to walk away.

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If you call to cancel within the first 2 weeks we’ll give you a full refund.

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* 14 day promise is not available online, please speak to a member of staff. Not available if you have reported a claim.

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