What to look for in insurance for counsellors and therapists?
By the nature of their work counsellors and therapists are exposed on a daily basis to clients who don't feel themselves and are in need of someone else's guidance to get emotionally and mentally better.
That is an important responsibility which increases the risk of being faced with an unhappy client. If you’re treating clients, face to face or online, as a self employed counsellor, you absolutely need insurance for counsellors.
Counselling liability insurance
There is a number of good reasons why every independent counsellor should protect themselves with counselling liability insurance. If you're working for yourself, any mishap with your clients is on you.
Being on the front line, you may face a variety of claims: breach of confidentiality, causing an injury, failing to provide an adequate duty of care. We said it above - dealing with emotionally challenged clients brings about a higher risk of facing a litigious situation.
If you happen to be or are aspiring to become a member of an association or a professional body, the requirement may be that you have certain types of insurance in place.
Professional indemnity insurance for counsellors is usually a must have and in some cases public liability is recommended as well. Another reason to have insurance for counsellors is to increase the level of trust. Your clients, knowing that you take a professional approach to your business, might feel more inclined to book you over the next counsellor. In other words something worth mentioning on your website.
Professional indemnity insurance for counsellors
This is a key cover for counselling profession. The elements to look for in counsellor professional indemnity insurance is what you are covered for and where.
- In the first instance it is important that bodily injury or death aren't excluded. Rare as it is, that would be the most significant claim you could face in your career.
- Secondly, you need to consider where you treat your clients. If you are travelling around the world because your services are niche, ensure that your policy covers your work in the required parts of the world.
Professional indemnity is a legal cover which will step in you're facing a legal threat from one of your clients. It will offer a qualified legal advice and representation as well as pay any compensation if due.
Public liability insurance for counsellors
The next essential cover is public liability insurance for counsellors. Vast majority of counsellors will be meeting their clients either at home, the clients' home or in an office.
Public liability takes care of instances where your client may have had an accident and is now asking for compensation. Alternatively you managed to knock over that Ming vase and you are being asked to pay for it.
In other words PL cover provides legal defence and covers a possible payout if you're found liable for property damage or causing an injury.
Other covers depend on your personal circumstances. Do you own a laptop that you carry around, do you have employees, do you have an office, what would happen if you were taken ill? All these are considerations when using insurance to protect your living.
Selecting counsellor insurance limits
If you're part of a membership organisation, it is likely to have a condition as to how much your PI cover limit has to be.
Some require as high as £2,000,000.
If you're independent, it's a bit trickier. You'll need to consider your level of qualification, experience, history of disputes with your clients and the type of therapy you provide.
Some insurance providers offer as little £50,000 of cover which might be tempting as the cost will be very manageable. However, with the rising cost of legal services, would this amount go far enough to cover solicitors' fees and a possible compensation?
Don't forget that public liability insurance is just as important for counsellors, especially if you're treating your clients face to face and participate in public events. Please have a read about what it covers and how useful it could be to your business.
