Counselling insurance

Public liability and professional indemnity insurance (also known as professional malpractice insurance) offers comprehensive protection against the cost of defending your business against allegations of professional negligence (such as providing poor treatment to a client) and if unsuccessful, the cost of damages awarded against you.

In addition, it covers the cost of defending your business (including damages awarded against you if unsuccessful) if someone is injured, or their property damaged, which arises from you going about your business. Examples of claims include:

• A client alleges that a series of counselling sessions has not had the desired results. They take legal action against you to recoup their loss.
• While visiting your premises, a client slips on a rug and breaks their wrist. They take legal action against you, seeking compensation for their injury.

This cover is usually considered essential protection for counsellors against a wide range of claims, and may be a requirement of your industry association. Limits are available from £1m to £5m.

Employer’s liability insurance covers your therapy business against claims for injury or illness suffered by employees arising from their employment.

An example of a claim would be:

• An employee slips on a spillage in a treatment room and injures themselves. They are unable to work as a result and take legal action against you for the injury suffered.

If you have any employees, even on a part time basis, you are required to have a minimum of £5m worth of employer's liability insurance cover by law. Our policy provides £10m as standard.

Commercial legal expenses insurance covers the costs of defending you as a director or officer of your company against allegations of wrongful acts and any damages subsequently awarded against you. Cover is also provided for the legal costs and expenses of defending actions for disqualification as a director, investigations and extradition proceedings. Limits range from £100,000 to £5m.

Directors and officers insurance covers the costs of defending you as a director or officer of your company against allegations of wrongful acts and any damages subsequently awarded against you. Limits range from £100,000 to £5m.

Portable equipment insurance covers laptops, mobile phones and portable equipment you use for treatment against accidental damage (including theft) anywhere in the world. If you have your own premises, office insurance covers your office buildings, office contents and computer equipment against accidental damage (including theft) whilst on your business premises.

Occupational personal accident insurance provides a weekly payment if you are unable to work due to temporary total disablement as a result of an injury at work or on your way to work (subject to a 14 day deferment period).

In the event of loss of limbs, sight, speech, hearing, permanent total disablement or death, a lump sum would be paid out.

If you work as a complementary therapist and would struggle to maintain an income if you were unable to work following an occupational accident, you should give consideration to this cover.

Cyber and data risks insurance pays the costs of restoring data and equipment, informing clients, meeting ransom demands and loss of your net profit following a cyber attack. It also pays your legal defence costs and damages you are legally liable to pay to other parties. If you hold confidential information about your clients on computers and other internet connected devices (including the therapies and treatments you provide to them), you should give consideration to this cover.