Holistic & Complementary Therapy Insurance

Specialist cover for complementary, holistic and alternative therapy professionals from £5 a month*

  • Fast, easy online quote in 90 seconds

  • 24hr legal advice helpline and legal hub

  • No hidden fees or cancellation charges

Our specialist liability insurance for therapists offers expert cover against a wide range of risks facing those working as complementary, holistic or alternative therapists.

Why do therapists need insurance?

Regardless of how many years experience you may have, mistakes and accidents can happen. The result of this could have a significant impact on your business, costing you thousands of pounds in legal fees and compensation payments.

From over 25 years experience, our therapist insurance has been specially designed to cover the risks facing therapy professionals, giving you the peace of mind that if something were to go wrong, you would be covered.

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What does complementary therapist insurance cover?

Complementary therapist insurance from Markel Direct can cover many kinds of therapists from a range of risks. Whether it’s holistic therapist insurance you’re looking for, alternative therapist insurance or psychotherapy insurance, our policies can be tailored to cover your individual needs.

Professional indemnity insurance for therapists and public liability insurance tends to be considered essential cover for therapists and are often types of cover that professional therapy associations require members to have.

Examples of what’s covered include:

  • An allegation that a course of therapy has not produced the expected results (professional indemnity insurance)
  • A client being injured in the course of your work (public liability insurance)
  • An accident that causes damage to expensive equipment, or a rented premises (public liability insurance)

As well as these, some therapists may choose to protect against other types of risks by taking out legal expenses insurance to cover against contract disputes and tax investigations, or employers’ liability insurance if you hire someone, even on a short-term basis.

Not sure what cover you need? Our easy form asks a few simple questions and offers covers for you to consider. You can choose to buy all the covers quoted or just some of them, meaning that you'll only ever pay for the insurance you want and not unnecessary extras.

How much does therapist insurance cost?

The cost of therapist insurance varies depending on several factors including:

  • The size of your business
  • The number of insurance policies you choose to take out
  • The level of risk your job involves

Therapist insurance from Markel Direct starts at just £5 per month. If your circumstances change and you wish to cancel a policy with us, there are no hidden fees or cancellations fees.

If you choose to insure with us, you can spread the cost of your policy over 10 interest free monthly payments and you'll receive an instant proof of cover, meaning you can start work straight away.

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How to buy therapist insurance

You can get a quote for therapist insurance in minutes using our easy online quote system.

We’ll ask you a few questions about your business activities so that we can offer you the type of insurance covers that are most suitable for you.

From here, you can choose which covers are right for you, or you can choose to buy them all. This means you will only ever pay for the type and level of insurance you require.

Get an online quote now.

*Price based on an aromatherapist requiring £25,000 of directors and officers insurance cover.

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Some of the complementary therapy professions we cover

Cover starting at £5 a month

Tailor your therapist insurance in minutes with these covers

  • Public liability and professional indemnity (professional malpractice) insurance for therapists

    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 is injured during a course of treatment. They make a personal injury claim against you.
    • A client alleges that a course of treatment has not had the desired results. They take legal action against you to recoup their loss.

    This cover is generally considered essential for therapists of all disciplines, with many associations requiring its members to have it in order to practice. Limits are available from £1m to £5m.

  • Employer's liability insurance

    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.

  • Legal expenses insurance

    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

    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 and office insurance

    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

    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

    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.

Need some help?

0800 640 6600

Mon - Fri 08:30 - 17:30

Local rate and mobile friendly

Frequently asked questions

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Cover starting at £5 a month

Frequently asked questions

  • I practise more than one type of therapy - is this covered?

    Yes. If you practise more than one type of therapy - for example, you offer reflexology to some clients and physiotherapy to others - simply enter each therapy you offer under your business activities on the quote form. Please ensure you enter all the therapies you practise on the quote form - if you don't, it could result in a claim not being paid.

  • I treat clients at various locations, including in my home - is this covered?

    Yes. If you treat clients at various different locations - for example, you treat some clients in their home, some in a rented practice room and others in your own home - you will be covered by our policy.

  • Am I covered for teaching others to become therapists?

    We are able to cover this, but you must inform us you will be undertaking teaching or training activity. You can do this by adding ‘Teacher/Tutor’ as a secondary business activity on our quote form, or call us on 0800 640 6600. Please note that if you don’t inform us, it could result in a claim not being paid.

  • Am I covered to treat clients with terminal illnesses (such as cancer)?

    Yes. Our policy provides cover for treating clients with terminal illnesses.

  • Am I covered to treat pregnant clients?

    Yes. Our policy provides cover for treating pregnant clients.

  • What limit of cover should I choose?

    Many clients and industry bodies with regulatory requirements will require you to have a minimum level of cover for you to undertake a contract, so it's worth checking this before you arrange cover. If you're unsure, give some thought to a worst-case scenario and the likely costs involved in putting your mistake right. We offer a range of limits on insurance, so you're sure to find the right cover for your business.

  • Why should I choose Markel’s insurance?

    Markel has over 25 years of experience insuring contractors, consultants and self-employed professionals. We insure over 200,000 micro businesses and are highly rated by our customers at Feefo.com.

    We are a division of Markel International, a Lloyd’s and London market insurer that wrote gross premium totals of £2.4bn in 2023

    To talk about your insurance requirements and better understand our cover, call us on 0800 640 6600 or get a quick quote online.

  • How are Markel Direct regulated?

    Markel International Insurance Company Limited is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the Prudential Regulation Authority. Find out more on the Financial Services Register.

Access exclusive services for your complementary therapy business - included as standard

In addition to comprehensive cover, insuring with Markel means you enjoy access to unique services for your complementary therapy business at no additional cost (when the relevant section of cover is purchased).

24 hour legal helpline  24 hour legal advice helpline

When you insure with Markel, you'll benefit from 24/7 telephone access to a qualified solicitor at no additional cost. Expert legal advice can be costly when you're working for yourself and it's difficult to know who to turn to for a trustworthy answer. Whether it's a question on health and safety, employment law, legal structures for your business or how to handle a difficult client, an experienced team of solicitors are on hand day and night to help you with any business-related legal queries. Included as standard with all policies.

Legal hub access Markel Business Hub access

In addition to our 24 hour legal helpline, you'll have access to the Markel Business Hub - an award winning online resource of legal and business guides, templates and content written and created by our team of expert solicitors. Instantly download ready-made contracts, policies, procedures and guidance you can use for your business - without paying any expensive legal fees. Included as standard with all policies.

  Fee dispute service

As every self-employed therapist knows, customers don't always pay on time and chasing unpaid fees/invoices costs time and money. Mindful of the impact this has on your business, we offer our policyholders access to a unique fee dispute helpline operated by one of the UK's leading law firms, who will provide specialist legal guidance and support on fee dispute issues. Included as standard with public liability and professional indemnity insurance.

  Public relations crisis management service

In today's 24 hour news culture, public relations disasters can occur at any time. Having to deal with the press whilst managing a difficult situation can be hugely stressful as well as being a potential minefield. When there is a risk to your business as a result of negative press attention, our specialist public relations crisis management firm, The Counsel House, will work with you to help manage allegations of fraud, injury caused to employees or the public, and official investigations into your company's affairs. Included as standard with public liability and professional indemnity insurance, directors and officers insurance, cyber and data risks insurance and legal representation and employment disputes insurance.

Cyber response helpline

If you're the victim of a targeted cyber attack, our cyber response helpline provides access to specialist solicitors and information security experts who will give expert legal and technical IT security guidance on the issues arising from cyber and data protection risks. Included as standard with cyber and data risks insurance.

Cover starting at £5 a month

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