Liability Insurance for Counselors

small business owner covered by Liability Insurance for Counselors

Discover Comprehensive Counselor Liability Insurance Created With You in Mind

Your guidance makes a profound impact on the lives of others, but business challenges can arise when you least expect them. With coverage that helps protect your staff and your business, liability insurance for counselors lets you focus on what you do best: helping others succeed.
 
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small business owner covered by Liability Insurance for Counselors

Why Do You Need Counseling Insurance?

Counselors face unique risks every day. Counseling insurance is a collection of different types of business insurance coverages, designed to help protect your practice from various risks. It’s essential to have an insurance plan to make you better prepared for the unexpected.
business owner protected by counselors insurance

Who Needs Counselors Insurance?

  • School counselors
  • Career counselors
  • Workforce development counselors
  • Mental health counselors
  • Therapists
small business owner protected by insurance for counselors

What Type of Insurance Do I Need for Counseling?

To keep your business protected, having a Business Owner’s Policy (BOP) is a good start. Most practice owners choose this as part of their insurance plan because of the peace of mind it provides.
A BOP combines three essential types of coverage into a single policy:
 
At The Hartford, we know no two counseling businesses have the same needs or face the same risks. We’ve made it easy for you to add other types of insurance to your BOP for well-rounded protection.
 
 

How Much Does Liability Insurance for Counselors Cost?

The cost of liability insurance for counselors varies because every business owner has unique needs. Here are the average costs customers of The Hartford pay for a few common types of insurance:**
 
  • BOP: $1,687 a year, or about $141 a month
  • Standalone general liability insurance: $810 a year, or about $68 a month
  • Workers’ compensation insurance: $1,032 a year, or about $86 a month
Not all counseling practices have the same insurance needs. Your policy is unique to you, so your insurance cost may be different than the average. The best way to find out how much you’ll pay for counseling insurance is to get a quote.
business owner protected by malpractice insurance for counselors

Here for You 24/7

Get your proof of insurance online whenever you need it - no waiting, no hassle. We’ve got you covered with 24/7 access to your certificate.

Covering Your Operations

Protecting sensitive information and your reputation is crucial, but what happens when threats arise, like a cyber breach exposing private data? Counseling insurance can help protect your business, so you can keep caring for your clients without worrying about the cost of unforeseen setbacks.
The average worldwide cost of data breaches in 2024 was $4.88 million, which is 10% higher than in 2023.4
data breach insurance for counselors

Data Breach Insurance

“Our office’s computer system was hacked, putting sensitive client records at risk. Personal data, notes and confidential information that our clients trusted us to keep safe were suddenly vulnerable.”
 
Data breach insurance helps you respond to a breach if personally identifiable information (PII) or protected health information (PHI) gets lost or stolen. Whether a hacker breaks into your network or an employee accidentally leaves their laptop at a restaurant, this coverage can help you respond and recover.
office protected by business income insurance for counselors

Business Income Insurance

“A fire forced us to close our office for several weeks because of smoke damage. While repairs were being made, we couldn’t see any clients.”
 
Business income insurance can help replace your lost wages if you can’t operate your counseling business because of covered property loss. It can help you pay for ongoing expenses, like rent, payroll and utilities.

Taking Care of Your Team

Whether you’re the sole counselor or have a team, taking care of your staff is crucial to your practice’s success. Your employees face risks every day. An injury, illness or lawsuit can significantly affect their health and wellness. That’s why the right type of professional insurance for counselors is essential to help protect your team from the unexpected.
There were approximately 3 million workplace injuries in the U.S. in 2022.5
employee covered by workers' compensation for counselors

Workers’ Compensation Insurance

“One of our team members had a day of multiple back-to-back sessions. By the end of the week, his wrist started to ache, and he couldn’t write or type without pain. He went to the doctor, who diagnosed him with carpal tunnel syndrome and ordered him to take a week off from work.”
 
Workers’ compensation insurance gives your team benefits to help them recover from work-related injuries or illnesses. It can help cover their medical bills and replace lost wages. Your counselors and staff also have access to The Hartford’s network of over 1 million providers and 65,000 pharmacies.
professional liability insurance for counselors

Professional Liability Insurance

“My workplace counselor was working with a client to determine whether they could return to work after an injury. Our counselor’s assessment showed the client was ready, but when he went back to his old job, it aggravated his injury. The client sued my counselor for negligence.”
 
Professional liability insurance helps protect your counseling business from claims it made a mistake or was negligent in the professional services given. This coverage is also known as malpractice insurance for counselors.

Protecting Your Property

From a client damaging expensive equipment to unexpected incidents like water or fire damage, many challenges can disrupt your counseling services. Certain types of counseling insurance, like property coverage, helps protect your essential equipment and supplies, so you can recover quickly and continue providing support without missing a beat.
Water damage is the leading cause of commercial real estate claims.6
office covered by commercial property insurance for counselors

Commercial Property Insurance

“A pipe burst in our office building overnight, flooding several rooms, including our counseling spaces. By the time we discovered it, the water had caused significant damage to the floors, furniture, our equipment and even some of our documents.”
 
Commercial property insurance helps protect the building, furniture, computers, documents and other equipment you use to operate your counseling business.
car accident covered by commercial auto insurance for counselors

Commercial Auto Insurance

“Last year, one of our counselors was driving to an off-site meeting when they got into a car accident. Thankfully, they weren’t seriously injured, but the vehicle was badly damaged and the other driver’s car needed significant repairs too.”
 
Commercial auto insurance can help protect you and your counselors on the road if you’re driving a company-owned vehicle for work. It can help cover property damage and bodily injury claims from an accident.

Malpractice Insurance for Counselors

Working closely with your clients can expose you to unique challenges. Counselor malpractice insurance can help protect your business from claims that it made a mistake in the professional services given, like a breach in confidentiality or missed appointments. If you or your practice gets sued, malpractice insurance can help pay your legal costs.
 
The Hartford partnered with Tivly to help counselors and counseling practices get the malpractice insurance coverage they need. Get a quote from Tivly and help protect your practice.

Frequently Asked Questions About Liability Insurance for Counselors

Counselor liability insurance helps protect your business from various risks. Different types of coverage make up a counselor insurance plan. For example, if a client or employee gets hurt, your general liability insurance can help cover medical expenses and potential legal costs. Counseling malpractice insurance can also help cover legal costs if a client sues you. Commercial property insurance also provides protection for your equipment, such as furniture and computers, so your business operations aren’t interrupted by unexpected incidents.
Liability insurance for counselors is critical, because it helps protect your practice from claims that can come up during normal operations. It can cover expenses related to various claims, such as property damage or workers’ compensation. Without coverage, you may have to pay out of pocket for costly damages, which could be financially devastating to your business. Plus, some states require certain types of business insurance, so it’s important to stay protected and compliant.
You can get a free quote online for counselor insurance. Our process is fast and simple. In just a few minutes, you can get a quote for your insurance needs.
 
 
Last Updated: April 10, 2025
** Costs, premiums, and coverages mentioned are estimates and are not guaranteed. Actual cost, premium, and coverage are determined at the time of quote or issue and are specific to an individual risk. Premiums are based on information provided to The Hartford, including, but not limited to, underwriting and rating criteria. All examples included on this website or in an advertisement are intended for informational purposes only and are not an offer or a guarantee of premium or coverage. Coverage and products described are subject to the terms and conditions found in the policy contract. Any educational information provided about available coverages does not modify the policy language or imply that any claim is covered. Products are not available in all states or for all businesses.
4 IBM, “Cost of a Data Breach Report 2024”
 
5 Bureau of Labor Statistics, “Employer-Reported Workplace Injuries and Illnesses, 2022”
 
6 Risk and Insurance, “Water Damage Is a Leading Cause of Commercial Real Estate Claims. How Sensor Technologies Help Mitigate These Claims”
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The Hartford does not currently have a product available to provide the coverage described on this page. You are being referred to Tivly in an effort to connect you with a carrier who may provide this coverage. This link will redirect you to a third-party website, owned and operated by an independent party ("Tivly"). Any link you make to or from the Tivly website will be at your own risk. Any use of the Tivly website will be subject to and any information you provide will be governed by the terms of the Tivly website, including those relating to confidentiality, data privacy and security. The Hartford and its affiliates (collectively "The Hartford") do not endorse or approve and make no warranties, representations or undertakings relating to the content of the Tivly website. The Hartford assumes no liability for loss, damage and any other consequence resulting directly or indirectly from your access to the Tivly website or any information that you may provide on the Tivly website.
 
Additional disclosures below.
The Hartford shall not be liable for any damages in connection with the use of any information provided on this page. Please consult with your insurance agent/broker or insurance company to determine specific coverage needs as this information is intended to be educational in nature.
 
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