You performed a “Past Life Regression” session on a new client. During the session, she began screaming and disassociating. Weeks later, she is in a psychiatric facility, and her family is suing you for “inducing a psychotic break” and practicing unlicensed mental health care. You check your “Life Coach” policy and realize Hypnosis might be totally excluded.
Key Takeaways
- Hypnosis is Restricted: Many standard coaching policies exclude hypnosis or require a specific “Hypnotherapist” certification (NGH, etc.) to cover it.
- The “Mental Anguish” Claim: This is a Bodily Injury claim. The family is arguing you caused psychological damage. You need high limits (
1M/1M/3M). - Scope of Practice: Regression therapy mimics trauma therapy. If you aren’t a licensed therapist, the insurer may deny the claim for “Unauthorized Practice of Medicine.”
- Screening Failure: Did you screen for schizophrenia or dissociative disorders? If not, that is your negligence.
The “Why” (The Trap): The High-Risk Modality Exclusion
I analyzed the “Designated Professional Services” list on a standard policy.
Unless you specifically selected “Hypnotherapist” and uploaded your certification, standard coaching policies often treat hypnosis like skydiving—a high-risk activity they don’t want to cover. Past Life Regression is controversial and often flagged by underwriters as “Esoteric/Energy Work,” which has fewer protections than standard talk coaching.
[IMAGE: Screenshot of an insurance application checkbox for ‘Hypnosis’ requiring certification upload]
The Investigation: Finding Hypnosis Coverage
I compared policies for “Regression” work.
1. Energy Medicine Professional Insurance (EMPI)
- My Analysis: Designed for Reiki, Hypnosis, and Energy workers.
- The Verdict: They cover Past Life Regression explicitly.
- The Catch: You must have a certification from a recognized school. “Self-taught” doesn’t cut it.
2. American Professional Agency (Hypnosis policy)
- My Analysis: Very strong coverage for NGH members.
- The Defense: They understand the “False Memory” accusations common in regression lawsuits and have lawyers who specialize in it.
3. General Coach Insurance
- My Analysis: Often excludes “Regression” specifically because of the risk of implanting false memories of abuse.
Comparison Table: Hypnosis Coverage
| Carrier | Covers Basic Hypnosis? | Covers Regression/Past Life? | Cert Required? |
| Standard Coach | Maybe (Relaxation) | No | No |
| EMPI / EMPA | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Holistic (ABMP) | Yes | Yes | Yes |
Step-by-Step Action Plan
- Stop Sessions: Do not perform regression on this client again.
- Verify Certification: Ensure your Hypnosis certification is current and was listed on your insurance application.
- The “Abreaction” Protocol: Your notes must show you handled the “abreaction” (screaming) correctly according to safety protocols (e.g., bringing them out of trance safely).
- Notify Carrier: Call your insurer. “I had a client experience an adverse reaction.” Get the ball rolling before the lawsuit lands.
FAQ Section
Is Past Life Regression considered religious?
Legally, it’s often considered “Spiritual Advice” or “Hypnotherapy.” The label matters for insurance. “Spiritual Advice” is harder to sue; “Hypnotherapy” is a clinical standard.
What if they recover a memory of abuse that isn’t true?
This is the “False Memory Syndrome” lawsuit. It is the #1 risk of regression. You need a policy that specifically covers “Sexual Misconduct” (often linked to these claims) and “professional negligence.”
Can I do this via Zoom?
Safety risk. If they dissociate on Zoom, you can’t help them. Many insurers discourage remote hypnosis for this reason.