Forget your yoga insurance. Here’s the malpractice policy that actually covers your sound bath healing business.
The Gong and the Tinnitus
I started my sound bath healing practice with a standard yoga teacher insurance policy, thinking it covered any wellness activity. During a session, a client claimed the intense vibrations from my large gong caused them to develop persistent tinnitus. When I filed a claim, my yoga insurer denied it, stating that “sound therapy” was not a covered yoga activity. I learned that my practice wasn’t just fitness; it was a therapeutic modality. I needed a true malpractice policy that specifically understood and covered the unique risks of sound healing, not a generic fitness policy.
Stop chasing more clients for your float tank center. Chase a solid professional and general liability policy instead.
The Slip and the Panic Attack
My float tank center was my dream. I focused all my energy on marketing to get more clients in the door. Then I had two incidents in one week. First, a client slipped on a wet floor and broke their wrist—a clear general liability claim. More complexly, another client had a severe panic attack inside the sensory deprivation tank and sued me for emotional distress. I realized my cheap, basic policy was not designed for the unique combination of risks—both physical and psychological—that a float tank center presents. Chasing the right insurance was more important than chasing clients.
The hidden truth about insuring a Reiki practice that training programs won’t admit.
The Promise the Policy Couldn’t Keep
When I completed my Reiki master training, the program offered access to a cheap group insurance plan. It felt easy and safe. A client with a chronic illness came to me, and in my desire to help, I made an implied promise that my energy work could “heal” them. Their condition worsened, and they sued me for giving false hope and causing emotional distress. The hidden truth is that the training program’s cheap policy had very low limits and offered a poor defense. I learned I needed my own, robust professional liability policy, not just a minimal plan.
What nobody tells you about the liability of being a non-licensed nutritional consultant.
The Diet and the Diagnosis
As a wellness coach, I provided nutritional advice to my clients. I thought it was harmless, as I was just suggesting healthy foods. Then I advised a client to try a high-protein diet. I had no idea they had an undiagnosed kidney condition. The diet put immense strain on their kidneys, leading to hospitalization. Their lawyer sued me for practicing dietetics without a license and causing bodily harm. What nobody tells you is that the moment you give specific dietary advice for a fee, you are taking on the liability of a licensed professional, often without the proper training or insurance.
I spent 10 years as a certified rolfer. Here’s what I learned about insuring therapeutic touch.
The Rib and the Rider
Rolfing involves intense, deep-tissue manipulation. For years, I was covered under a standard massage therapy liability policy. I thought it was enough. Then, a client claimed a session was too aggressive and had resulted in a cracked rib. When I filed the claim, the insurer initially balked, arguing that Rolfing went beyond the scope of “standard massage.” I learned that for any form of specialized, therapeutic touch, you need a policy that explicitly names and understands your specific modality. A generic policy leaves you vulnerable when your technique is questioned.
Unpopular opinion: Your beautiful, calming studio is not a substitute for liability insurance.
The Zen and the Zoning Lawsuit
I poured my life savings into creating a beautiful, calming studio space for my meditation practice. It was a serene oasis. I thought the peaceful environment itself was a form of protection. That illusion was shattered when a client tripped on a single, slightly raised floorboard and broke their hip. The beauty of my studio meant nothing in the ensuing lawsuit. I learned that no amount of good vibes or calming decor can protect you from the reality of premises liability. Your studio is a physical space, and you need insurance to protect it.
90% of hypnotherapists don’t understand this about insuring against claims of emotional distress.
The Memory and the Mental Anguish
I was a certified hypnotherapist helping a client with anxiety. During a session, a repressed traumatic memory surfaced. While this can be a part of the healing process, the client later claimed the experience caused them severe emotional distress and worsened their condition. They sued me for negligence. Most hypnotherapists don’t realize that their biggest risk isn’t a physical injury, but a claim of causing psychological harm. You need a professional liability policy that specifically covers mental and emotional distress claims, a risk many generic wellness policies exclude.
This simple client intake form, with clear disclaimers, transformed my defense against claims.
The Form and the False Claim
A client came to me for energy work, claiming it made their chronic back pain worse. They threatened to sue. In the past, this would have terrified me. But now, I had my secret weapon. Before our first session, the client had filled out my detailed intake form. The form not only documented their pre-existing condition but also included a clear, signed disclaimer stating they understood my work was not a substitute for medical care. When their lawyer saw the signed form, the false claim was dropped immediately. That document is my best defense.
You’re not struggling to rent space because of your modality. It’s because you can’t provide a certificate of insurance.
The Lease and the Liability Policy
I was trying to rent a small room in a wellness center for my acupuncture practice. I kept getting turned down, and I thought it was because the landlords were skeptical of my modality. The real reason was much simpler. The wellness center’s owner finally told me, “It’s not you, it’s your lack of insurance. Our lease requires all practitioners to provide a certificate of professional liability insurance naming us as an additional insured. You don’t have one.” I realized my business wasn’t being judged on its practice, but on its professionalism.
Stop buying a generic business policy. Buy professional liability with specific coverage for your exact wellness modality.
The Policy That Didn’t Cover My Practice
I started my reflexology practice and bought a “general business liability” policy from my local agent. I thought “business insurance” covered my business. I was wrong. A client claimed my foot manipulation caused a stress fracture. My insurer denied the claim, stating my policy was for slips and falls, and specifically excluded any claims arising from a “professional service.” I learned I needed a professional liability, or malpractice, policy. And not just any policy—one that specifically listed “reflexology” as a covered service.
The uncomfortable truth about insuring a past life regression therapy practice.
The Past Life and the Present-Day Lawsuit
I offered past life regression therapy. I saw it as a spiritual and metaphorical tool for self-discovery. A client, after a series of sessions, became convinced they were the reincarnation of a famous historical figure and made drastic, damaging life changes based on this belief. They later sued me, claiming my “therapy” had caused them psychological harm and financial loss. The uncomfortable truth is that practices like this are nearly impossible to insure. The outcomes are subjective and unprovable, making it a liability nightmare that most insurance companies will refuse to touch.
Why everything you know about making health claims for your crystal healing practice is backwards and dangerous.
The Crystal and the Cancer Claim
I believed deeply in the healing power of crystals. On my website, I shared testimonials from clients who said my crystals had “cured” their migraines or “eased” their anxiety. A new client with a serious medical condition saw these claims and decided to use my crystals instead of seeing a doctor. Their condition worsened. They sued me for giving medical advice without a license and for making unsubstantiated health claims. I learned that from a legal standpoint, you cannot make any statement that could be interpreted as a promise to treat, cure, or diagnose a health condition.
I tried to run a firewalking seminar without proper insurance. It was a disaster.
The Coals and the Call to a Lawyer
I was a motivational coach and decided to host a firewalking seminar as a tool for empowerment. I had participants sign waivers and thought that was enough protection. It wasn’t. One participant hesitated midway across the coals and received severe second-degree burns on their feet. The waiver they signed meant nothing in the face of their actual injury and the claim of an unsafe environment. The resulting lawsuit was a complete disaster. I learned that for any high-risk “wellness” activity, a waiver is a wish, not a shield. Specialized insurance is the only real protection.
Hot take: Your “intuitive” guidance is overrated if it leads to a lawsuit for giving improper advice.
The Intuition and the Indebtedness
As an intuitive coach, I gave a client guidance that they should leave their stable job and invest their savings into a risky new business venture. I felt it was their soul’s path. The business failed within six months, and the client was left bankrupt. They sued me, claiming they had made the decision based solely on my paid professional advice. My “intuitive hit” was no defense in court. I learned that the moment you charge a fee for your guidance, it becomes a professional service, and you can be held liable for the financial consequences.
Most wellness practitioners waste hours on creating content. Spend an hour reviewing your policy’s scope of practice.
The Content and the Coverage Gap
I spent ten hours a week creating beautiful social media content about the benefits of my wellness practice. I spent zero hours a year reading my actual insurance policy. After a client complaint, I discovered that a new modality I had started offering wasn’t listed under my policy’s “covered scope of practice.” I was completely uninsured for a huge portion of my work. I learned that an hour spent reviewing my policy’s definitions and exclusions is infinitely more valuable for my business’s survival than ten hours spent creating an Instagram post.
The 5-minute habit that replaced my fear of a client having a bad reaction to an essential oil.
The Patch Test and the Peace of Mind
I use essential oils in my massage practice, and I used to have a constant low-level fear that a client would have a bad skin reaction. I started a simple 5-minute habit that has given me complete peace of mind. Before using any new oil on a client, I place a tiny, diluted drop on their inner arm for a “patch test.” We wait a few minutes to see if there is any redness or irritation. This simple, documented step not only protects my clients, but it also provides me with a clear, defensible process if a reaction is ever claimed.
Your practice’s biggest risk isn’t a bad review. It’s a lawsuit for practicing medicine without a license.
The Review vs. The Regulator
I was terrified of getting a bad Yelp review. I thought it would be the worst thing that could happen to my holistic health coaching practice. I was wrong. A disgruntled client didn’t just leave a bad review; they filed a complaint with the state medical board, claiming I was providing medical advice without a license. The investigation that followed, with its legal fees and threat of prosecution, was a thousand times worse than any bad review. I learned that my biggest risk wasn’t public opinion; it was the legal boundary of my profession.
If you’re a doula, and you’re not carrying professional liability insurance, you’re already exposed.
The Birth Plan and the Blame
As a doula, I provided emotional and physical support during childbirth. I never gave medical advice. During one birth, there was a complication. The mother later sued the hospital, the doctor, and me. Her lawyer claimed that my suggestions had deviated from the doctor’s plan and contributed to the poor outcome. Even though I was just there for support, I was still part of the “care team” and was swept into the lawsuit. I learned that in the high-stakes environment of childbirth, if you are in the room, you are a potential target. Professional liability insurance is essential.
Stop glorifying the “healer” archetype. Start operating as a professional, insured service provider.
The Healer and the Hearing
I always saw myself as a “healer.” I thought my role was spiritual and separate from the mundane world of business. This mindset was a liability. When a client had a negative outcome, they didn’t see me as a healer; they saw me as a service provider they had paid for a result. They filed a complaint with a licensing board. In the hearing, my “healer” identity meant nothing. The only thing that mattered was my documentation, my client agreement, and my insurance coverage. I had to stop being a “healer” and start being a professional.
The real cost of a “simple” piece of advice that nobody calculates until the client blames you for their life choices.
The Advice and the Alimony
I was a relationship coach. During a session, I advised a client to “speak their truth” to their spouse. It was simple, empowering advice. The client went home, demanded a divorce, and ended up in a messy, expensive legal battle. A year later, they sued me. They claimed that my “simple advice” was the direct cause of their divorce and subsequent financial hardship. I learned that the real cost of your advice isn’t the time it takes to give it; it’s the potential for a client to blame you for the complex consequences of their own life choices.
What professional acupuncturists do with their insurance that energy healers don’t.
The Needle and the Negligence
A licensed acupuncturist would never dream of practicing without a robust malpractice insurance policy. They understand that their work involves puncturing the skin, carrying a clear risk of injury or infection. What many energy healers don’t realize is that while their work may be non-invasive, they carry a similar professional liability risk. A client can still claim the “energy work” caused emotional distress or that the healer’s advice led to a bad outcome. Professionals in regulated fields know they need insurance; professionals in unregulated fields often dangerously assume they don’t.
The myth that your work is “spiritual” and therefore not subject to liability is destroying wellness businesses.
The Spirit and the Subpoena
I ran a spiritual counseling practice. I truly believed that because my work dealt with the soul and spirit, it was on a different plane, separate from the legal and material world. I thought I was immune to things like lawsuits. That myth was shattered when I received a subpoena. A client was suing me for fraud and emotional distress. I learned a hard lesson: if you charge a fee for a service, it doesn’t matter if you call it spiritual, energetic, or psychic. You are operating a business, and that business is subject to the same laws and liabilities as any other.
I quit giving advice outside my narrow, insurable scope of practice, and my professional anxiety disappeared.
The Scope and the Serenity
As a yoga teacher, students would ask me for advice on everything: diet, injuries, even relationship problems. I wanted to be helpful, so I would offer my opinion. This caused me constant anxiety, as I knew I wasn’t qualified. I made a new rule: I would only give advice on one thing—the alignment of a yoga pose in my class. For anything else, I would say, “That’s outside my scope of practice, but I can refer you to a professional.” The moment I built that fence around my expertise, my professional anxiety vanished.
Controversial: Your online wellness course is a massive, uninsured product liability risk.
The Course and the Class Action
You create a popular online course on “holistic stress reduction.” It includes dietary suggestions, breathing exercises, and herbal recommendations. You think of it as educational content. A lawyer sees it as a product. What happens if a thousand people take your course and a handful have a bad reaction to an herb you recommended? You are now facing a potential class-action product liability lawsuit. Your professional liability policy for one-on-one coaching likely does not cover a digital “product” sold at scale. Your successful course could be your biggest uninsured risk.
95% of online advice for starting a wellness business ignores the critical professional liability (E&O) insurance they need.
The Guru and the Gap in Coverage
Online articles about starting a coaching or wellness business are full of advice on branding, social media, and finding clients. They almost never mention professional liability, or malpractice, insurance. Why? Because it’s a complicated, scary topic that contradicts the simple, empowering narrative of “turn your passion into a business.” The gurus are selling a dream. Admitting that your advice could lead to a lawsuit that bankrupts you is bad for business. This creates a massive gap, leaving new practitioners dangerously unaware of their most significant risk.
One small endorsement for premises liability on my policy protected me when a client slipped in my home office.
The Welcome Mat and the Lawsuit
I ran my life coaching practice from a home office. My professional liability policy covered me for my advice. I didn’t think I needed any other coverage. One rainy day, a client slipped on my wet welcome mat and fractured their wrist. They sued me for the injury. I was relieved to learn my agent had included a small, inexpensive “premises liability” endorsement on my policy. It specifically covered bodily injury that occurred at my designated home office location. Without that one small add-on, I would have been paying those medical bills myself.
The truth about insuring against false memory claims in hypnotherapy that practitioners profit from hiding.
The Memory and the Malpractice Minefield
In hypnotherapy, there is a serious and complex risk of a client developing “false memories” of trauma. The therapist might believe they are uncovering a real event, while the client’s mind is creating a narrative. If a client makes life-altering decisions based on a memory that is later proven to be false, they can sue the hypnotherapist for immense psychological damages. The truth that practitioners often don’t advertise is that this is a known, high-stakes risk in their profession, and it is a risk so volatile that many standard malpractice policies will have specific exclusions for it.
Stop practicing without a deep understanding of your state’s laws regarding your scope of practice. It’s killing your insurability.
The Law and the Lack of Coverage
Each state has different laws defining what constitutes “medicine,” “therapy,” or “dietetics.” As a wellness practitioner, if you unknowingly cross that legal line—by using a specific word, or by giving a certain type of advice—you could be accused of practicing a licensed profession illegally. This is not only a legal problem; it’s an insurance problem. Your professional liability policy will almost certainly have an exclusion for any claims arising from “illegal acts.” If you are practicing outside your legal scope, you are practicing without insurance.
Replace your hope that clients understand what you do with an iron-clad client agreement that explains what you don’t do.
The “Do” and the “Don’t”
I used to hope my clients understood that my energy work was not a substitute for medical care. Hope is not a legal defense. I replaced hope with a clear, iron-clad client agreement. The most important part of that agreement is the section that explains what I don’t do. It explicitly states: “I do not diagnose, treat, or cure any medical condition. My services are not a substitute for professional medical or psychological care.” Having clients read and sign this statement has been the single most important step in managing their expectations and protecting my practice.
The herbalism industry secret that could save you from a massive product liability claim.
The Tincture and the Tiny Print
I sell my own herbal tinctures. The secret that experienced herbalists know, but rarely advertise, is the importance of the “contraindications” section on their labels. My labels don’t just say what the herb is for; they clearly state who should not take it. For example, “Do not use if you are pregnant, nursing, or taking blood-thinning medication.” This tiny print, which shows I am a responsible manufacturer who understands the risks of my own product, is a powerful defense against a product liability claim.
Why your traditional professional liability policy fails if you also sell supplements or tinctures.
The Advice vs. The Product
I was a nutritional consultant with a solid professional liability policy that covered me for my advice. To help my clients, I started selling a small line of supplements that I recommended. A client had a bad reaction to one of the supplements and sued me. I was shocked when my insurer denied the claim. My policy covered me for my “professional services” (my advice), but it had a clear exclusion for any claims arising from a “product” I sold. I learned that the moment I started selling a physical product, I needed a separate, and more expensive, product liability policy.
I ignored my lawyer’s advice to get malpractice insurance for my life coaching business. It cost me my savings in a lawsuit.
The Advice That Cost Me Everything
My lawyer told me that as a life coach, I was giving professional advice for a fee and I needed malpractice (E&O) insurance. I ignored him. It seemed like a waste of money for just “talking” to people. Then a client, going through a divorce, claimed my coaching advice had led them to make a series of bad financial decisions in their settlement. They sued me for their losses. The legal fees to defend myself were staggering, and I ultimately had to settle. That “unnecessary” policy would have saved my entire life savings.
Let’s be honest: You’re one unhappy, litigious client away from losing your practice.
The Client and the Court Case
Let’s be brutally honest with ourselves as wellness practitioners. We work in a field that is often subjective, unregulated, and deals with people’s deepest emotions and hopes. This is a recipe for misunderstandings and disappointment. And in today’s world, disappointment often leads to lawsuits. The simple truth is that you are one client—one person who has a bad outcome, who misinterprets your words, or who is simply looking for someone to blame—away from a lawsuit that could completely destroy your practice and your financial future if you are not properly protected.
87% of breathwork facilitators get their liability for causing emotional or physical distress wrong.
The Breath and the Breakdown
As a breathwork facilitator, I thought my work was completely safe. It’s just breathing, right? I was wrong. During an intense session, a client had a powerful emotional release that spiraled into a psychological breakdown, requiring them to seek therapy. Another client, who hadn’t disclosed their heart condition, fainted. Both incidents led to claims of negligence. Most breathwork facilitators don’t understand that by inducing altered states, they are taking on a significant liability for their clients’ emotional and physical responses.
This weird habit of documenting every session in SOAP notes, even for “energy work,” outperforms everything in a claim.
The Note and the Negligence Claim
I’m a Reiki practitioner. It seemed weird to take formal notes for “energy work.” But I started a habit of documenting every single session using the “SOAP” note format (Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan), just like a doctor or a therapist would. I note what the client said, what I observed, and what my plan was for the next session. When a client later claimed my work had been ineffective and had caused them harm, my meticulous, professional notes provided a clear record of the entire course of our work and became the foundation of my successful legal defense.
The real reason you can’t get standard insurance for your modality (hint: there’s no actuarial data, so you need a specialist).
The Data and the Denial
You’ve invented a new and innovative wellness modality, but you can’t find any standard insurance company that will cover you. You think it’s because they are biased against your work. The real reason is simpler: you are a statistic of one. Insurance works based on decades of historical data (actuarial data) to price risk. For your brand new modality, there is zero data. The underwriters have no way to calculate the risk, so their default answer is “no.” To get coverage, you need a specialist broker who can find a niche “surplus lines” carrier willing to take on an unknown risk.
Ditch your generalist agent. Find a surplus lines broker who has a program for health and wellness professionals.
The Agent and the Inability to Insure
My local insurance agent was great for my car, but when I asked him to insure my hypnotherapy practice, he was lost. He came back empty-handed, saying no standard company would cover me. He didn’t know where else to look. I ditched him and found a “surplus lines” broker. These brokers are specialists who have access to the non-standard insurance market. They work with companies that intentionally cover unique and hard-to-place risks. The surplus lines broker had a specific program for health and wellness professionals and got me a policy in a week.
Stop pretending your waiver protects you from claims of negligence.
The Waiver and the Watered-Down Defense
I thought the detailed waiver my clients signed was my ultimate legal shield. A client was injured in my yoga class, and my lawyer gave me a hard dose of reality. He explained that a waiver can be a helpful piece of evidence, but courts can, and often do, set them aside. A court will likely rule that a client cannot sign away their right to sue you for your own “gross negligence.” My waiver was not the iron-clad defense I thought it was. It’s a deterrent, not a substitute for having a solid liability insurance policy.
The 9-word phrase that changed how I think about fringe wellness risk.
You are responsible for the advice you sell.
I used to think that because my wellness coaching was based on “guidance,” not “directives,” I wasn’t really responsible for my clients’ actions. My mentor told me something that changed my entire perspective on risk. She said, “You are responsible for the advice you sell.” Those nine words were a revelation. It made me realize that the moment I charge a fee for my advice, it becomes a professional service. And as a service provider, I have a legal and ethical responsibility for the quality and the consequences of that advice.
What your certification program doesn’t want you to know about the gaps in their group “insurance” plan.
The Certificate and the Coverage Gap
When I got my wellness coaching certification, the program proudly offered an affordable group liability insurance plan. I signed up, feeling protected. What they didn’t want me to know was that this “insurance” was a very basic, low-limit policy designed to protect them from me, not to fully protect me from a client. When I had a serious claim, I discovered my coverage limit was tiny, the deductible was high, and the policy had numerous exclusions. The group plan was just a marketing tool for the school, not a real safety net for the practitioner.
I was today years old when I learned about liability insurance for hosting a sweat lodge.
The Lodge and the Lawsuit
I incorporated traditional sweat lodge ceremonies into my spiritual retreats. I saw it as a sacred, prayerful practice. I was today years old when I learned that from an insurance perspective, it is a high-risk activity. The combination of extreme heat, enclosed spaces, and intense emotional experiences creates a significant risk of heatstroke, fainting, or psychological distress. A standard retreat insurance policy would never cover it. You need a specialized policy that specifically understands and underwrites the unique risks of operating a sweat lodge.
Normalize referring clients to licensed medical professionals.
The Referral and the Reduction of Risk
As a wellness coach, I used to be afraid that referring a client to a doctor or a therapist would make me seem like I didn’t know what I was doing. I was wrong. Normalizing referrals has become my single best risk management tool. Now, when a client mentions a physical or psychological issue, my first response is, “That sounds like something you should discuss with a licensed medical professional.” This action does two things: it helps my client get the proper care they need, and it clearly documents that I am staying within my own professional lane.
Plot twist: Your biggest enemy isn’t a skeptic. It’s a client who sincerely believes you can cure them, and you fail.
The Believer and the Betrayal
I always thought my biggest professional threat would be a skeptic who would publicly criticize my energy healing practice. The plot twist is that my biggest lawsuit came from my most devoted believer. She truly believed I could cure her chronic illness. When, after a year of sessions, her condition hadn’t improved, her deep belief turned into a feeling of betrayal. She sued me for fraud and for causing her to delay traditional medical treatment. I learned that a true believer with unrealistic expectations is a far greater liability than a simple skeptic.
The policy endorsement for “sexual misconduct” liability everyone ignores that is absolutely essential.
The Accusation and the Exclusion
As a massage therapist, the thought of being falsely accused of sexual misconduct was my biggest fear. It’s also a risk that is specifically excluded from most standard professional liability policies. It’s an uncomfortable topic, so many practitioners and agents ignore it. But for anyone whose work involves touch or close personal contact, a specific “sexual misconduct liability” endorsement is absolutely essential. It is the only thing that will provide you with a legal defense in the event of a career-ending, and often baseless, accusation.
Stop optimizing for a low premium. Optimize for a carrier that understands and will defend your specific modality.
The Premium vs. The Promise of Defense
When I was looking for insurance for my aromatherapy practice, I was focused on finding the lowest premium. I found a cheap policy from a big, standard insurer. When I had a claim, their defense lawyer was clueless. He didn’t understand my practice and was openly skeptical of it in front of the mediator. I realized I had optimized for the wrong thing. I now have a more expensive policy with a specialty carrier that only insures wellness practices. I know that if I have a claim, the lawyer they provide will understand and know how to defend my specific modality.
The brutal truth about why your good intentions and client testimonials mean nothing to a jury.
The Intentions and the Indifference of the Court
I poured my heart into my practice. My intentions were always good, and I had a binder full of glowing testimonials from happy clients. I thought this was all the protection I needed. Then I was sued for negligence. I learned the brutal truth in that courtroom: a jury is instructed to be indifferent to your good intentions. And your testimonials are considered “inadmissible hearsay.” The only things that mattered were the facts of the case, the quality of my documentation, and the strength of my legal defense.
Throw away your informal intake process. A detailed health history and signed disclaimer is what you need.
The Intake and the Iron-clad Defense
My intake process used to be a casual conversation. I thought it was friendly and welcoming. It was also a liability nightmare. I had no record of my clients’ pre-existing conditions or their understanding of my practice. I threw that process away and replaced it with a professional, multi-page intake form. It includes a detailed health history, a list of their goals, and a section of signed disclaimers. That document has now become the foundation of my practice and my single most important tool for creating a clear, professional, and defensible relationship with every client.
The 60-second test that reveals if your wellness practice is considered “medical treatment” by an insurer.
The Question That Clarifies Coverage
To find out if your insurance company considers your wellness practice to be a “medical treatment,” try this 60-second test. Call your agent and ask this simple question: “If a client sues me, claiming my services made their diagnosed medical condition worse, does this policy provide coverage?” If the agent hesitates, or says the policy has an exclusion for claims arising from the treatment of a diagnosed illness, you know the insurer considers your work to be medical in nature. This will reveal the dangerous gaps in a generic wellness policy.
Why everyone is wrong about how “low-risk” non-touch modalities are.
The Words That Wound
Practitioners of non-touch modalities like meditation coaching or guided imagery often think their work is completely low-risk because there is no physical contact. This is dangerously wrong. The risk isn’t physical; it’s verbal. A client can claim that your guided meditation caused them severe emotional distress, that your advice led them to make a poor life choice, or that you failed to recognize a serious psychological issue and refer them for proper care. The liability comes from your words, your advice, and your professional judgment, which can be just as damaging as any physical manipulation.
Stop asking “how much to insure my coaching business?”. Ask “what is the definition of ‘professional service’ in this policy?” instead.
The Definition That Determines Your Destiny
When I first shopped for insurance for my coaching business, I only asked about the price. I was focused on the wrong thing. The most important question I should have asked is, “Can you show me the exact definition of ‘professional service’ in this policy?” I later found a cheap policy where the definition was so narrow, it didn’t even include “coaching.” The policy’s definition determines what you are actually covered for. A cheap policy with a narrow definition is worthless. A policy with a broad definition that accurately describes what you do is priceless.
The habit of staying 100% within my documented scope of practice that I wish I’d started on day one.
The Lane and the Lawsuit
As a nutrition coach, clients would often ask me about their medical symptoms. Wanting to be helpful, I would sometimes offer an opinion. I was drifting outside my lane. The habit I wish I’d started on day one is to have a clearly defined, written “scope of practice” and to stay 100% within it. Now, the moment a client asks a medical question, I have a practiced and professional response: “That sounds like a question for your doctor. My scope of practice is limited to…” This habit has given me incredible professional clarity and peace of mind.
Here’s why generic business advice is terrible for an Iridology practitioner.
The Iris and the Issue
Generic business advice would tell an Iridology practitioner (who analyzes the iris to assess health) to get a simple liability policy. This is terrible advice. The entire practice of Iridology is based on assessing a person’s health, which in most states falls under the definition of “practicing medicine.” A standard insurance policy will have an immediate and absolute exclusion for practicing medicine without a license. Iridology practitioners need highly specialized, hard-to-find coverage from a carrier that specifically understands and is willing to insure their unique and controversial modality.
I’ll say what everyone’s thinking: You’re terrified of being sued because you know your practice is on the fringe.
The Fear and the Fringe
Let’s just be honest with each other. If you practice a fringe wellness modality, you live with a low-grade terror of being sued. You know that your work is not backed by mainstream science. You know that a skeptical judge or jury might not understand what you do. This fear is real and it is valid. But letting that fear paralyze you and prevent you from getting the best possible insurance is a huge mistake. The fact that you are on the fringe is the very reason you need a robust, specialized liability policy more than anyone else.
The skill of managing client expectations that matters more than your healing technique.
The Expectation and the Elation
I used to think that my success as a practitioner depended on how good my “healing technique” was. I was wrong. I learned that the most important skill I have is the ability to manage my clients’ expectations from the very first conversation. I am now crystal clear about what my services are, and more importantly, what they are not. I don’t promise cures; I promise support. A client with realistic expectations who has a positive experience is far more valuable to my practice than a client who came in expecting a miracle and was disappointed.
This counterintuitive action of creating stricter client boundaries fixed my professional anxiety.
The Boundary and the Breath of Fresh Air
I used to be available to my wellness clients 24/7. They would text me at all hours with their problems. I thought this was good service, but it was causing me crippling anxiety and blurring my professional role. I took a counterintuitive step: I created a strict boundary policy. I now only respond during business hours, and I no longer give out my personal number. I was afraid clients would leave, but the opposite happened. They respected my professionalism more, our sessions became more focused, and my own anxiety disappeared.
Why your good intention of being a “friend” to your clients is actually a massive professional liability risk.
The Friend and the Fiduciary Duty
As a coach, I wanted my clients to feel comfortable, so I adopted a friendly, informal tone. I thought of them as friends. This was a massive mistake. The moment a client pays you for a service, you have a professional, fiduciary duty to them. A friendship is a relationship between equals. A professional relationship is not. Trying to be a “friend” can lead to blurred boundaries, a lack of professional objectivity, and a dangerous situation where a client blames you, their “friend,” when their life doesn’t go as planned.
Quit discussing client cases with your peers without explicit, written consent. It’s not worth the privacy violation.
The Peer and the Privacy Breach
I was part of a “peer supervision” group where we would discuss challenging client cases. We thought it was a helpful way to improve our skills. But we were doing it without the explicit, written consent of our clients. One of my clients found out that I had discussed her personal details with a group of strangers. She filed a formal complaint against me for breaching her privacy. I learned a hard lesson: even with the best of intentions, discussing a client’s case without their signed permission is a serious ethical and legal violation.
The metric everyone tracks (number of clients) that means absolutely nothing if one lawsuit closes your practice.
The Client Count and the Court Case
In the wellness world, everyone seems to track the number of clients they have as a measure of success. “I have a full practice!” is a common boast. This is a vanity metric. It doesn’t matter if you have 100 clients if one single lawsuit from one of them is enough to put you out of business forever. The real measure of a sustainable practice isn’t how many people you see, but how well you are protected. I would rather have 10 clients and a rock-solid insurance policy than 100 clients and a massive, uninsured risk.
Stop calling it a “healing.” Call it “a professional wellness service intended to support general well-being.”
The Word and the World of Hurt
The word “healing” is a loaded and dangerous term for a wellness practitioner. It implies a cure. It suggests you are treating a disease or an ailment. This can put you in direct violation of medical licensing laws. I stopped using the word “heal” entirely. Now, I am very precise with my language. I say that I provide “a professional wellness service intended to support general well-being.” This careful, less dramatic language manages client expectations and keeps me safely within my legal scope of practice.
The decision I made to buy the most expensive, most comprehensive malpractice policy I could find that everyone said was overkill (but let me sleep at night).
The Premium and the Peace of Mind
When I finally got serious about insuring my practice, I shopped around. I made a decision that my colleagues thought was crazy. I bought the most expensive, most comprehensive malpractice policy available from a top-rated specialty carrier. It had the highest limits and the fewest exclusions. It was probably overkill. But the sense of security it gives me is priceless. I can now run my practice with confidence, knowing that I have the best possible protection standing behind me. The cost of that premium is a small price to pay for being able to sleep at night.
What I learned from my first board complaint that changed my entire documentation process.
The Complaint and the Correction
A client filed a complaint against me with my certifying board. The board immediately asked for all of my records related to the client. My documentation was a mess of informal notes and scattered emails. It made me look unprofessional and unprepared. I successfully defended myself, but the experience was a wake-up call. It changed my entire process. I now use a formal, consistent note-taking system for every single client interaction. I learned that in a dispute, the quality of your documentation is the quality of your defense.
The common mistake of thinking your personal umbrella policy covers your professional practice.
The Umbrella and the Uncovered Claim
I was a smart professional. I had a $2 million personal umbrella liability policy sitting on top of my home and auto insurance. I felt completely protected. Then, a client sued me for negligence related to my consulting business. I was horrified to learn that my personal umbrella policy had a “business pursuits” exclusion. It explicitly stated that it provided absolutely no coverage for any claims arising from my professional practice. A personal umbrella is for your personal life. It is not, and never will be, a substitute for a real professional liability policy.
PSA: Most “cheap insurance for healers” plans online are a scam. Here’s proof of the dangerous exclusions.
The Healer and the Hollow Policy
Here’s a public service announcement. If you see a website offering “cheap insurance for healers,” run away. These policies are almost always a scam. I reviewed one. It was a basic general liability policy that covered a slip-and-fall. But the fine print had clear exclusions for any claims arising from “professional services,” “giving advice,” “massage or therapeutic touch,” and “psychological distress.” The policy was a hollow shell. It was cheap because it excluded every single risk a real healer or wellness practitioner actually faces.
The skill of ethical marketing that wellness schools should teach but don’t.
The Promise and the Peril
Wellness certification programs are great at teaching you the techniques of your modality. What they almost never teach is the critical skill of ethical marketing. They don’t teach you how to talk about what you do without making illegal medical claims. They don’t teach you how to write a website that doesn’t create unrealistic expectations or imply a guarantee of results. This is a massive educational gap. The skill of marketing your practice in a way that is both effective and legally compliant is one of the most important for any wellness professional’s survival.
This 5-minute action of reviewing your website for any language that could be interpreted as a “guarantee” beats a lawsuit every time.
The Website Word-Check
Once a month, I take five minutes to do one simple thing. I re-read every single page of my website with one question in mind: “Could a lawyer twist any of this language into a ‘guarantee’ of a specific result?” I search for words like “cure,” “fix,” “eliminate,” or “guaranteed.” This simple 5-minute word-check helps me to keep my marketing copy clean and to remove any language that could create a dangerous, implied promise to my clients. It’s the best and easiest way to prevent a lawsuit for false advertising.
Why that cheap online insurer is actually doing it wrong for any claim involving emotional or psychological distress.
The Algorithm and the Anguish
I got a cheap professional liability quote from a big online insurer. The problem is, their business model is built for simple, data-driven claims, like a typo in an architect’s plan. A claim against a wellness practitioner is often for something much messier, like “emotional distress.” The online insurer’s algorithm isn’t equipped to handle these nuanced, subjective claims. They will often just deny, delay, and fight, because it doesn’t fit their simple model. You need a specialty insurer that understands and has experience with the complex world of psychological and emotional damage claims.
Stop waiting for a client to have a bad outcome. Start with a comprehensive review of your consent forms and insurance.
The Proactive and the Protected
Most practitioners only take a hard look at their consent forms and their insurance policy after a client has a bad outcome. They wait for a crisis to expose the weaknesses in their practice. This is a reactive and dangerous way to operate. The professional approach is to be proactive. Schedule an annual review. Sit down and read every word of your client agreement. Then call your insurance broker and have them walk you through your policy’s exclusions. It is always better to find the holes in your own boat than to have the ocean find them for you.
The specialist liability program for alternative medicine I use that most practitioners have never heard of.
The Niche and the Knowledgeable
I practice a form of alternative medicine that most standard insurers wouldn’t touch. I was struggling to find coverage. Then a mentor told me to look for a specific “managing general agent” or “program administrator” that runs a specialty liability program just for alternative and complementary medicine. These are niche insurance groups that have created their own tailored policies for practitioners like me. They understand the risks, they can cover dozens of different modalities, and they are a secret weapon that most practitioners have never heard of.
Your claims problem exists because you believe your heartfelt testimonials are a legal defense.
The Testimonial and the Testimony
You have a wall of heartfelt, glowing testimonials from clients who adore you and your work. You believe that this is undeniable proof of your skill and your value. Your claims problem exists because you believe these testimonials are a legal defense. They are not. In a courtroom, they are considered “inadmissible hearsay.” They cannot be cross-examined. A jury will never see them. The only testimony that matters is the one given under oath. Your binder of happy letters is completely irrelevant in a legal dispute.
Delete that client notes app that isn’t HIPAA compliant. Your professionalism will improve.
The App and the Audit
I used a simple, convenient note-taking app on my phone to keep track of my client sessions. It was easy, but it wasn’t HIPAA compliant. The data wasn’t properly encrypted, and the company’s terms of service were weak. I realized that if I were ever audited or involved in a legal case, my poor data security practices would make me look incredibly unprofessional. I deleted the consumer-grade app and switched to a professional, HIPAA-compliant practice management software. The security of my client’s data is a direct reflection of my own professionalism.
The advice on liability limits I give that makes new practitioners uncomfortable ($1M is not enough).
The Million-Dollar Myth
When I advise new wellness practitioners on how much malpractice insurance to get, I tell them that a $1 million limit is not enough. They always look shocked. A million dollars sounds like a huge number. But I explain that in the case of a serious claim—one involving lasting emotional damage or a client who delayed medical treatment—the legal fees alone can eat up a huge portion of that. A $1 million policy is the old standard. In today’s litigious world, it’s the bare minimum, and it should make you feel uncomfortable.
Why the common fear of insurance cost is irrational and the real fear of a career-ending lawsuit is ignored.
The Fear of the Fee vs. The Fear of the Fight
Wellness practitioners often have an irrational fear of the cost of insurance. They see the annual premium, a known and manageable number, as a major financial burden. The real, rational fear that they should have—but often ignore—is the fear of a career-ending lawsuit. The cost of legal defense, the stress, and the potential judgment can be financially and emotionally devastating. Fearing the small, predictable fee while ignoring the massive, unpredictable risk of a legal fight is a classic case of focusing on the wrong problem.
I tried to use a standard GL policy for my aromatherapy business so you don’t have to. Here’s what happened with the product liability claim.
The Scent and the Skin Reaction
I started my aromatherapy business, selling custom essential oil blends. I bought a standard general liability (GL) policy, thinking it covered me. A customer had a severe skin reaction to one of my blends and sued me. My GL insurer denied the claim. They explained that GL is for premises liability, like a slip-and-fall in my shop. It specifically excludes claims arising from a “product.” For that, I needed a separate, and more expensive, product liability policy. I learned that the moment you sell a product, GL insurance is not enough.
The question about “scope of practice” restrictions in the policy that instantly reveals if a broker knows your field.
The Scope and the Specialty
When I’m interviewing an insurance broker for my wellness practice, I ask one key question: “Can you show me where this policy outlines any ‘scope of practice’ restrictions or excluded modalities?” A generalist agent will be confused by this question. A specialist broker who knows the wellness field will immediately understand. They know that many policies have a list of “uncovered” practices, like homeopathy or herbalism. This question instantly reveals whether the broker understands the specific and often quirky world of wellness insurance.
This old-school method of a locked, fireproof filing cabinet for client records beats every cloud service for privacy.
The Cabinet and the Cloud
I keep my client records digitally on a secure, encrypted cloud server. But I also do something old-school. I keep a printed copy of my most sensitive client notes in a locked, fireproof filing cabinet in my office. Why? Because a cloud service can be hacked. A company can change its terms of service. My filing cabinet cannot. It is not connected to the internet. It is under my complete, physical control. For the ultimate in client privacy and data security, this low-tech, old-school method is unbeatable.
Stop romanticizing the “intuitive guide.” It’s a professional service role with a high standard of care.
The Intuition and the Institution of Law
It’s easy to romanticize the role of the “intuitive guide.” It sounds magical and exempt from normal rules. But in the eyes of the law, it’s a professional service role just like any other. The moment you accept a fee, you are held to a “standard of care.” A client can claim that your “intuitive” advice was actually negligent and harmful. Stop thinking of yourself as a mystical being. You are a professional providing a service, and you will be judged by the same legal standards as any other advisor.
The principle of “informed consent” that guides every single client interaction.
The Consent and the Conversation
The legal and ethical principle of “informed consent” is the foundation of my entire practice. It means that before I begin any session, I have a clear conversation with my client. I explain what my modality is, what a session entails, what the potential benefits and risks are, and what my services are not. I ensure they have all the information they need to make an informed decision to proceed. This principle transforms my relationship with a client from a simple transaction to a professional, transparent partnership.
Why your client list is vanity and your professional liability coverage is sanity.
The List vs. The Limit
You might be proud of your long list of clients. You might see it as a sign of your success and expertise. That’s a vanity metric. The number that represents sanity is the coverage limit on your professional liability insurance policy. It doesn’t matter if you have 200 happy clients. It only takes one unhappy client with a lawsuit to destroy your practice. Your long client list won’t protect you, but your policy limit will. That’s the number that truly measures the health and sustainability of your business.
Forget being the most enlightened teacher. Aim to be the most responsible and insurable one.
The Guru and the Guardian
I used to want to be seen as the most enlightened, charismatic wellness teacher in my community. I chased a reputation for being a “guru.” I learned that this was a dangerous ego trap. I shifted my focus. Now, I aim to be the most responsible and insurable teacher. I prioritize my legal agreements, my documentation, and my insurance coverage. A reputation for being a responsible, professional guardian of my clients’ well-being is far more valuable, and sustainable, than a fleeting reputation for being a guru.
The realization that made me fire my agent who laughed at my profession and find one who took it seriously.
The Scoff and the Specialist
When I told my local insurance agent that I needed liability insurance for my energy healing practice, he literally scoffed. He made a joke about “vibrations.” He clearly didn’t understand or respect my profession, and he couldn’t find me a proper policy. I fired him. I realized I needed an agent who took my work as seriously as I did. I found a specialist broker who worked with other wellness practitioners. She didn’t laugh. She just asked the right questions and got me the coverage I needed.
What amateur healers do with their language that professional wellness consultants never do.
The Word Choice That Avoids a Lawsuit
An amateur “healer” will use careless, expansive language. They will say things like “I can heal your trauma” or “This will cure your anxiety.” A professional wellness consultant would never, ever use this language. A professional is meticulous with their words. They say, “I can provide techniques that may help you manage your stress” or “This service is intended to support your overall sense of well-being.” They know that the difference between “healing” and “supporting” can be the difference between a lawsuit and a successful practice.
The investment in a legal review of your website and marketing materials that everyone avoids that has the highest ROI.
The Lawyer and the Language
Most wellness practitioners would never dream of spending a few hundred dollars to have a lawyer review their website and brochures. It feels like an unaffordable luxury. This is a massive mistake. That legal review has the highest possible return on investment. A lawyer can spot the one phrase on your website that could be interpreted as an illegal medical claim or an unenforceable guarantee. Paying a lawyer to prevent you from getting sued is the cheapest legal advice you will ever buy.
Stop saying “I can heal you.” Say “I can provide services that may support your body’s natural healing processes.”
The Promise vs. The Process
When a client comes to you in pain, it is so tempting to say the comforting words, “I can heal you.” This is a dangerous promise. The word “heal” implies a cure, and it puts you in the position of a medical provider. I trained myself to use different language. Now I say, “I can provide services that may support your body’s natural healing processes.” This subtle but critical shift in language changes everything. It reframes my role from being the active “healer” to being a supportive facilitator of the client’s own process.
The truth about underwriting fringe wellness I couldn’t say as a standard lines underwriter.
The Unknown and the Uninsurable
I used to be an underwriter for a big, standard insurance company. When we got an application for a “crystal-infused sound therapy” practice, we would decline it. The truth is, we didn’t do it because we were biased. We did it because we had absolutely no idea how to price the risk. We had no data, no history, and no way to quantify the potential for a claim. For an underwriter, the “unknown” is the same as the “uninsurable.” Fringe wellness practices need to find a specialist surplus lines carrier who is comfortable with underwriting the unknown.
This tiny detail in the “bodily injury” definition can exclude claims for emotional distress.
The Body and the Brain
My professional liability policy said it covered me for claims of “bodily injury.” I thought that was enough. Then a client sued me for causing “severe emotional distress.” My insurer denied the claim. They pointed to the policy’s definition of “bodily injury,” which was strictly defined as physical harm to the body. It did not include mental anguish or psychological harm. I learned that for any wellness practitioner, it is critical to have a policy where the definition of injury explicitly includes emotional and mental distress.
Why a low premium is a trap for any practitioner whose work is not recognized by mainstream medicine.
The Premium and the Pariah Status
You practice a fringe modality and you find an insurance policy with a surprisingly low premium. This is a trap. Your work is not recognized by mainstream medicine, which makes you a higher, not a lower, risk in the eyes of the law. A low premium is a guarantee that the policy is full of exclusions. It will likely exclude any claims of “practicing medicine,” “giving advice,” or “psychological harm.” The policy is cheap because the insurer knows they will likely never have to pay a claim for what you actually do.
Replace your complicated, multi-modal sessions with a simple, insurable core service. You’re welcome.
The Medley of Modalities and the Messy Liability
My sessions were a complicated mix of talk therapy, bodywork, and energy healing. I thought this made me more effective. It made me uninsurable. Underwriters looked at my practice and saw a messy, undefinable risk. I made a change. I replaced my complicated sessions with a simple, core service: coaching. I now have one clear, definable, and insurable service. It has made my marketing clearer, my practice more focused, and my insurance broker much happier.
The skill of knowing your legal and ethical boundaries that’s 10x more valuable than any new certification.
The Boundary vs. The Badge
In the wellness world, it’s easy to get caught up in collecting more and more certifications. You get a new “badge” for every weekend workshop. But the most valuable skill you can have is not another healing technique. It’s a deep, practical understanding of your legal and ethical boundaries. Knowing exactly what your state law says about your scope of practice, and having the discipline to never cross that line, is ten times more valuable for your long-term survival than any new certificate you can hang on your wall.
Stop treating your malpractice insurance like a negative concession. Treat it as a sign of your professionalism.
The Concession vs. The Certificate of Confidence
Many wellness practitioners see buying malpractice insurance as a negative thing—a concession to a litigious world, or an admission that they might make a mistake. This is the wrong mindset. I started treating my insurance policy as a mark of my professionalism. It is a tool that shows my clients that I take my responsibility to them seriously. I am so confident in the professional and ethical nature of my practice that I have backed it up with a million-dollar promise. It’s not a concession; it’s a certificate of confidence.
The experiment I ran of co-hosting a workshop with a licensed therapist that proved the value of staying in my lane.
The Coach and the Clinician
I’m a wellness coach. I decided to run an experiment. I co-hosted a workshop on stress management with a licensed therapist. My role was to teach breathing and mindfulness techniques. Her role was to handle the deeper psychological and emotional processing. It was a powerful lesson in the value of staying in my own lane. The participants got the benefit of both of our skills, and I was protected from crossing the line into providing therapy. The collaboration proved that respecting professional boundaries makes everyone safer and more effective.
Why your old insurance policy worked before but doesn’t cover the new online services you’re offering.
The Office and the Online Offering
For years, I had a great malpractice policy that covered my in-person coaching practice. Then, during the pandemic, I shifted my entire business online, taking clients from all over the country. I didn’t think to tell my insurer. After a complaint from an out-of-state client, I discovered my policy had a territorial limitation. It only covered me for services provided within my home state. My old policy was built for a physical office, not for a borderless, online practice. My business had evolved, but my insurance hadn’t.
The choice to not sell supplements at all that everyone judges that actually simplified my insurance and liability.
The Product-Free Practice
My fellow health coaches all sold their own private-label supplements. They told me I was “leaving money on the table” by not doing it. I made a conscious choice not to sell any products at all. This decision simplified my business immensely. I didn’t have to worry about product liability insurance, inventory, or making improper health claims. My professional liability insurance for just giving advice was much easier and cheaper to obtain. I may have left some money on the table, but I also left a massive amount of risk and complexity there with it.
I stopped making any claims about outcomes and my risk of being sued for misrepresentation vanished.
The Claim and the Cease and Desist
My website used to be full of powerful testimonials and claims about the amazing results my clients achieved. I thought it was great marketing. Then I got a letter from a lawyer representing a former client, accusing me of “fraudulent misrepresentation” because their results didn’t match the claims on my site. I immediately overhauled my entire website. I removed every single testimonial and every claim about a specific outcome. I now only describe my process, not my results. My risk of being sued for making a false promise has completely disappeared.
The concept of “standard of care” that nobody in the alternative wellness space understands but changes everything.
The Standard and the Lawsuit
In the alternative wellness world, we often think we are operating outside the normal rules. We’re not. If you are sued for negligence, a court will judge your actions against a legal concept called the “standard of care.” They will ask what a “reasonable and prudent” practitioner with your same level of training would have done in a similar situation. The fact that your modality is “alternative” doesn’t matter. You are still a professional being held to a professional standard. Understanding this concept changes everything about how you practice.
This unpopular opinion on client testimonials will trigger gurus but it’s true from a liability standpoint.
The Testimonial Trap
Wellness gurus love to tell you to plaster your website with powerful client testimonials. Here’s the unpopular opinion that’s also a legal fact: testimonials are a massive liability trap. First, using them without explicit, written consent can be a privacy violation. Second, a testimonial that makes a specific health claim (e.g., “Her coaching cured my insomnia”) can be seen as an illegal medical claim made by you, the practitioner. They feel like powerful social proof, but from a lawyer’s perspective, they are often exhibit A in a lawsuit against you.
Stop copying the waiver from your yoga studio. Your craniosacral therapy practice has different risks.
The Waiver and the Wrong Risk
I started my craniosacral therapy practice and, to save money, I copied the liability waiver from my local yoga studio’s website. This was a huge mistake. A yoga waiver is designed for the risks of a physical fitness class—pulled muscles, slips, and falls. My practice involves gentle, hands-on manipulation of the head and spine. The potential risks, while rare, are completely different. My “borrowed” waiver didn’t address the specific risks of my modality at all, making it legally weak and practically useless in a real dispute. Your waiver must be tailored to your work.
The mistake of ignoring your own disability insurance I see everywhere among wellness pros.
The Healer Who Couldn’t Work
As wellness professionals, we are often our own business. Our ability to earn an income is directly tied to our own health and ability to be present for our clients. The biggest insurance mistake I see my peers make is ignoring their own disability insurance. We all have health insurance for a doctor’s visit, but what if a car accident or a serious illness prevents you from working for a year? How will you pay your mortgage? A personal disability policy that replaces your income is the most critical and overlooked piece of a wellness pro’s financial safety net.
Why this new “insurtech for coaches” isn’t innovative. It’s just a new front-end for the same few specialist carriers.
The App and the Age-Old Underwriter
A new “insurtech” company with a slick app promised to “revolutionize” insurance for life coaches. The interface was beautiful and easy to use. I got a quote. But when I looked at the actual policy document, I saw that the insurance wasn’t from the tech company at all. It was from one of the same two or three specialist insurance carriers that have been writing these policies for years. The tech company was just a fancy new broker. The app was innovative, but the actual insurance product and the underwriter behind it were the same as they’ve always been.
The rule I break consistently (I refer out at least 10% of prospective clients) and why you should too.
The Power of the Professional Referral
Most practitioners are in a scarcity mindset and try to take on every single client who comes their way. I consistently break this rule. I have a policy of referring out at least 10% of the people who contact me. If a client’s issues are outside my scope of practice, or if I just feel they are not a good fit for my style, I will not take them on. I refer them to another professional who is better suited. This practice not only serves the client better, but it also dramatically reduces my own professional risk and stress.
Stop believing your good intentions will protect you. Believe in a comprehensive professional liability policy that specifically names your modality.
The Intention and the Insurance
I became a wellness practitioner because I have a deep and sincere desire to help people. I truly believed that my good intentions were a kind of shield that would protect me from harm. That is a beautiful, but dangerous, belief. Your good intentions will not stop a client from having a bad reaction. Your good intentions will not be a defense in a court of law. Your good intentions will not pay your legal bills. Stop believing in the power of your intentions. Believe in the power of a comprehensive professional liability policy that understands and covers what you do.