Liability Insurance For Counsellors
It is possible that counsellors face the highest liability risk of all service providing professionals. This is due to the sensitive nature of the work they perform, the sensitive nature of many of the clients, and the lack of positive outcome, or "cure" that is seen in most instances. In the Mental Health field, few people are cured and, in cases where individuals are helped, the results are difficult to identify and quantify. The Mental Health professional, or anyone who gives advice as a profession, must protect him or herself from client claims and lawsuits.
There is insurance coverage available for all professional in this broad field. Policies can be underwritten for social workers, psychiatrists and psychologists, the most well known of the Mental Health practitioners. However, professional liability insurance for other professionals in this field, including mental health counsellors, including addiction counsellors, marriage and family therapists, school psychologist, clergy and pastoral counsellors and psychoanalysts is available.
In the respect to clergy, they are usually, but not always, entirely covered by their church affiliation. For example, the Roman Catholic Church has actively undertaken the defense of priests accused of sexually offending minors in their custodial care. However, every affiliation is different and the clergy may benefit from independent insurance. Behavioral therapists, including hypnotists can also obtain professional liability insurance.
The basic coverage will protect the insured against all claims of malpractice, and covers errors and omissions. "Errors" means mistakes and "omissions" pertains to an act or actions that were not performed but were within the capability and expertise of the mental health practitioner to have performed. With this coverage, the mental health professional will be defended against all claims, without and with merit. The personal and professional assets of the practitioner will be protected from being used for collection of any damages that may be court awarded to the client. The insured will have the security that one claim will not bring his or her practice to a halt and put all personal possessions, including, real estate, automobiles and savings in jeopardy.
The Mental Health Provider Liability Insurance premium is high, but can be reduced is several professionals join together to form a group and obtain a group rate. Most professional clubs and organizations offer liability insurance at a group rate. However, discounts are not given in the case where multiple claims have been lodged. Most Mental Health Liability insurance providers require that the applicant be a member in good standing in his or her profession, with a suitable diploma and training from approved institutions. Some providers will require that the applicant have no or few prior claims to qualify for Mental Health Provider Liability Insurance.
by Sally.Anderson 19 years ago