Am I Covered for Online and Remote Healing Sessions?

In the years following the 2020 pandemic, many energy healers have shifted their work online. Whether it’s your full-time setup or just one of the ways you meet with clients, offering sessions remotely has become a normal part of professional practice.

With that in mind, there's a question that has become more and more common as a result: If I’m working online, do I still need liability insurance? And does my policy even cover remote sessions?

It’s a fair question. You’re not sharing physical space. There’s no hands-on work. It might feel like the risk is lower or that coverage doesn’t apply in the same way.

Let’s clear that up.

Why This Question Comes Up

Remote work can feel like it belongs in a different category altogether. It’s often quieter, more flexible, and less tied to the routines and logistics of in-person sessions. You’re not prepping a physical space. You’re not navigating movement or face-to-face interaction. It can feel more like a conversation than a structured service.

Because of that, many practitioners don’t think about liability the same way. They may see online sessions as less formal or more intuitive – something that lives outside the usual expectations of a “professional practice.”

But any time someone is paying you for guidance, support, or care, you are still stepping into a professional role. That’s where the question of coverage becomes relevant, even if the session happens from your laptop.

What Can Actually Go Wrong?

Here are a few situations that have led to liability concerns for remote practitioners:

• A client becomes emotionally overwhelmed during a session and later claims the experience was harmful or destabilizing
• A misunderstanding about the purpose or scope of your work leads a client to feel they were misled
• A Zoom session is recorded without clear consent, and the client raises a privacy concern
• Someone else in the client’s environment overhears part of the session and files a complaint on their behalf

None of these scenarios are about doing something wrong. They’re about how your work is received, interpreted, or impacted by factors outside your control. And in a professional setting, those moments can still turn into formal claims.

Having liability insurance means you have a safety net if something like this ever arises.

Virtual healing may happen through a screen, but it still requires the same professionalism, presence, and clarity you bring to in-person sessions. The setting has changed, but the standards haven’t. Read more here to explore how to build a thriving virtual healing practice.

What EMPA Covers

The Energy Medicine Professional Association (EMPA) is a professional membership organization that offers liability insurance, education, and community support specifically designed for energy healers and practitioners.

While coverage will vary from one provider to another, EMPA’s liability insurance does include online and distance sessions. As long as you're practicing from within the United States and offering services within your approved modalities, your virtual sessions are considered part of your professional practice and they’re covered accordingly.

This includes common formats like Zoom, phone, or other remote platforms.

If you're not sure whether a specific modality or session format qualifies, reviewing your policy or reaching out for clarification is a smart step. Having those details clear helps you focus on your clients, not on legal what-ifs.

What’s Next: Make Sure You’re Covered

If you’re offering remote sessions (or planning to), it’s worth taking a few minutes to confirm that your insurance matches the way you actually work.

The easiest way to do that is with the EMPA Buyer’s Guide. It walks you through what to look for in a liability policy, how to check if your modalities and session formats are included, and what questions to ask if you’re comparing providers.

Whether you’ve been practicing online for years or are just starting out, the guide can help empower you to protect your work.

Download the guide now and take this one off your to-do list!

Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes only and does not provide legal, financial  or medical advice. The examples are general, and coverage may vary by policy. Always refer to your insurance provider or policy language for specific details, as the policy terms take precedence. For legal concerns related to your practice, consult an attorney.