Terms of Use

Effective date: August 2026. Operated by Cultivating ClearPaths LLC (New Mexico, registration 7422857) and Cultivating ClearPaths (Bahamas business licence 10043047), together "Cultivating ClearPaths," "we," or "the practice."

1. Scope of this website

These Terms govern your use of this website only. They do not govern the delivery of clinical counselling, coaching, or organizational services, which are separately governed by informed consent documents, service agreements, and applicable professional and ethical obligations you will review before services begin.

2. No professional relationship from website use

Browsing this website, using Start Your Clearpath or the Emotional Well-being Check-In, or submitting a consultation or enquiry form does not, by itself, create a counselor-client, coaching, or other professional relationship. A professional relationship begins only once Ione has confirmed fit, jurisdiction, and availability, and both parties have agreed to proceed, typically evidenced by a signed informed consent or service agreement. If you are already an established client, this website does not alter or replace your existing professional relationship or its terms.

3. Not for emergencies; no guaranteed response

This website, its forms, email, and the client portal are not monitored continuously and are not an emergency service. If you are in crisis or immediate danger, do not use this website. Visit Immediate Support or contact local emergency services. While Ione aims to respond within one business day, no specific response time is guaranteed.

4. Educational content; no diagnosis

Content on this website, including the Resources, Recommended Reading, Guides & Worksheets, Featured Articles & Media, Start Your Clearpath, and the Emotional Well-being Check-In (DASS-21), is general educational information. It is not individualized advice, a diagnosis, or a substitute for a professional clinical assessment. The Emotional Well-being Check-In does not assess suicide or self-harm risk. Automated or self-scored results should be considered general and educational, not clinical findings.

5. Location, jurisdiction, and eligibility

Clinical services can be provided only where Ione is legally licensed to practice and can do so safely. You are responsible for accurately disclosing and confirming your physical location at the time of each session. Your location, not your citizenship, residence, or billing address, determines eligibility. Travel, relocation, or being outside an authorized jurisdiction at the time of a scheduled session may mean that session cannot proceed as planned.

6. Age and eligibility

Services are primarily offered to adults aged 18 and older. Services for anyone under 18 are considered individually and require completion of the consent, assent, and legal-authority requirements applicable in the client's jurisdiction. Couples counselling is offered to adults 18 and older. Please do not submit sensitive information about a minor through the public website.

7. Appropriate use of forms and tools

Public forms on this website (Contact, Organizations enquiry) are intended to collect limited contact and scheduling information only. Please do not submit a diagnosis, detailed mental-health or trauma history, medication information, abuse disclosures, suicidal ideation, or other sensitive clinical details through these forms or through Start Your Clearpath or the Emotional Well-being Check-In. These tools do not transmit or store your answers, and public forms are not an appropriate channel for sensitive clinical information. Clinical intake occurs securely through the client portal after a relationship is established.

8. Third-party platforms and links

This website links to and relies on third-party platforms, including the TherapyPortal client portal, PayPal, bank-transfer providers, and recommended books, articles, and media. Each of these has its own separate terms of use and privacy practices, which we encourage you to review. Cultivating ClearPaths is not responsible for the content, availability, security, or practices of these third-party platforms, and inclusion of a resource does not imply full endorsement of everything it contains.

9. Payment

Payment is accepted via PayPal or bank transfer, and is due at least 24 hours before an appointment. Prices are listed in BSD/USD; exchange, processor, or bank fees, if any, are not controlled by Cultivating ClearPaths. Private banking details are shared securely after booking and are never published on this website.

10. Cancellations, lateness, and fee changes

Cancellation within 5 hours of the scheduled start time may be charged 50% of the session fee. Arriving 15 or more minutes late without prior communication may be treated as a missed appointment and charged in full. Exceptional circumstances are reviewed individually. Fees are subject to change; where reasonably possible, advance notice will be given, and appointments already confirmed generally retain their confirmed fee. This section addresses billing only. It does not itself authorize ending a clinical relationship; see Section 11.

11. Ending services

Either party may discontinue an established professional relationship. Where clinically appropriate and consistent with applicable ethical and professional obligations, Ione will provide reasonable notice, transition assistance, and referrals where needed, and will avoid abandoning a client without appropriate arrangements. This website's Terms do not by themselves authorize or constitute clinical termination of an existing relationship.

12. Intellectual property

The text, branding, logo, original photographs, guides, worksheets, and articles on this website are owned by Cultivating ClearPaths/Ione Hepburn unless otherwise credited, and may not be copied, reproduced, or redistributed without permission. Downloadable resources are provided for limited personal, non-commercial use only. Third-party and public-domain materials referenced or linked (including the DASS-21, which is public-domain) remain subject to their own terms and are not claimed as Cultivating ClearPaths' original work. Photographs of people other than Ione Hepburn are representative and do not depict actual clients.

13. No guaranteed results; technical availability

Cultivating ClearPaths does not guarantee any particular outcome from counselling, coaching, or organizational services, or that this website or its tools will be available, uninterrupted, or error-free at all times.

14. Limitation of liability

To the fullest extent permitted by law, Cultivating ClearPaths is not liable for indirect, incidental, or consequential damages arising from your use of this website. Nothing in these Terms is intended to exclude or limit liability for professional negligence, gross negligence, wilful misconduct, or any other liability that cannot lawfully be excluded or limited, including obligations under applicable professional and consumer-protection law.

15. Governing law

These website Terms are governed by the laws of The Bahamas, without prejudice to any mandatory consumer-protection or professional-licensing law of the jurisdiction where a client is physically located when receiving clinical services. Nothing here is intended to displace the professional and ethical obligations Ione owes under New Mexico law and the rules of the New Mexico Counseling and Therapy Practice Board when providing services to a person located in New Mexico.

16. General

If any provision of these Terms is found unenforceable, the remaining provisions continue in effect. A failure to enforce a provision is not a waiver of it. We may update these Terms from time to time; the effective date above will be revised accordingly. Questions about these Terms can be directed to start@cultivatingclearpaths.com.

This website provides general information and is not a substitute for counselling, diagnosis, medical advice or emergency support.