Privacy Statement 

Introduction 

Afon Pathways Ltd is committed to protecting your privacy and handling your personal information with care, respect and confidentiality. 

This Privacy Statement explains how your personal information is collected, stored, used and protected in accordance with the UK General Data Protection Regulation (UK GDPR) and the Data Protection Act 2018. 

Afon Pathways Ltd is the Data Controller for the personal information collected in connection with counselling services. Throughout this document, "I" refers to the counsellor providing your therapy on behalf of Afon Pathways Ltd. 

By engaging with counselling services provided by Afon Pathways Ltd, you acknowledge that your personal information will be processed in accordance with this statement. 

 

Why do I collect personal information? 

In order to provide a safe, ethical and effective counselling service, I need to collect and process certain personal information about you. 

This may include: 

• Your name, address and contact details 

• Date of birth 

• GP details 

• Emergency contact information 

• Information relating to your health and wellbeing 

• Information relevant to your counselling goals and therapeutic work 

• Brief session notes 

• Correspondence between us, including emails, text messages and administrative communications 

The information collected enables me to provide an appropriate counselling service, maintain accurate records, meet professional obligations and support safe clinical practice. 

 

How is your information used? 

I collect and use your information only where it is necessary to provide counselling services and meet professional, ethical, legal and business obligations. 

Your information may be used for the purposes of: 

• Providing counselling services 

• Managing appointments and administration 

• Maintaining clinical records 

• Supporting professional supervision 

• Meeting legal, ethical and insurance requirements 

• Protecting your safety or the safety of others where necessary 

Where possible, I will always discuss significant decisions regarding your information with you. 

 

Confidentiality and Information Sharing 

Information shared within counselling sessions is treated confidentially. 

However, there are circumstances where confidentiality may need to be limited. These may include: 

• Concerns about serious harm to yourself or others 

• Safeguarding concerns involving children or vulnerable adults 

• Legal obligations, court orders or statutory requirements 

• Professional or ethical obligations 

Where appropriate and safe to do so, I will endeavour to discuss any disclosure with you before information is shared. 

If I believe there is a significant risk to your safety or wellbeing, I may contact your GP or relevant services and, wherever possible, I will seek your consent first. 

Further information is available within my Confidentiality Policy and Client Agreement. 

 

How long is information retained? 

Afon Pathways Ltd retains client records in accordance with professional, legal and insurance requirements. 

Unless there is a legal reason to retain them for longer, counselling records will typically be retained for a minimum of six years following the conclusion of therapy. 

Where work involves children or young people, records may be retained for longer in accordance with professional guidance and safeguarding requirements. 

At the end of the retention period, records will be securely destroyed or permanently deleted. 

 

Your Rights 

Under UK data protection legislation, you have rights regarding your personal information. These may include: 

• The right to access information held about you 

• The right to request correction of inaccurate information 

• The right to restrict certain types of processing 

• The right to object to processing in some circumstances 

• The right to request erasure of information where appropriate 

• The right to make a complaint to the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) 

Please note that there may be circumstances where Afon Pathways Ltd is legally, ethically or professionally required to retain certain records, even where a request for deletion has been made. 

 

How is your information kept secure? 

Afon Pathways Ltd takes appropriate technical and organisational measures to protect personal information. 

These measures include: 

• Password-protected devices 

• Multi-factor authentication where available 

• Secure email systems 

• Encrypted cloud storage and backups 

• Locked storage for any physical records 

• Restricted access to client information 

Any personal information shared electronically will be handled using secure methods wherever possible. 

 

Clinical Supervision 

As a practising counsellor, I undertake regular professional supervision in accordance with the BACP Ethical Framework. 

Client work may be discussed within supervision to support safe and effective practice. Identifying information is kept to a minimum wherever possible, and supervisors are bound by their own professional and confidentiality obligations. 

 

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The Afon Pathways website uses cookies and similar technologies to help the website function effectively and to understand how visitors use the site. 

Cookies may be used to: 

• Improve website performance 

• Monitor website traffic and usage patterns 

• Enhance user experience 

• Support website security 

You can manage or disable cookies through your browser settings. However, doing so may affect the functionality of certain areas of the website. 

For more information, please refer to the Website Cookie Policy. 

 

Changes to this Privacy Statement 

This Privacy Statement may be updated from time to time to reflect changes in legislation, professional guidance, or business practices. 

The most recent version will always be available upon request and, where appropriate, on the Afon Pathways website. 

 

Contact Information 

Afon Pathways Ltd 

Company Number: 17250264 

Email: hello@afonpathways.co.uk 

ICO Registration Number: ZC175823 

If you have any questions about how your information is collected, stored or used, please contact me using the details above. 

You also have the right to raise concerns with the Information Commissioner's Office (ICO) if you believe your personal information has not been handled appropriately. 

 

 

Version: 1.0 
Effective Date: 15 June 2026 
Review Date: 15 June 2027