Cookie Policy
Effective date: 2 January 2026
Last updated: 28 June 2026
This policy explains how Mettle Therapy uses cookies and similar technologies on mettletherapy.co.uk. It should be read alongside our Privacy Policy, which explains how personal data is handled when you contact or work with us.
What are cookies?
Cookies are small text files placed on your device when you visit a website. Under the UK Privacy and Electronic Communications Regulations (PECR) and UK GDPR, cookies that are not strictly necessary require your consent before being placed on your device.
Your consent
When you visit this website for the first time, a prompt asks for your cookie preferences. You can click Allow all to allow all cookies, Decline all to keep just the strictly necessary ones, or Manage cookies to switch individual categories on or off. Non-essential cookies are grouped into two categories you control independently:
- Performance & Analytics - Google Analytics and Microsoft Clarity.
- Marketing & Advertising - Google Ads and the Meta Pixel.
Strictly necessary cookies are always on and cannot be switched off. Any category you decline stays completely blocked, with the relevant scripts never loading. Your choice is saved in your browser and honoured automatically on return visits.
You can change or withdraw your consent at any time using the Cookie preferences link in the footer of every page, which reopens these settings with your current choices.
Cookies this site uses
Strictly necessary cookies
These cookies are required for the secure delivery and operation of the site. Consent is not required under Regulation 6 of PECR.
Infrastructure and security
Set by the hosting infrastructure to enable page loading, routing, and protection against misuse. Technical in nature; contain no personal information.
Admin session (site owner only)
A secure admin_session cookie is set when the site administrator logs in. It expires after 24 hours and is never set for public visitors.
Client portal session (portal clients only)
A secure portal_client_id cookie is set when a client signs in to the client portal. It expires after 8 hours and is never set for public visitors.
Analytics cookies (requires consent)
This website uses two analytics tools to understand how the site is used: Google Analytics 4 (loaded via Google Tag Manager) for traffic and page-performance measurement, and Microsoft Clarity for session replay and heatmaps, which show how visitors scroll and interact with pages. These cookies are only placed after you accept cookies via the consent banner. The lawful basis is your consent (UK GDPR Article 6(1)(a) / PECR Regulation 6).
Google Analytics 4
| Cookie | Set by | Purpose | Expiry |
|---|---|---|---|
_ga | Google Analytics | Distinguishes unique users | 2 years |
_ga_* | Google Analytics | Maintains session state | 2 years |
_gid | Google Analytics | Distinguishes users (short-term) | 24 hours |
Google Analytics data is processed by Google LLC (US). Data is transferred under standard contractual clauses. Google’s privacy policy is available at policies.google.com/privacy. You can opt out of Google Analytics across all sites using the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on.
Microsoft Clarity
Microsoft Clarity records anonymised session replays and heatmaps so we can see where visitors get stuck or drop off. Form fields and other sensitive content are masked so that what you type is not recorded.
| Cookie | Set by | Purpose | Expiry |
|---|---|---|---|
_clck | Microsoft Clarity | Persists a Clarity user ID across sessions | 1 year |
_clsk | Microsoft Clarity | Links page views within a single session | 1 day |
Clarity data is processed by Microsoft Corporation (US). Microsoft’s privacy statement is available at privacy.microsoft.com/privacystatement.
Advertising cookies (requires consent)
We use Google Ads and the Meta Pixelto measure whether our advertising on Google, Facebook, and Instagram brings the right people to the site, and to support remarketing. These cookies are only placed after you accept cookies via the consent banner, and they honour Google’s Consent Mode v2. If you decline, no advertising cookies are set.
| Cookie | Set by | Purpose | Expiry |
|---|---|---|---|
_gcl_au | Google Ads | Conversion linker - attributes ad clicks to actions on the site | 90 days |
_fbp | Meta | Browser identifier for ad measurement | 90 days |
_fbc | Meta | Click identifier from Meta ads | 90 days |
Google Ads data is processed by Google LLC (US); see policies.google.com/privacy. The Meta Pixel is operated by Meta Platforms, Inc. (US); Meta’s privacy policy is available at facebook.com/privacy/policy.
Google Tag Manager
This website uses Google Tag Manager (GTM) to manage the deployment of analytics and advertising tags, including Google Analytics 4 and Google Ads. GTM itself does not place analytics or advertising cookies -- it acts as a container that fires other tags. Those tags only activate after you have given consent. GTM operates under Google’s Consent Mode v2, which respects the grant or denial of consent before sending any data.
Third-party services
This website contains links and embedded functionality from third-party providers including Calendly (appointment booking). When you access a third-party service, that provider’s own privacy and cookie policies apply. Cookies set by external websites are outside this site’s control.
Managing cookies
Most browsers allow you to control cookies through settings. You can block or delete cookies and configure alerts before cookies are stored. Note that disabling essential cookies may affect the basic functioning of some websites. Guidance is usually found within your browser’s help section.
To change or withdraw consent you have already given, use the Cookie preferences link in the footer of any page to reopen your preferences. You can also clear your browser cookies and local storage for mettletherapy.co.uk, which makes the consent prompt reappear on your next visit.
Changes to this policy
We may update this policy to reflect legal, technical, or operational changes. The “Last updated” date at the top of this page will always indicate the latest version. Where changes are material, we will update the consent banner to seek fresh consent.
Questions
Contact info@mettletherapy.co.uk with any questions about this policy.