Cookie Policy
Last updated: August 2, 2026
What are cookies?
Cookies are small text files placed on your device by websites you visit. They are used for various purposes including remembering preferences, understanding how visitors use a site, and serving relevant advertising. Some cookies are "first-party" (set by the site you're visiting) and some are "third-party" (set by other services like analytics or ad networks).
How we use cookies
MindCheck Tools uses a minimal number of cookies. Importantly, cookies are never used to track, store, or access your screening responses. All questionnaire scoring happens in client-side JavaScript and no answer data is ever transmitted.
LocalStorage is browser storage, not a cookie. The safety plan, CBT thought record, worry-time scheduler, daily recovery check-in, and sobriety calculator use it only after you choose to enter or save tool data. That information stays available to the browser profile until you reset the tool or clear site data, and other users of the same browser profile may be able to see it.
Our first-party privacy control keeps analytics and advertising services off until you make an affirmative choice. The inline Consent Mode default queues a denied state locally and does not contact Google by itself. A Google service script loads only after the corresponding choice. If you continue without optional services, those scripts are not loaded and no non-essential Google cookies are placed by MindCheck Tools.
Cookies we use
Essential
Consent: Not required| Cookie | Purpose | Duration | Provider |
|---|---|---|---|
| mh-theme | Stores your light/dark mode preference | Persistent (localStorage) | MindCheck Tools |
| mindchecktools:privacy-consent | Stores the analytics and advertising choices you make | Until changed or site data is cleared (localStorage) | MindCheck Tools |
| empire_gpc | Remembers a Global Privacy Control signal so optional services stay off | 30 days (cookie) | MindCheck Tools |
Browser storage (not cookies)
Consent: Tool choice| Cookie | Purpose | Duration | Provider |
|---|---|---|---|
| mct-safety-plan, mct-thought-records, mct-worry-* | Keeps a safety plan, optionally saved thought records, or a worry log available in this browser | Until reset or site data is cleared | MindCheck Tools |
| mct-recovery-checkins, mindcheck_sobriety_* | Keeps recovery check-ins, sobriety date, and optional spending estimate in this browser | Until reset or site data is cleared | MindCheck Tools |
Analytics
Consent: Required| Cookie | Purpose | Duration | Provider |
|---|---|---|---|
| _ga | Distinguishes unique users for Google Analytics | 2 years | |
| _ga_XKHQN1NJ2Z | Maintains session state for Google Analytics | 2 years |
Advertising
Consent: Required| Cookie | Purpose | Duration | Provider |
|---|---|---|---|
| Google advertising cookies and storage | Non-personalized ad delivery, frequency capping, fraud prevention, and aggregated reporting. Not active at the last review. | Varies by Google service and consent choice | Google AdSense |
Managing your preferences
You can change your privacy choices at any time by clicking the button below. You can also clear cookies and local storage through your browser settings.
Google Analytics and Consent Mode
We use Google Analytics (GA4, measurement ID: G-XKHQN1NJ2Z) with Google Consent Mode v2. This means:
If you accept analytics cookies, Google Analytics sets cookies to distinguish users and sessions and processes privacy-limited usage data such as sanitized public-page URLs, traffic-source origin, device/browser information, and approximate geographic region. Analytics remains disabled on sensitive routes and never receives questionnaire answers, scores, or browser-local entries.
If you decline analytics cookies, the Google Analytics script remains blocked and no Google Analytics cookies are set by MindCheck Tools.
You can also opt out of Google Analytics entirely by installing the Google Analytics Opt-out Browser Add-on at tools.google.com/dlpage/gaoptout.
Your rights
If you are in the European Economic Area (EEA) or United Kingdom: Under the GDPR and ePrivacy Directive, we are required to obtain your explicit consent before placing non-essential cookies. Our cookie banner does this. You have the right to withdraw consent at any time.
If you are in California: Under the CCPA/CPRA, you have the right to opt out of the "sale" or "sharing" of personal information, which may include certain cookie-based data collection. We honor the Global Privacy Control (GPC) signal. If your browser sends a GPC signal, we treat it as a request to opt out.
Everywhere else: We believe cookie consent is a matter of respect regardless of jurisdiction. Our consent banner is shown to all visitors worldwide.
Changes to this policy
We will update this policy whenever we add or change cookies, particularly before advertising is activated. Google's European-regulations message was verified published on August 2, 2026, while the AdSense site review was still "Getting ready." AdSense remains blocked until publisher enablement, certified-CMP readiness, and strict-CSP readiness are confirmed in addition to the visitor's advertising choice. The "Last updated" date at the top reflects the most recent revision.
Contact
Questions about our cookie practices? Email us at privacy@mindchecktools.com.