Every session tied to treatment goals.GIRP notes in seconds.
Describe what happened and which treatment goal you addressed. Get a structured GIRP note that connects this session directly to your formal treatment plan. Text-input only. No recording.
G — Goals
Which specific treatment plan goal was addressed in this session.
I — Interventions
What you did to address that goal — technique, modality, psychoeducation.
R — Response
How the client responded to the intervention and their progress toward the goal.
P — Plan
Homework assigned, next session focus, next appointment date.
Treatment plan accountability in every note.
What is a GIRP note in therapy?
A GIRP note is a four-section clinical documentation format: Goals (which treatment plan goal was addressed), Interventions (what the therapist did to address it), Response (how the client responded), and Plan (next steps and homework). GIRP is designed to make every session note directly accountable to the client's formal treatment plan. It is used in community mental health centers, residential programs, intensive outpatient settings, and managed care contexts where insurance or program requirements demand explicit documentation of progress toward treatment goals. Reframe generates GIRP notes from a brief free-text session summary — no recording, no transcription.
Good. You should be skeptical of AI note generators.
Most note generator tools store session data on servers, require recording uploads, or use vague HIPAA disclaimers. Reframe is text-input only. You type a summary after the session ends. That summary is processed in-memory and immediately discarded — never stored on Reframe servers. Google Vertex AI handles generation with a Business Associate Agreement in place. You review every note before it enters your EHR.
Why GIRP starts with Goals
GIRP inverts the typical note-writing sequence. Instead of documenting what happened and hoping it connects to the treatment plan, GIRP anchors every note to a specific goal from the start.
Other formats
Document what happened, then figure out how it connects to the treatment plan. Goal-to-session link is implicit. Auditors have to infer it.
GIRP format
Start with the treatment plan goal. Every section — Interventions, Response, Plan — flows from that goal. The session-to-plan connection is explicit in every note.
The Goals section should reference your treatment plan specifically — not “reduce anxiety” but “Goal 2: Develop distress tolerance skills to manage trauma-related dysregulation (per treatment plan dated [date]).” Reframe generates the Goals section from whatever goal context you include in your session summary.
How to generate a GIRP note
Three steps. No recording. No transcription. Mention the treatment goal in your summary and the structure does the rest.
Describe the session
Include which treatment goal you addressed, what intervention you used, how the client responded, and what's planned next. Mention the goal explicitly — it anchors the entire GIRP note.
Select GIRP format
Open the progress note generator and choose GIRP from the format dropdown. The AI structures your summary into Goals, Interventions, Response, and Plan.
Review and paste into EHR
Edit the draft, complete any [Therapist to complete] placeholders (especially the Goals section goal reference), confirm accuracy, and paste into your EHR.
10 notes/month, no account required. Select “GIRP” from the format dropdown.
Real GIRP note output
Example input and structured output from a DBT distress tolerance session.
Therapist typed
“50 min session. Goal 3: develop distress tolerance skills to manage self-harm urges without acting. Client reported urges earlier in week, rated 7/10. Practiced TIPP skills in session. Client demonstrated TIPP correctly and reported urges dropped to 3/10. First time client used a skill before calling me. Homework: use TIPP once this week and track in diary card.”
Generated GIRP note
G (Goals)
Goal 3: Develop distress tolerance skills to manage self-harm urges without acting. This session addressed active skill acquisition and practice with TIPP technique as a crisis survival strategy.
I (Interventions)
DBT distress tolerance module: introduced and practiced TIPP skills (Temperature, Intense exercise, Paced breathing, Progressive muscle relaxation). In-session behavioral rehearsal of each TIPP component. Provided psychoeducation on physiological basis of TIPP effectiveness. Diary card homework introduced for ongoing self-monitoring.
R (Response)
Client engaged actively and demonstrated TIPP technique correctly in session. Reported subjective distress reduction from 7/10 to 3/10 following TIPP practice. Client spontaneously noted this was the first time they used a coping skill before contacting therapist — clinically significant shift toward independent skill use. Expressed motivation to continue practice.
P (Plan)
Continue DBT distress tolerance module. Homework: use TIPP skills at least once this week when distress exceeds 5/10 and record on diary card. Review diary card at next session. If urges reach 8/10, client to call crisis line first, then therapist. [Therapist to complete: next appointment date].
GIRP vs SOAP vs DAP vs BIRP
Use the format your setting requires. Reframe generates all of them from the same session summary.
| Format | Sections | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| GIRP | Goals, Interventions, Response, Plan | Goal-directed care, managed care, formal treatment plan accountability |
| SOAP | Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan | Private practice, supervision contexts, training programs |
| DAP | Data, Assessment, Plan | Agencies, community mental health, high-volume settings |
| BIRP | Behavior, Intervention, Response, Plan | Substance use, intervention-focused documentation |
Common GIRP note mistakes
Frequent documentation issues and how structured generation helps you avoid them.
Goals section that is too vague
Reference the specific treatment plan goal by number and description, not just "reduce anxiety."
Interventions that do not connect to the stated goal
Generated Interventions are built in relation to the goal context in your session summary.
Response section that does not show progress
Include how the client responded and any observable progress markers in your summary input.
Covering too many goals in one note
Focus on the primary goal. One GIRP note per goal keeps Interventions and Response sections clear.
Plan that does not connect back to the treatment goal
The generated Plan section maintains the goal thread from G through P.
Using GIRP when SOAP or DAP is what your setting requires
Check your employer or supervisor requirements. Switch formats in the dropdown — same summary works.
Frequently asked questions
What is a GIRP note in therapy?
A GIRP note is a clinical documentation format with four sections: Goals (which treatment plan goal was addressed in this session), Interventions (what the therapist did to address that goal), Response (how the client responded), and Plan (homework, next steps, and next appointment). GIRP is designed to make every session note directly accountable to the client's treatment plan.
What does GIRP stand for?
GIRP stands for Goals, Interventions, Response, and Plan. The format is distinguished by starting with Goals, which anchors every session note explicitly to the client's treatment plan. This makes GIRP especially useful in settings where demonstrating treatment goal progress is required.
How is GIRP different from SOAP?
SOAP documents what happened in a session (client report, observation, assessment, next steps). GIRP starts from the treatment plan goal and documents the session in relation to that goal. GIRP makes treatment plan accountability explicit in every note, while SOAP provides a more general clinical picture.
When should I use GIRP format?
Use GIRP when your setting requires documentation to be explicitly tied to treatment plan goals, when you work in a structured setting with formal treatment planning (such as community mental health, residential, or managed care), or when insurance or funding requires demonstrating goal-directed progress per session.
Is this GIRP note generator free?
Yes. You can generate up to 10 GIRP notes per month with no account required. Pro subscribers get unlimited notes across all formats for $29/month.
Is this HIPAA-compliant?
Yes. Reframe uses Google Vertex AI with a Business Associate Agreement. Session summaries are processed in-memory and never stored on Reframe servers. Zero data retention by architecture.
Does it record sessions?
No. Reframe is text-input only. You type a brief summary of the session after it ends. There is no microphone, no recording workflow, and no transcript to review.
What goes in the G (Goals) section of a GIRP note?
The Goals section references the specific treatment plan goal that was addressed in this session. It should be specific enough to connect back to the formal treatment plan — for example, "Goal 2: Develop distress tolerance skills to manage trauma-related dysregulation" rather than a generic "reduce anxiety."
Can I include multiple goals in one GIRP note?
Technically yes, but clinically it is clearer to write one GIRP note per goal addressed, or focus on the primary goal with brief mention of others. Trying to cover too many goals in a single GIRP note makes the Intervention and Response sections unfocused.
Who typically uses GIRP notes?
GIRP notes are common in community mental health centers, residential programs, intensive outpatient settings, managed care contexts, and any setting where insurance or program requirements demand explicit documentation of progress toward treatment plan goals.
Can I use it without creating an account?
Yes. Ten free notes per month, no sign-up required. Open the generator, describe your session, choose GIRP, and get a structured note in seconds.
Other note formats
10 free notes/month — no account required
Generate your first GIRP note free
No account required. SOAP, DAP, BIRP, GIRP, and Narrative formats all available.
Open GIRP Note GeneratorSelect “GIRP” from the format dropdown after clicking above.