The session was good.
The note shouldn't take longer than the session did.
SOAP, DAP, BIRP, GIRP, PIRP, or Narrative progress notes from a free-text description. The AI never fabricates clinical content. Missing details get a [Therapist to complete] placeholder, not a guess.
Therapy notes and therapist notes, without recording
If you searched for a therapy note generator or therapist notes tool, this page is built for that exact workflow. Write your session summary in plain language, then choose the format your setting requires. Need SOAP-only guidance? See the dedicated SOAP note generator page.
Three steps. No microphone.
The same workflow you already use with case notes, just faster.
Describe the session
After the client leaves, type what happened. Interventions used, client responses, themes discussed. Your own words.
Pick a format
SOAP, DAP, BIRP, GIRP, PIRP, or Narrative. Choose what your practice requires. Set session duration for context.
Review and edit
Get a structured note in seconds. Copy into your EHR. Edit anything. You own the final document.
Why text, not recording
Most note tools ask you to record sessions. We think that creates more problems than it solves.
No consent complications
Recording therapy sessions requires explicit client consent. Text-based notes are standard clinical documentation that every therapist already does.
No transcription errors
Audio transcription struggles with accents, overlapping speech, and clinical terminology. When you write the description, the input is already accurate.
Better clinical judgment
Writing a session description requires clinical thinking. You decide what was clinically relevant, not an algorithm parsing audio.
Nothing to store
No audio files, no transcripts, no recordings on any server. Your text description is processed in memory and immediately discarded.
Six formats. Your choice.
SOAP
Subjective, Objective, Assessment, PlanThe most widely used format. Separates client report from clinical observation.
Used by ~60% of therapists. Standard in most training programs.
DAP
Data, Assessment, PlanStreamlined three-section format. Combines subjective and objective into one section.
Common in community mental health and group practice settings.
BIRP
Behavior, Intervention, Response, PlanIntervention-focused format. Centers what the therapist did and how the client responded.
Preferred when treatment plans require intervention documentation.
GIRP
Goals, Intervention, Response, PlanGoal-oriented format. Ties each session back to treatment plan objectives.
Required by many insurance panels and managed care organizations.
PIRP
Problem, Intervention, Response, PlanProblem-focused format. Leads with the presenting issue addressed in session.
Common in substance abuse treatment and problem-focused settings.
Narrative
Free-form clinical summaryNo rigid sections. A cohesive clinical paragraph covering the session. For therapists who prefer writing naturally over filling in a template.
Preferred by psychodynamic, humanistic, and private practice therapists.
Which format should you use?
The right format depends on your setting, your supervisor, and your insurance panels. Here is a practical guide.
| If you... | Use this | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Are in a training program or supervised practice | SOAP | Most supervisors learned on SOAP. It separates your observations from the client's report, which is what supervisors want to see. |
| Work in community mental health or agency settings | DAP | Three sections instead of four. Faster to write, easier to review. Many agencies standardize on DAP for efficiency. |
| Need to document specific interventions used | BIRP | Insurance panels reviewing claims want to see what you did and how the client responded. BIRP structures that clearly. |
| Work with treatment plans that have numbered goals | GIRP | Ties each session back to treatment plan objectives. Required by many managed care organizations for reimbursement. |
| Work in substance abuse or problem-focused treatment | PIRP | Leads with the presenting problem. Keeps documentation anchored to the issue being treated, which auditors expect. |
| Are in private practice with no external requirements | Narrative | No rigid sections. Write a cohesive clinical paragraph that reflects how you actually think about the session. |
Not sure? Start with SOAP. It is the most widely taught and accepted format across settings. You can switch formats between sessions without any penalty.
What the output actually looks like
Here is a real example. The therapist typed a brief session description. The AI generated a structured SOAP note in under 10 seconds.
"45 min session. Client came in reporting increased anxiety around upcoming job interview. We worked with cognitive restructuring, identifying catastrophic thinking patterns. Client was able to generate 3 alternative thoughts by end of session. Seemed more grounded when leaving. Assigned thought record homework for the week."
Client reports increased anxiety related to an upcoming job interview. Client describes anticipatory worry about performance and outcome.
Client presented as [Therapist to complete: affect/appearance]. Client engaged actively in cognitive restructuring exercises. Client identified catastrophic thinking patterns related to interview scenario. Client successfully generated three alternative thoughts by end of session. Client appeared more grounded at session conclusion.
Client demonstrates cognitive distortion pattern of catastrophizing in performance-related situations. Client shows capacity for cognitive flexibility when guided through restructuring process. [Therapist to complete: progress toward treatment goals.]
Homework: Complete thought record tracking automatic thoughts related to interview preparation. Continue cognitive restructuring in next session. [Therapist to complete: next session date and additional plan items.]
Five progress note mistakes (and how the tool prevents them)
Most documentation errors come from writing notes hours or days after the session. Generating a structured draft immediately reduces these risks.
Writing notes from memory days later
Generate the note right after the session while details are fresh. The tool structures your description in seconds.
Blending subjective report with clinical observation
SOAP and DAP formats enforce the separation. The AI places client statements under Subjective and your observations under Objective.
Forgetting to document specific interventions
BIRP and GIRP formats require an Intervention section. If you mention what you did in your description, it gets structured. If you do not, you get a placeholder.
Copy-pasting the same note across sessions
Every note is generated from that specific session description. No templates carried forward. Each note reflects what actually happened.
Over-documenting client quotes verbatim
The AI generates clinical summaries, not transcripts. It captures the clinical significance of what was discussed without unnecessary verbatim content.
Progress notes are just the start
Reframe includes a full suite of clinical tools, all built with zero data retention.
SOAP Note Generator
Use the dedicated SOAP page with focused examples, common mistakes, and SOAP-specific FAQs.
Personalized Worksheets
Generate CBT, DBT, ACT, IFS, and 40+ other worksheet types using your client's exact words. 10 free.
Session Prep
Get a focused session roadmap with client style detection and therapist stance recommendations. 3 free.
Security Architecture
Understand how zero-retention works. No data on servers, no logs, no way to access client information after processing.
The AI will not make things up.
Clinical documentation is not the place for creative writing. Here is how we prevent hallucination.
Lower temperature generation
Progress notes use a lower AI temperature (0.5) than worksheets. Less variation means less invention.
"Never fabricate" system instructions
The AI is explicitly instructed to never invent diagnoses, symptoms, or observations not mentioned in your description.
[Therapist to complete] placeholders
If you did not describe something (like client affect or safety screening), the note flags it instead of guessing.
Review required on every note
A non-dismissable disclaimer reminds you that AI output is a draft. You review, edit, and approve before it goes anywhere.
Text-input vs. recording-based tools
| Feature | Reframe | Recording tools |
|---|---|---|
| Input method | Text description (you type) | Audio recording + transcription |
| Client consent needed | No (standard documentation) | Yes (recording consent form) |
| Data retention | Zero. Processed in memory. | Stored on servers for processing |
| Transcription errors | None (you write the input) | Common with accents, crosstalk |
| HIPAA compliance | By architecture (no data stored) | By policy (data stored, encrypted) |
| Setup required | None. Type and generate. | Microphone, consent forms, setup |
Good. You should be skeptical about AI notes.
A progress note is a legal clinical document. It should reflect what actually happened, not what an algorithm thinks happened. That is why Reframe takes a text-input approach: you write the clinical narrative, the AI structures it into your required format.
The AI does not observe the session. It does not interpret tone of voice. It does not make clinical judgments. It takes your professional assessment and puts it into a structured format. That is the right boundary for AI in clinical documentation.
Built by a Registered Psychotherapist
This tool was built by someone who writes progress notes between sessions, not a tech company guessing what therapists need. The format instructions, anti-hallucination safeguards, and [Therapist to complete] placeholders come from clinical practice, not product management.
Start with 5 free notes
- Unlimited progress notes
- Unlimited worksheets
- Unlimited session prep
- Thinking Partner
- Custom PDF branding
Frequently asked questions
Is this HIPAA-compliant?
Yes. Reframe uses Google Vertex AI with a Business Associate Agreement (BAA). Your session description is processed in memory and immediately discarded. Nothing is stored on our servers.
Does it record my sessions?
No. Reframe is text-input only. You type a free-text description of what happened in the session. There is no audio recording, transcription, or microphone access.
Will the AI invent clinical details?
No. The system is designed to never fabricate content. If you did not describe something, the note includes a [Therapist to complete] placeholder. The AI uses a lower temperature setting specifically for clinical accuracy.
What formats are supported?
Six formats: SOAP (Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan), DAP (Data, Assessment, Plan), BIRP (Behavior, Intervention, Response, Plan), GIRP (Goals, Intervention, Response, Plan), PIRP (Problem, Intervention, Response, Plan), and Narrative (free-form clinical summary).
Can I use this as a therapy note generator for therapist notes?
Yes. This tool is designed for therapy notes and therapist notes. You provide session context in your own language, then generate a structured draft in the format your practice requires.
Do you have a dedicated SOAP note generator page?
Yes. Visit /soap-note-generator for SOAP-specific examples and guidance. This page includes SOAP plus DAP, BIRP, GIRP, PIRP, and Narrative formats.
How is this different from Mentalyc or Upheal?
Most note tools record and transcribe sessions, which requires client consent and introduces transcription errors. Reframe is text-input only: you describe the session after the client leaves. No consent forms, no recording devices, no transcription mistakes.
How many free notes do I get?
5 free progress notes. That covers roughly one full day of sessions. Pro is $29/month for unlimited notes, worksheets, session prep, and more.
Should I edit the generated note?
Yes. Every note includes a "Review required" disclaimer. Copy it into your EHR, review for accuracy, and edit as needed. You are responsible for all clinical documentation.
Who built this?
A Registered Psychotherapist who writes progress notes between sessions. The anti-hallucination safeguards and [Therapist to complete] placeholders come from clinical practice.
Write notes the way you think. Let the format handle itself.
5 free notes. No credit card. No recording. No data stored.
Try Progress Notes Free