Note formats
Six formats,
written on your computer.
Confidant writes progress notes in SOAP, DAP, BIRP, GIRP, PIRP, and SIRP, with local AI that never sends your sessions anywhere. Pick a default format in Settings, or set a different one for any client. Every note ties back to that client's treatment goals when the session worked on them.
SOAP
Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan
The most widely recognized format in healthcare. Separates what the client reported from what you observed.
- Subjective:
- What the client reported, in their own words where it matters.
- Objective:
- What you observed: appearance, affect, behavior, engagement.
- Assessment:
- Your clinical interpretation and progress toward treatment goals.
- Plan:
- Interventions, between-session tasks, and what comes next.
Best for: Insurance billing, private practice, and notes that may be read by physicians or other providers.
Read more: SOAP vs DAP vs BIRP · SOAP note example
DAP
Data, Assessment, Plan
A streamlined format built for mental health. Combines what the client said and what you observed into one Data section.
- Data:
- What the client reported and what you observed, together.
- Assessment:
- Your clinical interpretation and progress toward treatment goals.
- Plan:
- Interventions, between-session tasks, and what comes next.
Best for: Outpatient talk therapy where splitting subjective and objective feels forced.
Read more: SOAP vs DAP vs BIRP · DAP note example
BIRP
Behavior, Intervention, Response, Plan
Leads with what the client presented, then what you did and how they responded.
- Behavior:
- What the client presented with and reported: symptoms, concerns, observable behavior.
- Intervention:
- What you did: techniques, modalities, psychoeducation.
- Response:
- How the client responded: engagement, insight, shifts, progress toward goals.
- Plan:
- Next steps, homework, and the focus of the next session.
Best for: Agency and community mental health settings, and anywhere reviewers want to see interventions and client response.
Read more: SOAP vs DAP vs BIRP · BIRP note example
GIRP
Goal, Intervention, Response, Plan
Leads with the treatment goal the session worked on and where the client stands on it.
- Goal:
- The treatment goal this session addressed and the client's progress on it.
- Intervention:
- What you did: techniques, modalities, psychoeducation.
- Response:
- How the client responded: engagement, insight, shifts, progress toward the goal.
- Plan:
- Next steps, homework, and the focus of the next session.
Best for: Goal-driven treatment and insurance-facing documentation where every note should point back to the treatment plan.
Read more: How to write treatment goals · GIRP note example
PIRP
Problem, Intervention, Response, Plan
Leads with the presenting problem the session focused on.
- Problem:
- The problem or concern the session focused on: symptoms, triggers, impact on functioning.
- Intervention:
- What you did: techniques, modalities, psychoeducation.
- Response:
- How the client responded: engagement, insight, shifts, progress toward goals.
- Plan:
- Next steps, homework, and the focus of the next session.
Best for: Problem-focused and brief therapy, where each session targets a specific concern.
SIRP
Situation, Intervention, Response, Plan
Leads with the client's presenting condition at this session.
- Situation:
- The client's presenting condition: complaints, their account of recent events, mood and affect.
- Intervention:
- What you did: techniques, modalities, psychoeducation.
- Response:
- How the client responded: engagement, insight, shifts, progress toward goals.
- Plan:
- Next steps, homework, and the focus of the next session.
Best for: Notes that should open with how the client is doing right now: their complaints, recent events, mood, and affect.
Need something different? Confidant also takes your own instructions and an example of your writing, so any format can match your practice's documentation standards. Try it free.