Blog
How to Document Intensive Outpatient Program (IOP) and Partial Hospitalization (PHP) Sessions
A practical guide for clinicians working in IOP and PHP settings. Covers group and individual note requirements, daily attendance tracking, utilization review documentation, higher-frequency treatment plan reviews, and step-down discharge planning for both mental health and substance use disorder programs.
How to Document Internal Family Systems (IFS) Therapy Sessions
A practical guide for IFS-trained therapists on documenting parts work, Self-energy, unburdening, and the internal system. Covers how to translate IFS-specific language into insurance-compliant notes, track parts mapping across sessions, and document moments of Self-leadership.
How to Document Interpersonal Therapy (IPT) Sessions
A practical guide for clinicians using Interpersonal Therapy on documenting the four IPT problem areas, the interpersonal inventory, communication analysis, and phase-specific progress while meeting insurance and audit requirements.
How to Document Juvenile Justice Cases and Youth Probation Supervision
A practical guide for juvenile probation officers, youth court liaisons, and social workers covering intake assessments, risk/needs instruments, court reports, supervision contacts, diversion programs, and case closure in the juvenile justice system.
How to Document Mandated Reporting and Child Protective Services Referrals
A practical guide for mandated reporters on how to document the full reporting process: what triggers a report, what to capture before the call, how to record the report itself, and how to protect the therapeutic relationship in your notes.
How to Document Mediation Sessions and Alternative Dispute Resolution
A practical guide for mediators, arbitrators, and attorneys on documenting ADR proceedings. Covers confidentiality constraints, caucus notes, agreement drafts, post-session summaries, and the documentation differences across mediation, arbitration, and collaborative law.
How to Document a Mental Status Exam
Learn how to conduct and document a mental status exam (MSE) for therapy sessions. Covers every domain with clinical examples and common documentation mistakes.
How to Document Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT) Sessions
A practical guide for therapists on documenting MBCT sessions. Covers the unique challenges of group format documentation, home practice assignment tracking, mindfulness inquiry records, relapse prevention planning, and outcome measurement across an 8-week protocol.
How to Document Motivational Interviewing Sessions
A practical guide for therapists, social workers, and addiction counselors on documenting Motivational Interviewing sessions. Covers the MI spirit, change talk vs sustain talk, OARS techniques, stages of change, readiness rulers, and how to write progress notes that reflect MI-consistent practice. Includes fictional examples showing good vs poor documentation.
How to Document Music Therapy Sessions
A practical guide for music therapists on documenting sessions that involve musical interventions, improvisation, songwriting, instrument selection, and receptive techniques. Covers what makes music therapy documentation unique, adapted SOAP and DAP formats, how to describe musical responses and therapeutic outcomes, ethical considerations around recording, and common documentation mistakes.
How to Document Narrative Therapy Sessions
A practical guide for narrative therapists on documenting externalizing conversations, re-authoring narratives, outsider witness practices, and therapeutic letters in progress notes that meet insurance requirements.
How to Document Neuropsychological Evaluations and Testing Reports
A practical guide for psychologists and neuropsychologists on structuring evaluation reports, reporting normative scores, writing integrated summaries, and tailoring documentation for school, forensic, disability, and treatment contexts.