7 Therapist Prompt Templates for AI-Assisted Session Notes and Admin Docs

The fastest way to cut your documentation time in half is to stop writing from scratch every session. These seven copy-paste prompt templates give therapists a structured starting point for the most common admin tasks — SOAP notes, DAP notes, treatment plans, intake summaries, and more.

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The Problem: Documentation Is Eating Your Clinical Hours

You became a therapist to do therapy. But on an average week, progress notes, treatment plan updates, intake summaries, and insurance correspondence can consume two to four hours of unbillable time. That is time pulled from clients, from continuing education, or from rest.

AI can draft the scaffold. You add clinical judgment, review every word, and sign off. The result: faster documentation, consistent formatting, and mental bandwidth left for the work that actually requires you.

One important note before the templates: Do not paste real client PHI (names, dates of birth, identifiers) into a general-purpose AI tool that has not signed a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) with you. The prompts below are designed with placeholder brackets so you fill in de-identified session details. Always verify your AI vendor's HIPAA compliance status before use.

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Template 1: SOAP Progress Note

SOAP (Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan) is the most widely required format across insurance and EHR systems. Use this prompt after each session.

Copy-paste prompt:

You are a documentation assistant helping a licensed therapist write a SOAP progress note. Do not invent clinical details — only use what I provide.

SESSION DETAILS:
- Presenting concerns discussed: [e.g., client reported increased anxiety around work deadlines, difficulty sleeping]
- Client affect and demeanor: [e.g., appeared engaged, affect congruent, made good eye contact]
- Interventions used: [e.g., CBT thought records, psychoeducation on the stress response]
- Client response: [e.g., identified 3 cognitive distortions, committed to daily mood log]
- Plan for next session: [e.g., review mood log, introduce behavioral activation]

Write a professional SOAP progress note using the above details. Keep it concise, third-person, and clinically appropriate. Leave any section blank if I have not provided relevant data.

What you get: A structured, insurance-friendly note in under 60 seconds that you then review and edit for clinical accuracy.

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Template 2: DAP Progress Note

DAP (Data, Assessment, Plan) is favored by many private practice therapists and CMHCs for its streamlined structure.

Copy-paste prompt:

Write a DAP progress note for a therapy session. Use only the details I provide below. Do not fabricate symptoms, diagnoses, or clinical observations.

DATA:
- Topics discussed: [e.g., grief following job loss, relationship strain with spouse]
- Client statements (paraphrased, no names): [e.g., feels stuck, questions whether things will improve]
- Observable behavior/affect: [e.g., tearful at points, maintained therapeutic rapport]

ASSESSMENT:
- Modality used: [e.g., person-centered, motivational interviewing]
- Progress toward treatment goals: [e.g., moderate — beginning to articulate ambivalence about change]

PLAN:
- Next session focus: [e.g., explore values, assign MI change-talk worksheet]

Format this as a professional DAP note. Third person, past tense, no filler language.

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Template 3: BIRP Note for Behavioral Health Settings

BIRP (Behavior, Intervention, Response, Plan) is commonly required in community mental health, substance use, and co-occurring disorder settings.

Copy-paste prompt:

Help me write a BIRP note for a mental health session. Use only what I provide — no invented clinical content.

BEHAVIOR: [e.g., client reported 3 episodes of self-critical thinking this week; appeared guarded initially then became more open]
INTERVENTION: [e.g., used DBT distress tolerance skill TIPP; reviewed chain analysis of one episode]
RESPONSE: [e.g., client demonstrated understanding of TIPP steps, rated mood 6/10 at close vs. 4/10 at start]
PLAN: [e.g., practice TIPP at least once before next session; continue chain analysis next week]

Write a concise BIRP note in professional clinical language. Third person.

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Template 4: Initial Intake Summary

After a first session, an intake summary documents the presenting problem, history, and initial clinical impressions. This template turns your notes into a structured document.

Copy-paste prompt:

Write a clinical intake summary based on the following information. Use professional language appropriate for a mental health record. Do not add details I have not provided.

CLIENT BACKGROUND (de-identified):
- Age and general demographic: [e.g., adult in late 30s]
- Reason for seeking therapy: [e.g., anxiety, panic attacks, work stress]
- Relevant history: [e.g., prior therapy 5 years ago, no hospitalizations, no current medications]
- Family/social context: [e.g., married, two children, stable employment]
- Risk screening result: [e.g., no current SI/HI, no active substance use]

CLINICAL IMPRESSIONS:
- Provisional diagnosis (if determined): [e.g., Generalized Anxiety Disorder, r/o Adjustment Disorder]
- Initial goals identified: [e.g., reduce panic frequency, develop coping toolkit]
- Recommended treatment approach: [e.g., CBT, weekly sessions, 12-session plan]

Format as a structured intake summary with headers for Presenting Problem, History, Risk Assessment, Clinical Impressions, and Treatment Recommendations.

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Template 5: Treatment Plan Draft

Treatment plans need specific, measurable goals tied to diagnosis. This prompt creates a draft you can refine.

Copy-paste prompt:

Help me draft a treatment plan for a therapy client. Use only the information I provide. Goals should be specific, measurable, and time-bound.

DIAGNOSIS: [e.g., Major Depressive Disorder, moderate, recurrent]
PRESENTING PROBLEMS: [e.g., low mood, anhedonia, social withdrawal, sleep disturbance]
CLIENT STRENGTHS: [e.g., motivated, good insight, supportive partner]
TREATMENT MODALITY: [e.g., Behavioral Activation, CBT]
TARGET TIMEFRAME: [e.g., 16 weeks]

Write a treatment plan with:
1. Problem Statement
2. Long-Term Goal (1–2 goals)
3. Short-Term Objectives (2–3 per long-term goal, measurable)
4. Interventions (linked to each objective)
5. Estimated frequency of sessions

Keep language professional and appropriate for insurance review.

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Template 6: No-Show / Cancellation Documentation Note

Documenting missed appointments protects you clinically and for billing. This template makes it fast.

Copy-paste prompt:

Write a brief clinical documentation note for a missed therapy appointment. Use this information only:

- Appointment type: [e.g., individual therapy, 50-minute]
- Outcome: [e.g., client did not arrive and did not contact the office / client cancelled same-day]
- Contact attempt: [e.g., voicemail left at client's number on file at [time]]
- Relevant context if any: [e.g., second no-show in four weeks / first missed appointment]
- Follow-up plan: [e.g., sent secure message to reschedule / will address attendance at next session]

Format as a professional chart note. Past tense, third person, one short paragraph.

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Template 7: Referral or Coordination of Care Letter

When coordinating with a psychiatrist, PCP, or other provider, a brief professional letter saves time and presents your practice well.

Copy-paste prompt:

Write a professional coordination of care letter from a therapist to another provider. Use only what I provide below. Do not add clinical content I have not stated.

RECIPIENT: [e.g., referring psychiatrist / primary care physician]
PURPOSE: [e.g., to share therapy progress / to request medication evaluation / to coordinate discharge planning]
TREATMENT SUMMARY (de-identified): [e.g., client has been seen weekly for 8 sessions for MDD; demonstrating progress with behavioral activation; currently not on medication]
SPECIFIC REQUEST OR INFORMATION TO SHARE: [e.g., requesting psychiatric evaluation for medication support given persistent low energy]
CLOSING: [e.g., request for a brief call or shared care plan]

Format as a formal clinical letter with greeting, 2–3 short paragraphs, and a professional closing. No letterhead needed.

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How to Use These Templates Without Putting Clients at Risk

A few practical rules that experienced therapists follow:

1. Write de-identified session bullet points first. Jot the content in shorthand, strip any identifying details, then paste into the AI prompt.
2. Treat AI output as a first draft, never a final note. Review every sentence. Add nuance, correct errors, and apply your clinical judgment.
3. Use a HIPAA-compliant tool. If you want to include more client context, use an AI platform that has signed a BAA with you. Verify this in writing before submitting any PHI.
4. Keep your documentation workflow separate from your session. Write notes within 24 hours while recall is fresh; the prompts above are designed to work from brief bullet-point inputs, not full transcripts.

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The Upgrade: 350+ Pre-Built Prompts for Therapist Admin and Notes

These seven templates cover the most common scenarios. The Therapist Admin and Notes Pack at PromptsForPros includes 250 prompts for the full documentation workload: group therapy notes, discharge summaries, insurance appeal letters, supervision documentation, self-care and burnout prevention tools, intake paperwork language, and more.

Every prompt is written for therapists by people who understand the clinical documentation context. The pack is $39 and comes with a 30-day money-back guarantee — if it does not save you meaningful time, email for a full refund, no questions asked.

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Not ready to commit? Start with the free starter pack at the same link — a no-cost sample of prompts across multiple professions so you can see the format and quality before buying.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is it safe to use ChatGPT for therapy notes? General-purpose AI tools like the standard version of ChatGPT are not HIPAA-compliant and should not receive real client PHI. The prompts in this article are designed for de-identified, bracketed input specifically to avoid this issue. If you want to include session-specific details, use a platform that has signed a BAA with your practice.

What is the difference between SOAP, DAP, and BIRP notes? All three are structured progress note formats. SOAP (Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan) is the most widely used and insurance-recognized. DAP (Data, Assessment, Plan) consolidates subjective and objective into a single Data section, which many therapists prefer for speed. BIRP (Behavior, Intervention, Response, Plan) is common in behavioral health and substance use settings where documenting the specific intervention and client response is a priority.

Can AI write a treatment plan that will be accepted by insurance? AI can generate a well-structured draft with measurable goals and appropriate language. However, you must review it against your payer's specific requirements, add diagnostic accuracy, and sign it as the licensed clinician of record. AI output is a starting point, not a substitute for clinical review.

How long does it take to use these prompts in practice? Most therapists report that once they have a consistent workflow — jotting de-identified bullet points during or right after a session, then running the prompt — documentation per session drops to five to ten minutes. The initial setup (reading the templates once, choosing your note format) takes less than 20 minutes.