Progress Note (SOAP/DAP) Template
A clean, interactive progress note you can complete in SOAP or DAP format, capturing what happened in session, your clinical assessment, and the plan going forward.
About this tool
Progress notes are the running clinical record of treatment. A good note documents what occurred in a session, your clinical thinking about it, and what comes next, in a way that another provider could pick up if needed. Notes also support continuity of care, demonstrate medical necessity for payers, and protect both client and clinician if records are ever reviewed. Strong, timely documentation is one of the most practical risk-management habits a clinician can build.
SOAP is the most widely used structure: Subjective (what the client reports), Objective (what you observe, including mental status and behaviors), Assessment (your clinical interpretation and progress toward goals), and Plan (next steps, homework, and the next appointment). DAP collapses subjective and objective into a single Data section, followed by Assessment and Plan, which many therapists prefer for its brevity. Both formats serve the same purpose; choose the one your setting uses.
Write notes in clear, objective, behavioral language. Record observable facts and quote the client where it is clinically relevant, rather than speculation or judgment. Link each note to the active treatment plan so progress toward objectives is visible across sessions. Distinguish the progress note, which becomes part of the medical record, from psychotherapy process notes, which under HIPAA can be kept separately and receive added protection when stored apart from the record.
Keep it concise but complete. A note should stand on its own months later and answer the basic questions: what was the client's status, what did you do, how are they progressing, and what is the plan. Document promptly while the session is fresh, and store completed notes only in a HIPAA-compliant system.
- American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. 5th ed, text revision (DSM-5-TR). American Psychiatric Association Publishing; 2022.
- American Psychological Association. Record Keeping Guidelines. Am Psychol. 2007;62(9):993-1004.
Progress Note (SOAP/DAP) Template FAQ
What is the difference between SOAP and DAP notes?
SOAP separates the client's report (Subjective) from your observations (Objective), then adds Assessment and Plan. DAP merges report and observation into one Data section, followed by Assessment and Plan. Both cover the same ground; DAP is shorter, while SOAP makes the subjective and objective distinction explicit.
What should I avoid putting in a progress note?
Avoid speculation, judgment, and unnecessary detail about third parties. Keep psychotherapy process notes, which contain your private analysis, separate from the progress note that forms part of the medical record. Stick to observable, clinically relevant facts.
How soon should I write a progress note?
As soon as possible after the session, ideally the same day, while details are fresh. Prompt documentation improves accuracy and is sound risk management.
Is anything I type stored here?
No. The template runs entirely in your browser. Nothing is uploaded or saved, and the PDF is generated on your own device. Store finished notes in your EHR or another HIPAA-compliant system.