A Complete Guide on How to Write Therapy Notes (2025)

So, you survived your first therapy session?

Now comes the next challenge: Writing therapy notes.

Sounds boring, right? WRONG.

Think of it as a cool, low-key way to track your mental health progress (& avoid those "what did I even talk about?" moments).

Whether you're a therapist or just someone who wants to keep track of their sessions, here's how to make your therapy notes as easy, fun, and useful as possible. Spoiler: No snooze-fest required.

1. Keep It Short & Sweet (This Isn't a College Essay)

Let’s face it, no one wants to write a novel after every session. 🙅‍♀️ Just jot down the important stuff: What did you talk about? Any big breakthroughs? How did you feel? That’s it.

Keep it simple—this isn’t the time for an epic saga. You’ve got more important things to do, like scrolling through TikTok. 😏

2. Write Down Your "Aha!" Moments!

You know that moment when something suddenly clicks and you’re like, “OMG, I get it now”? Those moments are GOLD.

💡 Make sure to write them down! Whether it's a fresh perspective on your relationship or a new way to deal with stress, those insights are what therapy’s all about.

Don’t let them slip away—capture the magic!

3. Bullet Points Are Your Best Friend

Why write in paragraphs when you can just list things like a pro?

Bullet points are clean, quick, and to the point.

✔️ You can list breakthroughs, things you want to work on, or anything you wanna remember for later.

Think of it like creating your own “cheat sheet” to reflect on.

4. Don’t Stress About Perfect Grammar—Just Get It Down!

This isn’t an essay contest. Your notes don’t need to be perfect.

If you misspell something or your handwriting looks like chicken scratch, no worries.

Therapy notes are personal. The goal is to get your thoughts out, not to win a spelling bee.

🐔 So just go for it and don’t worry about grammar police.

5. Add Some Humor (Because Therapy Doesn’t Have to Be All Serious)

Therapy can be intense, but that doesn’t mean your notes have to be all heavy.

If you cracked a joke during the session or made a funny observation, write it down.

A little humor can help balance things out and make you more likely to revisit your notes.

Plus, it’ll give you something to laugh at when you look back.

6. Be Honest (Even If It’s Awkward)

The best therapy notes are the real ones. So, don’t sugarcoat it.

If something felt confusing, frustrating, or even a little weird, write it down! Honesty is key.

You’re doing this for you, so be real about what’s going on.

Later on, you’ll appreciate how much you’ve learned about yourself.

7. Use Notes as a Time Capsule

Your therapy notes are like a time capsule of your journey.

Over time, you’ll be able to look back at your notes and see how far you’ve come.

The more you write, the more you’ll notice patterns, progress, and the things you’ve learned.

Trust us, in the future you will be grateful. 🙌

So, there you have it! Therapy notes don’t have to be a chore. Make them work for you—short, sweet, and with a dash of personality.

Whether you’re tracking progress or just getting things off your chest, your notes should be as unique as your therapy experience. ✍️