Therapist practice · Updated 2026-10-19
SOAP vs DAP notes for therapists (with examples)
SOAP and DAP are the two most common ways to structure a therapy progress note. Both do the same job: a short, factual record of what happened in a session, how the client is doing, and what comes next. The difference is how you divide the page.
This guide explains what goes in each section, shows one fictional session written both ways on real forms, and helps you pick the format that fits how you think. If you already write notes in a loose paragraph, either structure will make them quicker to write and much easier to read back six months later.
SOAP and DAP at a glance
| SOAP | DAP | |
|---|---|---|
| Sections | Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan | Data, Assessment, Plan |
| Where it came from | Medical record keeping, now used across health and mental health care | A shorter variant popular in counselling and psychotherapy |
| Client report and your observations | Kept in separate sections (S and O) | Written together in Data |
| Best for | Multidisciplinary settings, insurance work, anyone who wants a clear line between what was said and what was seen | Talking therapy where most of the "data" is the conversation itself |
| Typical length | Half a page to a page | Half a page to a page |
Neither format is better in itself. What matters is that your notes are accurate, written soon after the session, and meet the record keeping standards of your professional body, regulator and any insurer you work with.
What goes in a SOAP note
S: Subjective. What the client told you: how their week went, what they wanted to talk about, how they describe their mood. Use their words where it helps. A short quote such as "my chest goes tight and I go blank" captures more than a paragraph of paraphrase.
O: Objective. What you observed: how they presented, their mood and affect as you saw it, how they engaged, anything notable in speech or behaviour. Keep it to what another clinician would also have seen. "Tearful when talking about their father" is an observation. "Still grieving" is an assessment, and belongs in the next section.
A: Assessment. Your professional view of the session: progress towards the goals you agreed, themes or patterns, any change in presentation, and risk. A line on risk every session is good practice, even when it simply says nothing has changed since the last review.
P: Plan. What you did in the session, anything the client will try before next time, referrals or contact with other professionals, and the focus for the next session.
What goes in a DAP note
D: Data. Everything factual from the session in one place: what the client brought, what you observed, and what you did together (an exercise, psychoeducation, a technique you practised). It is the S and O of a SOAP note merged, plus the interventions.
A: Assessment. The same as in SOAP: your understanding of the session, progress towards goals, and any risk noted.
P: Plan. Next steps: what the client will try between sessions, any referrals, and the focus for next time. Because the interventions are already in Data, the Plan in a DAP note is usually shorter.
Many counsellors find DAP faster, because in talking therapy the line between "what they said" and "what I saw" is often hard to draw. The trade-off is that a reader has to work a little harder to tell the client's account apart from your observations.
The same session, written both ways
Here is one fictional session (client code C-014, session 6, by video) written first as a SOAP note and then as a DAP note. The facts are identical. Only the structure changes.
S: Reports sleeping better since starting a wind-down routine: about 6 hours most nights, up from 4. Still anxious before team meetings: "my chest goes tight and I go blank." Two meetings this week; left one early.
O: Joined by video from a quiet room, on time. Engaged and reflective. Affect brighter than last session. Restless and quieter when describing the meeting they left early.
A: Progress on goal 1 (sleep), rated 6/10, up from 4/10 at session 3. Meeting anxiety persists and is kept going by leaving early. Risk reviewed: no thoughts of self-harm reported, no change since intake.
P: Practised paced breathing in session. Between sessions: stay to the end of one meeting and rate anxiety 0 to 10 before, during and after. Next: review ratings, start a step-by-step exposure plan.
D: Client reports sleeping about 6 hours most nights, up from 4, since starting a wind-down routine. Still anxious before team meetings: "my chest goes tight and I go blank." Left one of two meetings early. Joined by video, engaged and reflective, affect brighter than last session. We practised paced breathing.
A: Progress on goal 1 (sleep), rated 6/10, up from 4/10 at session 3. Meeting anxiety persists and is kept going by leaving early. Risk reviewed: no thoughts of self-harm reported, no change since intake.
P: Between sessions: stay to the end of one meeting and rate anxiety 0 to 10 before, during and after. Next: review ratings, start a step-by-step exposure plan.
Notice what the example does not include: no full name, no account of everything that was said, no speculation about the client's childhood. Each note fits on one page and could be read in under a minute.
Which format should you use?
If your service, employer or insurer requires a particular format, use that. Some therapists also use BIRP (Behaviour, Intervention, Response, Plan) or GIRP (Goals, Intervention, Response, Plan), which put more weight on the interventions you used. The principles below apply to all of them.
How to write notes that are useful (and not too long)
- Write them the same day. Ten minutes straight after the session beats thirty minutes from memory on Friday. Build the time into your diary.
- Link them to the plan. Refer to the goals you agreed ("goal 1, sleep") so progress is visible across sessions without rereading everything.
- Use numbers where you have them. A 0 to 10 rating or an outcome measure score is clearer than "a bit better."
- Record risk every time. One line is enough when nothing has changed. If something has, record what was said, what you did and who you contacted.
- Write as if the client will read it. In most places clients have a right to see their records. Plain, respectful, factual language is the safest habit.
What to leave out of session notes
- A transcript. Notes summarise. They are not a record of everything said.
- Unnecessary detail about other people. Partners, colleagues and family members can be described by role ("their manager") rather than by name.
- Personal reactions and hunches. Your countertransference and half-formed hypotheses are material for supervision, not for the client record.
- Labels you can't support. Don't write a diagnosis unless you're qualified to make it and have actually assessed for it.
- Identifying details on the page itself. Many therapists use a client code on session notes and keep the key linking codes to names stored separately.
Notes, privacy and client access
However you structure them, session notes are health records, and that shapes how you store and share them.
- UK: under UK GDPR, health information is special category data, and clients can make a subject access request to see what you hold about them.
- Australia: under the Australian Privacy Principles, clients can generally ask to access their health information, with limited exceptions.
- US: HIPAA treats "psychotherapy notes" (a therapist's separate personal notes, kept apart from the main record) differently from progress notes. SOAP and DAP notes are progress notes and normally form part of the client record.
Store notes securely, on encrypted practice software or in a locked cabinet for paper, and keep them for the period your professional body or insurer recommends. Check the current rules where you practise, as they differ by country, state and profession.
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FAQ
What is the difference between SOAP and DAP notes?
SOAP notes have four sections: Subjective (what the client reported), Objective (what you observed), Assessment and Plan. DAP notes have three: Data, Assessment and Plan, where Data combines what the client reported, what you observed and what you did in the session.
Are DAP notes acceptable for insurance?
Often, yes, as long as the note shows medical necessity, progress towards goals and a plan. Requirements vary between insurers and payers, so check what yours asks for. Some services and insurers expect SOAP.
How long should a therapy progress note be?
For a standard session, half a page to one page is usually enough. A note should let you, or a colleague covering for you, understand where the work is and what happens next, in about a minute.
Can clients read their therapy notes?
In many places, yes. In the UK and Australia clients can generally request access to their health records, and in the US clients can usually access their record, although separately kept psychotherapy notes have extra protection under HIPAA. Write every note as if the client might read it.
Should I use a SOAP or DAP note template?
A template saves time and keeps your notes consistent. Choose the format your service or insurer expects, or the one that matches how you think, and use it for every session. Check it against your professional body's record keeping guidance.
This article is general information for therapists and counsellors, not legal, clinical or ethical advice. Follow your professional body, regulator, insurer and local privacy law. The example session is fictional. Related reading: what to include in a therapy intake form · what therapists can post on social media · The Calm Practice Instagram kit.