We’ll demystify how to write and structure DAP notes — plus provide DAP notes examples and templates to help guide you.
December 21, 2023 • Updated on November 13, 2026
By the Headway Editorial Team • Clinically reviewed by the Headway Clinical Team
17 min read
By the Headway Editorial Team • Clinically reviewed by the Headway Clinical Team
If you’re in the position to consider different types of progress-note-taking styles, you might want to consider what the DAP note has to offer: A simple template that puts focus on the client. And if you’re being asked to switch to DAP notes, let’s demystify how to write and structure them — plus how they compare to SOAP notes.
What to know
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DAP notes are a specific format for writing progress notes as a behavioral health clinician. They contain three primary sections, represented by its acronym:
DAP notes provide a very simple through line that helps you reflect on your progress with a client: Data is about what happened in the session, assessment is your clinical interpretation of the data, and the plan is where you chart a path forward for future sessions based on your assessment of this one. Each component directs your focus to capturing the most critical parts of your session.
Typically, DAP notes are three paragraphs long, with one paragraph for each component of the format (data, assessment, and plan). The specific length can vary depending on complexity of the patient's condition, but therapists aim to be thorough yet succinct.
You might choose a DAP note if you prefer to take a more straightforward and efficient approach to documentation, focusing on the client’s data, your assessment, and the planned treatment without unnecessary complexity. With fewer sections, DAP notes may also be faster to complete than SOAP notes, for example, for some providers.
“I might not recommend DAP notes for a newer therapist, because in that case structure is a good thing,” says Natalia Tague, a licensed counselor in Virginia . “If you're more experienced and you’d prefer a shorter format, then maybe DAP is for you.”
DAP notes are a great choice for documenting ongoing talk therapy or counseling sessions, as they are designed to reflect patterns and progress over time. Because they are somewhat less structured than other progress note styles, DAP notes can also be easily tweaked depending on what was discussed in a particular session, without getting overly hung up on separating the subjective from the objective.
Simplify insurance and save time on your entire workflow — from compliance and billing to credentialing and admin.
With only three sections, DAP notes provide minimal structure to guide your documentation, so it’s important to understand what’s expected from each section of the note template.
The data section is where you document any information collected from your session. This could include details the client has told you about their experiences and symptoms, anything you observed as a clinician that might reflect on their current situation, or any therapeutic interventions that you applied (including how the client reacted to them).
It’s a good idea to include person-centric details, such as direct quotes from the client, in the data section of your DAP progress notes. This serves two objectives: It helps insurance carriers verify that the session was authentic and unique, and it provides additional clinical insight into the client’s feelings and perceptions.
The data section is also where you’ll include any elements of the mental status exam, such as observations about the client’s appearance, mood, affect, thought process, and cognition.
Above all else, this account of the session should lay the groundwork for your assessment and plan.
The assessment should include your client’s diagnosis, and your professional interpretation of the data collected from the session. You might note changes in your client’s mood or well-being since the last session, or an interpretation of their behavior that helped further your understanding of their condition.
This section can also include your assessment of the client’s current risk level.
The goal with this section is to provide a comprehensive understanding of the client’s mental health status, weaving together the data from the session with your clinically-informed analysis — which will inform your plan for treatment.
The plan section should include your roadmap for future sessions.
You may want to include any interventions you want to explore, goals for future treatment, or information about the timing and frequency of future sessions. You can also include the progress you’re making on your current treatment plan.
The plan section of a DAP note is similar to the plan sections of a SOAP note (subjective, objective, assessment, plan) or BIRP note (behavior, intervention, response, plan).
It’s important that DAP notes, or notes in any template style, follow the requirements of a progress note, such as including session details like the start and stop time and place of service. Here’s an example:
Client Full Name: Peter Patient
Client Date of Birth: 05/15/1985
Date of Service: 11/17/2023
Exact Start Time and End Time: 2:01 PM - 3:04 PM
Session Location: 456 Tranquility Avenue, Suite 202, Calmville, CA 98765
Data:
Peter, a 38-year-old male, exhibited appropriate behavior throughout the session. Peter reported increased anxiety and difficulty sleeping over the past week. Describes feelings of overwhelming stress related to work and a recent breakup. Peter exhibits signs of moderate anxiety, including restlessness, increased heart rate, and trouble concentrating. Peter’s mood appeared anxious and subdued during the session. He was able to maintain eye contact and engage in the therapeutic process.
Assessment:
Peter's primary diagnosis of Generalized Anxiety Disorder (F41.1) was evident as he reported increased worry and tension related to work-related stressors. He displayed symptoms such as muscle tension, difficulty concentrating, and a persistent preoccupation with potential negative outcomes in various aspects of his life. Peter demonstrated an increased level of self-awareness regarding his anxiety triggers and had initiated deep-breathing exercises learned in previous sessions as a coping strategy. However, he continues to struggle with anticipatory anxiety specifically related to work demands, which significantly impacts his daily functioning. No current risk of harm to self or others was identified.
Plan:
Continue weekly sessions focusing on cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) techniques to address anxiety triggers and thought patterns. Moving forward, it is important to continue exploring and identify specific triggers for Peter's anxiety. Introducing and practicing additional coping strategies, such as progressive muscle relaxation and guided imagery, may assist him in managing his symptoms. Collaboration on developing a realistic plan to address work-related stressors, including effective time management strategies, will be beneficial.
DAP notes are relatively unstructured, meaning they can be adapted easily for different indications. Below are a few examples of how DAP notes may change depending on treatment focus.
When noting depressive symptoms in a DAP note, focus on objective behavioral observations in addition to the client’s reported mood and progress.
Client Full Name: Jane Doe
Client Date of Birth: 1/1/1990
Date of Service: 10/15/26
Exact Start Time and End Time: 12:01pm-12:47pm
Session Location: 456 Tranquility Avenue, Suite 202, Calmville, CA 98765
Data:
Jane, a 36-year-old female, reported persistent sadness, low energy, decreased motivation, and difficulty concentrating. She reported having “no desire to see friends” and “barely getting by at work.” Therapist utilized cognitive behavioral therapy to identify and challenge negative automatic thoughts contributing to depressive symptoms. Client initially expressed difficulty recognizing negative thought patterns but was able to identify and reframe a self-critical thought with therapist guidance.
Assessment:
Jane’s depressive symptoms continue to support a diagnosis of major depressive disorder, single episode (F32.1). She demonstrated increased awareness of the connection between thoughts and mood and reported feeling slightly more hopeful following the intervention.
Plan:
Continue weekly therapy using CBT interventions. Encourage client to practice identifying and reframing negative thoughts between sessions, as well as behavioral activation techniques. Monitor mood, motivation, and sleep patterns.
When writing a DAP note for substance-related issues, take care to note cravings or relapses without editorializing them. Stick to the facts reported by your client, as well as your clinical assessment.
Client Full Name: Jane Doe
Client Date of Birth: 1/1/1990
Date of Service: 10/15/26
Exact Start Time and End Time: 12:01pm-12:47pm
Session Location: 456 Tranquility Avenue, Suite 202, Calmville, CA 98765
Data:
Jane, a 36-year-old female, reported intensified cravings for alcohol over the past week. Estimated feeling cravings every night after work. Client identified increased stress and exposure to familiar triggers as contributing factors: “This is our busy season at work, and that always makes me want to drink to get through it.”
Assessment:
Client demonstrated awareness of triggers and was able to describe circumstances associated with increased cravings. She participated actively in discussion of relapse and prevention strategies. Intensified cravings may increase vulnerability to future substance use.
Plan:
Continue weekly individual therapy. Reinforce relapse prevention skills, identify additional coping strategies, and monitor craving intensity and frequency.
If you believe your client to be at risk of self-harm or other safety issues, note that in the assessment section of your note. Your note should also address your client’s safety plan.
Client Full Name: Jane Doe
Client Date of Birth: 1/1/1990
Date of Service: 10/15/26
Exact Start Time and End Time: 12:01pm-12:47pm
Session Location: 456 Tranquility Avenue, Suite 202, Calmville, CA 98765
Data:
Jane, a 36-year-old female, reported increased emotional distress, feelings of hopelessness, and difficulty managing current stressors: “Sometimes I think it will never get better and it’s not worth trying.” Therapist observed changes in affect and appearance. Client appeared tearful and disheveled.
Assessment:
Client meets criteria for severe recurrent depressive disorder (F33.2) and displayed limited ability to identify coping strategies. Therapist assessed suicidal ideation, intent, plan, access to means, and protective factors. Client endorsed passive suicidal thoughts and denied current intent or plan. Current risk was assessed as elevated.
Plan:
Therapist and client collaborated to develop a safety plan identifying warning signs, coping strategies, supportive contacts, and crisis resources. Client agreed to use the plan and seek emergency assistance if risk escalates. Follow-up scheduled within 48 hours.
This document is intended for educational purposes only. Examples are for purposes of illustration only. It is designed to facilitate compliance with payer requirements and applicable law, but please note that the applicable laws and requirements vary from payer to payer and state to state. Please check with your legal counsel or state licensing board for specific requirements.
DAP notes will become part of your client’s records and may be shared with third parties, including insurance companies, so it’s crucial to get them right. Doing so will ensure that you stay in compliance with HIPAA and insurance standards and don’t run into headaches like rejected claims or audits. Using a note-taking template, like those offered by Headway, is a great way to avoid common missteps like these:
While there are many options for documentation, Headway's in-product templates are designed to make note-taking fast and efficient, all while helping to take out the guesswork.
How? Headway’s documentation templates are designed to meet insurance standards, so you can feel confident you’re including all necessary details. The Headway suite also includes AI support that makes note-taking faster than ever, turning a session summary into a full progress note in seconds. With built-in connection between notes and claims, the billing process is a breeze too. We’re here to make every step of the documentation process simpler. Plus, our templates are included at no additional cost for Headway providers.
The DARP note is a modification of a DAP note, which includes a “Response” section to document the client’s reactions and responses to the techniques, strategies, or interventions that you used during the session.
It can be helpful when you want to focus attention on monitoring the ways your client is engaging with the therapeutic process. Documenting client responses can provide a fuller picture of their symptoms and well-being. If they are resistant to the therapeutic process, for example, that may provide valuable insight into their mental status. Taking note of interventions to which the client responds positively or negatively can also help with drafting plans for future sessions.
SOAP notes and DAP notes are very similar. The primary difference is how the observations from the session are structured:
Both include assessment and plan sections that prompt a clinician to reflect on their interpretation of the session and document how they’re proceeding with care.
Therapists tend to use the format they were trained on, and whichever one feels most authentic to their style and modality. Any of these can be insurance compliant and which one you use is generally a matter of personal preference.
Learn more about the similarities and differences of SOAP vs DAP notes.
When to choose a SOAP note:
You might choose a SOAP note if you prefer more structure to your note taking, or if it’s important to dedicate space to monitoring specific symptoms from a clinically objective point of view.
SOAP notes can be great for medical or multidisciplinary settings where detailed, structured documentation is crucial for communicating treatment plans and client progress across providers. Learn how to write a SOAP note.
DAP notes and BIRP notes are similar documentation methods for clinical sessions. The primary difference is a focus on observations vs. behaviors:
Both include plan sections that document how the clinician is proceeding with care. Again, clinicians tend to use the format they were trained on, and whichever one feels most authentic to their style and modality.
When to choose a BIRP note
You might choose a BIRP note if you want to:
BIRP notes can be particularly useful in settings that require detailed tracking of client behaviors and therapeutic effectiveness. Learn how to write a BIRP note.
Notetaking doesn’t have to be so tedious. With Headway’s AI-powered notes templates designed for compliance, you can document your clients’ progress more simply and intuitively. Insurance-minded templates ensure you’ve got your bases covered, while AI assistance slashes the time (and mental energy) required to write notes.This — in addition to our insurance credentialing, billing support, claims processing, scheduling tools, and other offerings — allow us to help therapy practices flourish.
This content is for general informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute clinical, legal, financial, or professional advice. All decisions should be made at the discretion of the individual or organization, in consultation with qualified clinical, legal, or other appropriate professionals.
© 2026 Therapymatch, Inc. dba Headway. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without permission.
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