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How to Write DAP Notes: Examples and Best Practices for Clinicians
A DAP note is a clinical progress note format that organizes documentation into Data, Assessment, and Plan sections. It is widely used in mental health settings to record therapy sessions clearly, support clinical reasoning, and meet insurance and compliance requirements. This guide explains how to write DAP notes, breaks down the DAP format, and shows what to include in each section. You will find clear DAP note examples, templates, and best-practice tips to help you write concise, defensible notes more efficiently.
Last Updated: February 5, 2026
What You'll Learn
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What belongs in the Data, Assessment, and Plan sections—plus example phrasing for each.
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How to turn session content into concise, defensible notes that show clinical reasoning and meet payer/compliance expectations.
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A repeatable DAP template/checklist to speed documentation and improve consistency across clients and teams.
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Common pitfalls to avoid (vague language, missing medical necessity) and how to add measurable goals and risk documentation.
In behavioral health, you'll find many different types of progress note formats. One popular approach uses the data, assessment, and plan DAP format. The DAP structure can help you organize your notes into a consistent, understandable format. They're similar to SOAP notes but geared toward behavioral health professionals. Like other progress notes, writing DAP notes efficiently and effectively is a vital part of smooth practice management.
To help you with writing DAP notes, we'll break down what DAP notes are, how to write them, and provide some DAP progress note examples.
What is a DAP Note?
A DAP note is a structured, 3-part clinical progress note format used primarily in mental and behavioral health settings. It stands for Data, Assessment, and Plan and is designed to document therapy sessions clearly, efficiently, and in a way that supports clinical reasoning and compliance.
Key components of a DAP note:
Data (D)
The Data section documents what occurred during the session, including observable behaviors, client-reported symptoms, appearance, relevant events, and interventions used.
Assessment (A)
The Assessment section contains the clinician’s professional interpretation of the data, including evaluation of progress, clinical impressions, diagnosis considerations, and risk assessment.
Plan (P)
The Plan section outlines the next steps in treatment, including planned interventions, homework assignments, treatment plan updates, referrals, and scheduling future sessions.
DAP notes are commonly used in psychotherapy, counseling, psychiatry, and social work because they streamline documentation while producing clear, defensible records that support insurance requirements and continuity of care.
Why Clinicians Use DAP Notes
DAP notes are widely used because they balance efficient documentation with clear clinical reasoning, making them especially well-suited to mental and behavioral health settings.
Streamlined Documentation
DAP notes combine subjective client reports and objective clinical observations into a single data section. This reduces unnecessary separation, speeds up writing, and supports a more natural, narrative workflow compared to more rigid formats like SOAP notes.
Clear tracking of progress and treatment direction
By separating session data, clinical interpretation, and planning, DAP notes make it easier to document symptom changes, evaluate progress toward treatment goals, and maintain continuity of care across sessions or providers.
This clarity also supports effective practice management by keeping records organized, consistent, and easy to review.
Built-in support for risk assessment
The assessment section provides a clear place to evaluate risk, document safety concerns, and explain clinical decision-making, particularly important when addressing suicidality, self-harm, or changes in client stability.
Flexible structure for routine care
DAP notes are less prescriptive than some other formats, allowing clinicians to adapt documentation to different session types without sacrificing clarity or consistency.
Strong fit for insurance and compliance requirements
When written well, DAP notes clearly link session data to clinical assessment and treatment planning, helping justify medical necessity during audits, reimbursement reviews, and compliance checks.
How to Write DAP Notes: Step-by-Step
DAP notes use only 3 sections, which makes them efficient but also means each section needs to be used intentionally. Knowing what belongs in each part of the note helps you document sessions clearly, support clinical reasoning, and meet insurance and compliance expectations without overwriting.
What information goes in the Data section of DAP notes?
The Data section documents what occurred during the session. It should capture observable facts and client-reported information without interpretation, setting the foundation for the assessment and plan.
This section may include:
- Client-reported symptoms, concerns, stressors, or significant events since the last session
- Observable details such as appearance, behavior, mood, affect, thought process, and engagement
- Therapeutic interventions used during the session and the client’s response to those interventions
- Results of screenings, rating scales, or other measurable observations
- Relevant direct quotes that reflect the client’s experience.
Clear, specific data helps demonstrate that the session was distinct and clinically necessary, which is especially important for insurance review and continuity of care.
Example: Client arrived on time, appeared tense, reported increased work stress over the past week, and practiced grounding techniques during the session.
How do you document the Assessment portion of a DAP note?
The assessment section explains what the session data means clinically. This is where you apply professional judgment to evaluate progress, risk, and diagnostic relevance.
This section may include:
- Progress toward treatment goals, including improvement, stability, or regression
- Changes in symptom severity, functioning, or presentation
- Clinical impressions and diagnostic considerations supported by session data
- Risk and safety evaluation, including suicidality, self-harm, or other concerns
A well-written assessment links observations to clinical conclusions and clearly supports medical necessity and ongoing treatment decisions.
Example: Client continues to experience moderate anxiety related to work stressors, with slight improvement in coping skill use. No current safety concerns identified.
What should be included in the Plan section of DAP Notes?
The Plan section outlines how treatment will continue after the session. It should be forward-looking, specific, and focused on actionable next steps.
This section may include:
- Planned interventions or therapeutic focus for upcoming sessions
- Homework assignments, skills practice, or behavioral tasks agreed upon with the client
- Referrals, consultations, or coordination with other providers
- Updates to the treatment plan based on current progress or risk
- Timing, format, and frequency of future sessions.
Clear plans help maintain continuity of care and show purposeful treatment progression from one session to the next.
Example: Continue grounding techniques daily, introduce cognitive restructuring in the next session, and schedule follow-up in 1 week.
Download our DAP Note Cheat Sheet and DAP Note Example
DAP Note Examples
DAP progress note examples help show how the format works in real clinical scenarios. The following examples demonstrate how to document session data, apply clinical interpretation, and outline clear next steps.
DAP Note Example for Anxiety
Client arrived on time and appeared well-groomed and appropriately dressed. Client recently started sertraline 50 mg and reported no noticeable symptom change at this time. GAD-7 score decreased by 2 points compared to the previous assessment completed 3 weeks ago. Client reported feeling overwhelmed at work and difficulty managing current workload demands. Session focused on identifying work-related stressors and practicing grounding techniques. Client engaged in discussion about potential workplace accommodations, including communicating concerns to a supervisor.
Client was engaged and participated actively throughout the session. Presentation is consistent with ongoing anxiety related to occupational stressors. Early medication response is limited, which is expected given recent initiation. Client demonstrated understanding and appropriate use of grounding techniques. Mild symptom improvement noted based on self-report and GAD-7 score.
Client will continue prescribed medication and monitor symptoms. Client will practice grounding techniques during periods of work-related stress. Client will consider discussing workload adjustments with supervisor. Next in-person session scheduled for June 12 at 2:00 p.m.
DAP Note Example for Substance Use
This next example is for a client with substance use disorder:
Client appeared less groomed than baseline presentation. Client reported recent bereavement following the death of a close family member. Client disclosed alcohol binge use after the loss and reported feelings of guilt related to breaking sobriety. Session focused on grief processing and identifying alternative coping strategies. Client participated in discussion about support systems, including peer support, family engagement, and creative outlets.
Client is experiencing acute grief and increased emotional distress, contributing to increased relapse risk. Client expressed anxiety regarding ability to maintain sobriety and demonstrated difficulty prioritizing coping strategies. Insight into triggers is present, though coping skill utilization remains inconsistent. No immediate safety concerns reported.
Client will attend weekly grief support group beginning next Tuesday at 6:00 p.m. Client will complete at least two identified coping activities per week. Telehealth follow-up session scheduled for August 22 at 10:00 a.m., with focus on grief processing and relapse prevention.
How Long Should a DAP Note Be?
There is no fixed length requirement for a DAP note, but most are brief and focused. In practice, a DAP note is typically 1 to 3 short paragraphs, or roughly 100 to 300 words, covering the Data, Assessment, and Plan sections.
For routine therapy sessions, DAP notes can often be completed in 5 to 10 minutes while still documenting all clinically relevant information. The goal is to capture what matters most, not to record every detail of the session.
More complex situations may require longer documentation. Notes may be expanded when:
- Symptoms change significantly
- Risk or safety concerns are present
- Treatment plans are updated
- A crisis intervention occurs
In these cases, additional detail helps support clinical decision-making and medical necessity.
Best Practices for Writing DAP Notes
Writing effective DAP notes takes more than following the right structure. These best practices can help you document sessions clearly and avoid common charting issues.
1. Be Objective and Clinically Focused
Effective DAP notes rely on observable facts and client-reported information rather than personal opinions or assumptions. Keep interpretation in the assessment section and ensure conclusions are supported by what was documented in the session. This separation improves clarity and makes notes easier to defend during reviews or audits.
2. Be Concise Without Under-Documenting
DAP notes should be thorough but not excessive. Other clinicians, insurers, or auditors may review your notes, so they need enough detail to explain clinical decisions without becoming overly long. There is no fixed rule for length, but the goal is to cover what is clinically relevant while avoiding unnecessary narrative.
3. Use Client Quotes Intentionally
Direct quotes can be valuable when they clarify symptoms, emotional responses, or motivation. Use them selectively to support clinical understanding or medical necessity, rather than documenting conversation verbatim.
4. Document Interventions and Client Responses
Clearly noting which techniques were used during the session and how the client responded demonstrates active treatment. This supports continuity of care and helps justify ongoing services, particularly for insurance and compliance purposes.
5. Consider Adding a Response Section When Helpful
Some clinicians choose to expand DAP notes into DARP notes by adding a Response section. This can be useful when a client’s reaction to an intervention, diagnosis, or discussion is clinically significant. In many cases, responses can remain in the Data section, but separating them may improve clarity depending on your documentation style and setting.
6. Write Professionally and Defensibly
DAP notes may be used to inform medical decisions, audits, or legal reviews, and clients may also request access to them. Use professional language, avoid personal judgments, and rely on industry-recognized terminology and abbreviations.
Professional organizations such as the American Psychological Association emphasize clear, accurate, and timely clinical documentation as a core ethical responsibility for mental health providers. Proper record keeping supports continuity of care, informed clinical decision-making, and accountability.
7. Keep Compliance Requirements in Mind
Each note should include required elements such as session date, time, location, clinician identification, and any payer-specific documentation standards. Consistent structure helps ensure notes meet regulatory, licensing, and insurance expectations.
8. Complete Notes Promptly
Writing notes as soon as possible after the session improves accuracy and reduces the risk of missing important details. Timely documentation is especially important in busy practices or when managing complex cases.
9. Store and Manage Notes Digitally
Digital documentation tools help clinicians stay organised, secure, and compliant. Electronic records reduce the risk of lost or damaged notes and support templates, structured fields, and EHR integrations that speed up documentation while maintaining consistency.
DAP notes and other progress notes are protected under HIPAA, so they must be stored and accessed in ways that protect patient privacy. Using secure, HIPAA-compliant systems helps safeguard sensitive information while supporting continuity of care and audits.
DAP Notes vs Other Progress Note Formats
DAP vs SOAP Notes
DAP notes and SOAP notes are closely related, but they differ in structure and level of detail. The main difference is how session information is organized.
In a SOAP note (Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan), client-reported information and clinician observations are documented separately. The Subjective section reflects the client’s perspective, while the Objective section captures observable, measurable data.
In a DAP note, subjective and objective information are combined into a single Data section. This creates a more streamlined, narrative-style approach before moving into clinical interpretation and planning.
Both formats include assessment and plan sections and can support continuity of care and insurance requirements. The key distinction is how strictly client reports and clinician observations are separated.
When to Choose a SOAP Note
SOAP notes are a good fit when highly structured documentation is required or when tracking specific, measurable symptoms is a priority. They are commonly used in medical, nursing, rehabilitation, and multidisciplinary settings, particularly where detailed documentation supports insurance review or provider communication.
DAP vs BIRP Notes
DAP notes and BIRP notes are both widely used in behavioral health, but they differ in how client behavior and therapeutic action are documented.
In a DAP note, session observations, client reports, and clinician observations are combined into the Data section, with interpretation in the assessment and next steps in the Plan.
In a BIRP note (Behavior, Intervention, Response, Plan), the session is broken down more explicitly. Client behavior is documented first, followed by the clinician’s intervention and the client’s immediate response.
Both formats include a Plan section and support clinical decision-making and insurance documentation. The difference lies in how much structure is used to link behavior, intervention, and response.
When to Choose a BIRP Note
BIRP notes are useful when close tracking of specific behaviors and interventions is required. They are commonly used in behavioral health programs, substance use treatment, and skill-based or crisis-focused sessions where documenting treatment effectiveness or medical necessity is critical.
DAP vs DARP Notes
DAP and DARP notes are closely related formats, with the key difference being how client responses to interventions are documented.
In a DAP note, client responses are typically included within the data or assessment sections, keeping documentation concise and efficient.
In a DARP note (Data, Assessment, Response, Plan), a separate response section is added to document how the client reacted to specific interventions or clinical discussions.
Both formats support continuity of care and insurance requirements. The distinction lies in the level of detail devoted to client engagement and response.
When to Choose a DARP Note
DARP notes are helpful when client reactions to interventions are clinically significant and need to be tracked closely. This format is often used in acute care, skill-based treatment, or sessions focused on behavior change, engagement, or resistance.
Write your DAP Notes Faster with ICANotes
Progress notes are essential, but they do not need to take up valuable clinical time. ICANotes is built specifically for behavioral health clinicians and helps you create structured, compliant DAP notes quickly using guided, menu-driven documentation.
With ICANotes, you can:
- Maintain a consistent DAP format across every session
- Reduce documentation time without sacrificing clinical detail
- Support audit-ready records that align with payer and compliance expectations
- Store notes securely in a fully HIPAA-compliant system.
By streamlining how DAP notes are created and stored, ICANotes helps you spend less time charting and more time focused on client care.
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Frequently Asked Questions: DAP Notes
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Dr. October Boyles
DNP, MSN, BSN, RN
Dr. October Boyles is a behavioral health expert and clinical leader with extensive expertise in nursing, compliance, and healthcare operations. With a Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP) from Aspen University and advanced degrees in nursing, she specializes in evidence-based practices, EHR optimization, and improving outcomes in behavioral health settings. Dr. Boyles is passionate about empowering clinicians with the tools and strategies needed to deliver high-quality, patient-centered care.