How to Write DAP Notes: Examples, Tips, and Common Mistakes

If you work in mental health, counseling, social work, or healthcare, you’ve probably heard of DAP notes: a simple yet effective way to document client progress and plan future sessions. DAP note-taking is a widely used framework for writing therapy progress notes that are clear, concise, and compliant with professional standards.

In this guide, you’ll learn exactly how to write DAP notes, see real examples, avoid common mistakes, and understand how DAP compares to other formats like SOAP notes and BIRP notes.

Whether you’re new to clinical documentation or looking to streamline your existing process, this article will give you a step-by-step method and professional tips to make your note-taking faster, more accurate, and more effective.

By the end, you’ll know:

• What goes into each section of a DAP note
• How DAP differs from SOAP and BIRP formats
• Examples and templates you can adapt immediately
• Tips to stay compliant while saving time on paperwork.

What is a DAP Note?

DAP is an acronym. It stands for data, assessment, and plan. DAP progress notes are a method of documentation used by healthcare professionals, particularly in the mental health field, to record patient interactions, progress, and treatment plans.

The structure of DAP notes ensures that all relevant information is captured in a clear and organised manner.

Breakdown of DAP format:

1. The data section includes factual information gathered during the session. It can encompass observations, direct quotes from the client, and objective details such as the client's appearance, mood, and behaviour. The data should be precise and free of interpretation.
2. In the assessment section, the clinician provides an analysis of the data. This section is more subjective, as it involves the clinician's professional judgement and insights. It includes interpretations of the client's mental status, progress, and any issues identified during the session.
3. The plan section outlines the next steps in the client's treatment. It includes the clinician's recommendations, goals for future sessions, and any planned interventions. The plan should be specific, actionable, and tailored to the client's needs.

Who Can Use DAP Notes?

DAP notes are used by a variety of healthcare professionals, particularly those in the mental health field. This includes:

• Psychologists use DAP notes to document therapy sessions, track patient progress, and develop treatment plans.
• Psychiatrists implement this note format to record patient interactions, medication management, and therapeutic interventions.
• Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs) document their client interactions and therapy sessions using DAP notes to ensure comprehensive care.
• Nurses and nurse practitioners. These healthcare providers use DAP note-taking to also document patient interactions and treatment plans.

How to Write DAP Notes

Creating effective DAP notes requires attention to detail and a structured approach. Here are the steps to create comprehensive DAP notes:

Step-by-Step Guide to Creating DAP Notes

Start with data:

• Record what you observe during the session. This might include the client's appearance, behaviour, and any notable physical signs.
• Document significant quotes or statements the client reported. These should be verbatim to capture the client's response accurately.
• Note the time, date, and setting of the session. Include any other relevant details, such as the client's participation or engagement level.

Move to assessment:

• Analyse the data collected. Use your professional judgement to interpret the client's statements and behaviours.
• Assess the client's progress towards their treatment goals. Identify any new issues or challenges that have emerged.
• Include your clinical impressions or diagnoses based on the data. Be sure to support these with evidence from the last session.

Conclude with the plan:

• Outline the immediate next steps for the client's treatment. This might include scheduling the next session, recommending specific interventions, or adjusting treatment plans.
• This section of a DAP note outlines goals for future client sessions. These should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART goals).
• Assign any tasks or responsibilities to the client, such as homework assignments or behaviour changes to focus on.

To make the process easier and faster, it’s smart to use EHR systems for efficient documentation and voice-to-text technology to dictate notes immediately during and after telehealth sessions.

An Example of DAP Notes in Mental Health

To illustrate how DAP notes are used in practice, let's consider an example from a therapy session:

DAP Note Example Scenario:

Client: Jane Doe

Session Date: June 5, 2025

Start Time and End Time: 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM

Therapist: Dr John Smith, Psy.D.

Data:

Jane appeared anxious, with rapid speech and fidgeting throughout the session. She reported feeling overwhelmed at work and experiencing difficulty sleeping for the past two weeks. Jane stated, "I can't shut my mind off at night. It's like I'm constantly thinking about work."

Assessment:

Jane's anxiety appears to be exacerbated by work-related stress. Her difficulty sleeping (3 hours/night) is likely contributing to her overall sense of overwhelm and decreased ability to cope with stress. There is a notable increase in her anxiety symptoms compared to the previous session (4/10 → 7/10), indicating a need for intervention to address sleep and stress management. The primary diagnosis is generalized anxiety disorder (F41.1).

Plan:

Introduce cognitive-behavioral health strategies (CBT) to help Jane manage her anxiety and work-related stress. Recommend practising relaxation techniques before bedtime to improve sleep hygiene. Schedule a follow-up session in one week to assess progress and adjust the treatment plan as necessary. Assign Jane the task of keeping a sleep diary to monitor her sleep patterns and identify potential triggers for her insomnia.

5 Common Mistakes When Writing DAP Notes (and How to Avoid Them)

Even seasoned practitioners can fall into habits that weaken the quality, clarity, and compliance of their DAP notes. Here are some frequent pitfalls and how to get rid of them.

#1. Mixing facts with opinions in the “Data” section

Make sure to avoid including interpretations, assumptions, or feelings in the Data section instead of sticking to observable facts. Just limit the Data section to objective, measurable information—direct quotes, behaviours, appearance, and vital signs:

#2. Writing vague assessments

Using non-specific language like “client seems better” or “mood improved” without measurable indicators is a common mistake. Anchor assessments to concrete evidence: e.g., “Client rated anxiety as 4/10 today, down from 7/10 last session.”

#3. Omitting key session metadata

Don’t forget to record essential details like session date, start/end times, location, and client ID. Use a standardised template that prompts you to fill in all compliance-critical information.

#4. Overloading with irrelevant details

Writing progress notes with every single detail of the session makes them hard to scan and less focused. Your task is to prioritise clinically relevant information: what impacts diagnosis, treatment, or outcomes.

#5. Neglecting confidentiality

Do not include identifiable third-party information or unnecessary personal details. Keep notes client-focused and avoid extraneous identifiers unless clinically necessary.

Creating a pre-formatted DAP note template in your EHR system can drastically reduce the risk of these errors, improve compliance, and save documentation time.

Use the Medesk Pre-built DAP Note Template

Writing DAP notes is an easy and convenient way to record a client's progress during psychotherapy. No therapist knows how many sessions a client will need to improve their quality of life. Nor does he or she know how many times clinical notes will have to be filled out. Dozens? Hundreds of times?

To optimise the time spent with the patient in a session, use practice management software with ready-made templates for the main types of therapy notes.

With our template library, you can quickly create different types of notes, health packages and treatment plans, send online forms to patients, use the ICD-10 database, and create your own unique templates for your private practice.

Most importantly, all client’s diagnosis data is securely protected, stored in the cloud and accessible at any time. Save up to 5 hours a week and countless nerve cells with our free offer.

Comparing DAP, BIRP and SOAP Notes

While DAP notes are a valuable tool for many mental health professionals, they are not the only method of documentation.

Other structured approaches, like SOAP notes and BIRP notes, offer different ways to organise information and may be better suited for certain settings or client needs.

The table below compares DAP, SOAP, and BIRP notes so you can quickly see which format works best for your practice.

DAP vs. SOAP vs. BIRP: What’s the Difference?

These three note-taking formats help clinicians document sessions, but each serves a different purpose:

1. DAP is simple and concise.
2. SOAP separates subjective and objective data.
3. and BIRP focuses on interventions and client responses.

Knowing the differences helps you choose the format that fits your workflow and compliance needs.

Key Differences Between DAP and SOAP Notes

Structure and Focus

DAP notes are perfect for mental health professionals who want to capture both clear observations and clinical insights without getting bogged down in too many details.

On the other hand, SOAP notes break things down into four parts: Subjective, Objective, Assessment, and Plan. This extra step of separating what the patient says from what the clinician observes is especially helpful in medical or team-based settings where clarity is key.

Flexibility

With DAP notes, there’s more room to blend subjective impressions and objective facts together in the Data section, making it easier and faster to document certain therapy sessions.

SOAP notes, however, ask you to keep subjective and objective info completely separate, which can make your notes more detailed but might take a bit more time.

Where They’re Used

You’ll often see DAP notes in mental health practices focused on tracking progress, understanding client engagement, and planning treatment.

SOAP notes are used broadly: from doctors’ offices to nursing and physical therapy, where it’s important to clearly distinguish between what the patient reports and what the clinician observes.

What are DARP notes?

Maybe you also heard of DARP notes. They are especially popular in behavioural health and addiction treatment documentation process because they highlight not only the clinician’s assessment but also the client’s response (R) to interventions during the session.

This extra “R” section helps capture immediate outcomes, such as changes in mood, which can be essential to show a clear cause-and-effect between your approach and the client’s reaction.

FAQ About DAP Notes

#1. What are DAP notes?

→ DAP notes are a simple, structured way to document therapy sessions, capturing Data, Assessment, and Plan clearly. Medesk’s templates make writing these notes faster and easier.

#2. Who uses DAP notes?

→ Mental health pros like psychologists, psychiatrists, and social workers use DAP notes to document client progress, treatment plans, and session details in a clear and efficient manner.

#3. How do DAP notes differ from SOAP notes?

→ DAP combines subjective and objective info in one section, while SOAP separates them. DAP notes suit mental health contexts, focusing on therapeutic progress.

#4. What are common mistakes to avoid when writing DAP notes?

→ Avoid mixing opinions in the Data section, vague assessments, missing session details, and confidentiality breaches.

#5. What are DARP notes?

→ DARP notes add a “Response” section to the DAP format to track client reactions during sessions. This makes them useful in behavioral health or addiction treatment, where tracking outcomes during the session is crucial.

#6. Can Medesk help with DAP note compliance?

→ Yes! Medesk ensures your notes meet professional standards, securely storing client data and freeing up your time.