Templates / BIRP
BIRP Note Template
Built around what you did and how the client responded — ideal for documenting interventions.
BIRP notes put the therapist's intervention and the client's response at the center of the record. That makes them the format of choice when you need to demonstrate that treatment is active and that it is working — common in behavioral health agencies and programs funded by outcomes.
If a reviewer asks "what did you actually do in this session, and what happened?", a BIRP note answers in two sections.
The template
- BehaviorThe client's presentation and reported behavior: what brought them in today, observable behavior, and relevant statements.
- InterventionWhat you did: techniques, psychoeducation, skills taught, and the rationale.
- ResponseHow the client responded to the intervention, in session and since the last one.
- PlanNext steps, homework, and the plan for the following session.
- Follow-UpsAction items.
Copy these headings into your notes app, or use them built-in in AfterSession.
When to use it
Use BIRP in agency and program settings, for behaviorally focused treatment (CBT, DBT skills, exposure work), or whenever documenting the intervention–response link matters more than a detailed mental-status description.
Section-by-section guide with example
Behavior
The client's presentation and reported behavior: what brought them in today, observable behavior, and relevant statements.
Intervention
What you did: techniques, psychoeducation, skills taught, and the rationale.
Response
How the client responded to the intervention, in session and since the last one.
Plan
Next steps, homework, and the plan for the following session.
Follow-Ups
Action items.
The example is a fictional composite written for illustration. It does not describe a real person.
Common mistakes
- Listing interventions without a rationale. "Used CBT" is not an intervention; "challenged the catastrophic prediction about fainting using evidence-for/against" is.
- Describing Response only as "client was receptive". Record concrete change: ratings, statements, behavior.
- Letting Behavior drift into Assessment. Keep it descriptive; your interpretation belongs in Plan rationale if needed.
Frequently asked questions
Is BIRP better than SOAP?
Neither is better; they emphasize different things. SOAP emphasizes clinical reasoning (Assessment). BIRP emphasizes the intervention and the client's response. Agencies often choose BIRP for outcomes documentation.
Can BIRP notes include a risk assessment?
Yes. Most clinicians note risk in Behavior (what was observed or reported) and in Plan (what safety steps were taken).