Templates / CBT-Style
CBT Session Note Template
Tracks thoughts and beliefs, interventions, and homework — the three things that drive cognitive-behavioral work.
Cognitive-behavioral therapy is structured, and its notes should be too. A CBT note that records the thoughts and beliefs worked on, the interventions applied, and the homework assigned makes the next session almost plan itself.
This template adds a quick client-state check at the top so you can see mood trends across sessions at a glance.
The template
- Client StateA quick read on mood and presentation at the start of session. Many therapists use a 0–10 mood rating plus one or two descriptors.
- Thoughts & BeliefsThe automatic thoughts, assumptions, or core beliefs that came up and were worked on.
- InterventionsWhat you did: thought records, behavioral experiments, exposure, psychoeducation, and so on.
- ObservationsAnything you noticed that matters for the formulation: engagement, avoidance, shifts in affect.
- HomeworkThe between-session task, stated concretely.
- Next SessionWhere you intend to pick up.
Copy these headings into your notes app, or use them built-in in AfterSession.
When to use it
Use it for any CBT-informed work: anxiety, depression, OCD, insomnia, or skills-based treatment. If you bill insurance, pair it with a SOAP-style assessment or use SOAP instead.
Section-by-section guide with example
Client State
A quick read on mood and presentation at the start of session. Many therapists use a 0–10 mood rating plus one or two descriptors.
Thoughts & Beliefs
The automatic thoughts, assumptions, or core beliefs that came up and were worked on.
Interventions
What you did: thought records, behavioral experiments, exposure, psychoeducation, and so on.
Observations
Anything you noticed that matters for the formulation: engagement, avoidance, shifts in affect.
Homework
The between-session task, stated concretely.
Next Session
Where you intend to pick up.
The example is a fictional composite written for illustration. It does not describe a real person.
Common mistakes
- Not recording belief ratings before and after. They are the cheapest outcome measure you have.
- Vague homework ("practice challenging thoughts"). Specific tasks get done; vague ones do not.
- Skipping the Observations section once sessions feel routine — that is often where the formulation grows.
Frequently asked questions
Do CBT notes need to follow SOAP?
No. SOAP is one option. Many CBT therapists prefer a structure that mirrors the session agenda: mood check, review of homework, work on thoughts/behaviors, new homework.
How do I document a thought record in my note?
Summarize the key thought, the evidence considered, and the balanced alternative, plus belief ratings before and after. The full worksheet stays with the client or in your process notes.