SOAP Note Template

Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan — the most widely used progress-note format in counseling and therapy.

SOAP notes were born in medical settings but have become the default progress-note format in psychotherapy, counseling, and social work. Their strength is that they separate what the client reports from what you observe, and both from your clinical judgement — which is exactly what a supervisor, an insurer, or a court will want to see.

A good SOAP note is short. Most therapists aim for 5–10 minutes of writing right after the session, while the details are fresh.

The template

SubjectiveWhat the client says about their experience, in their own words where possible. Presenting concerns, mood as they describe it, events since last session, direct quotes.
ObjectiveWhat you observe: affect, appearance, speech, behavior in session, and any measures or scores. Facts, not interpretations.
AssessmentYour clinical impression: how the subjective and objective fit together, progress toward goals, and any change in risk. This is the only section where interpretation belongs.
PlanWhat happens next: interventions for the coming session, homework, referrals, frequency of sessions, and anything you will follow up on.
Follow-UpsConcrete action items — yours or the client's — that you want to see in one place before the next session.

Copy these headings into your notes app, or use them built-in in AfterSession.

When to use it

Use SOAP when you need notes that are defensible and easy for a third party to read: insurance documentation, agency work, supervised practice, or any setting with audits. If your work is less clinical (coaching, peer support), DAP or a simpler format may fit better.

Section-by-section guide with example

Subjective

What the client says about their experience, in their own words where possible. Presenting concerns, mood as they describe it, events since last session, direct quotes.

Example Client reports feeling "more on edge than usual" this week after a conflict with a coworker. States sleep has been 5–6 hours per night. Denies any change in appetite. Says the breathing exercise "helped a little" on two occasions.

Objective

What you observe: affect, appearance, speech, behavior in session, and any measures or scores. Facts, not interpretations.

Example Arrived on time, casually dressed. Affect anxious, congruent with reported mood. Speech slightly pressured at the start of session, normalized after ~15 minutes. Fidgeting with hands while describing the conflict. GAD-7 administered: 12 (moderate), down from 15 at intake.

Assessment

Your clinical impression: how the subjective and objective fit together, progress toward goals, and any change in risk. This is the only section where interpretation belongs.

Example Anxiety symptoms remain in the moderate range but show a downward trend over three sessions. Client is beginning to apply coping skills outside session and can identify the trigger–response pattern. No risk indicators present. Progress toward Goal 1 (reduce daily anxiety to mild range) is on track.

Plan

What happens next: interventions for the coming session, homework, referrals, frequency of sessions, and anything you will follow up on.

Example Continue weekly sessions. Next session: introduce thought record for workplace triggers. Homework: practice paced breathing twice daily and log one anxiety episode using the 0–10 scale. Re-administer GAD-7 in two sessions.

Follow-Ups

Concrete action items — yours or the client's — that you want to see in one place before the next session.

Example Send the thought-record handout by Thursday. Check whether client scheduled the GP appointment about sleep.

The example is a fictional composite written for illustration. It does not describe a real person.

Common mistakes

Putting interpretation in the Objective section ("client seemed defensive" is an assessment; "client crossed arms and gave one-word answers" is an observation).
Writing a Plan that is just "continue therapy". A plan should be specific enough that a covering therapist could run the next session.
Quoting the client at length. One or two short quotes are useful; a transcript is not.

Frequently asked questions

How long should a SOAP note be?

Most therapists keep SOAP notes to 150–300 words. The goal is a note a colleague could read in under two minutes and understand where the treatment stands.

Is SOAP the same as a psychotherapy note?

No. A SOAP note is a progress note and is part of the clinical record. Psychotherapy (process) notes are your private working notes and are kept separately with stronger protections.

Can I use SOAP notes for coaching?

You can, but the Objective and Assessment sections often feel clinical for coaching work. Many coaches prefer a goals / progress / actions structure instead.