How is the DAP note different from the SOAP note?

DAP puts what the client reported and what you observed in one Data section, each attributed. SOAP keeps them in two. Assessment and Plan are written the same way in both.

What if my recap is only a few sentences?

Then the note is short. Each section holds what you said and nothing more. A brief recap is not padded out.

Does the Assessment link back to the treatment goals?

When you mention a goal, yes: the note connects what happened in the session to it explicitly. A goal you did not mention is not brought in.

Will it turn my impressions into a diagnosis?

No. Diagnostic language appears only if you used it, with the hedge you gave it. Otherwise the note describes symptoms and behavior.

Say what happened, your read and the plan. Get back a DAP note.

Verbato writes a DAP progress note from your session recording or your dictated recap. A DAP note is a therapy progress note in three parts: Data, what was said and observed in the session; Assessment, the clinician's reading of it; and Plan, what comes next.

For clinicians who keep their session notes in DAP format.

Start with a recording

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Without an account, your recording is held for 24 hours. It starts when you create your account; if you don't, it is deleted.
Your recordings are never used to train or improve models.

Your recording is saved for 24 hours. It starts when you create your account.

What you say, and the DAP progress note you get back

Illustrative example

The transcript excerpt and the document are written to show the format. Every name, figure and quote is invented.

What you say · transcript excerpt

client told me they had one argument with their partner this week and left before it escalated they were calm and held steady eye contact while describing it it's the first time they've used the time-out strategy outside session so that's progress toward the goal of managing conflict without shouting next session we review the time-out plan with the partner present and we meet again in two weeks

appears in this excerpt

What comes back · DAP progress note

Data

The client reported one argument with their partner this week, which they left before it escalated. The clinician observed a calm presentation and steady eye contact while describing it. (appears in this excerpt)

Assessment

The client applied the time-out strategy outside session for the first time — progress toward the stated goal of managing conflict without shouting. (appears in this excerpt)

Plan

Review the time-out plan with the partner present next session. Next session in two weeks. (appears in this excerpt)

Illustrative example

End of the illustrative example. Neither the excerpt nor the document was produced by Verbato.

How your DAP progress note is written

Report and observation share one section, each attributed to client or clinician.
Behavioral, observable language throughout, and the person is “the client”.
Next steps are yours as stated: homework, referrals, the next session.
No symptom, quote, diagnosis or plan is added that was not said.

Your format, not ours

The sections of your DAP progress note and the way it is written are yours to change. To fix a document, say what is wrong in your own words.

1You correct it
“Give me more detail in the Assessment.”
That DAP progress note changes. Nothing else does.
2You say it again
Make the same correction on a later DAP progress note and Verbato asks: “You've changed this before. Always?”
3You decide
Answer “Always” and it is kept as a rule, applied from your next DAP progress note on. Answer “Just this once” and nothing is kept. Documents already written stay as they are, and nothing becomes a rule unless you confirm it.
4Your rules
I write “Assessment” in more detail.Undo
Every rule you have kept is listed, and you can undo any of them. An undone rule stops applying from your next DAP progress note.

How it works

Upload a file, paste a link, record in your browser, or send a voice note by Telegram or email. Verbato makes a word-for-word transcript, which you can edit and which stays beside the document. Your DAP progress note is written from it, in minutes.

Recording limits

A recording made in your browser can run up to 30 min on every plan; a longer session goes in as a file you upload. A free account takes recordings of up to 40 min each; for longer ones, see pricing.

Your recording

Deleted after 7 days by default, together with its transcript and documents. You can keep a project longer, up to your plan's limit. Deleting a recording leaves a receipt you can download. Nothing you record is used to train or improve AI models.

Questions about the DAP progress note

How is the DAP note different from the SOAP note?: DAP puts what the client reported and what you observed in one Data section, each attributed. SOAP keeps them in two. Assessment and Plan are written the same way in both.
What if my recap is only a few sentences?: Then the note is short. Each section holds what you said and nothing more. A brief recap is not padded out.
Does the Assessment link back to the treatment goals?: When you mention a goal, yes: the note connects what happened in the session to it explicitly. A goal you did not mention is not brought in.
Will it turn my impressions into a diagnosis?: No. Diagnostic language appears only if you used it, with the hedge you gave it. Otherwise the note describes symptoms and behavior.

Dictate the recap. Read the note. On to the next client.

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