⚖️What purpose should psychotherapy notes serve?

This is a new series that will explore note taking in therapeutic work over the next few weeks. Have a pressing question about this? Let me know!

Outside India, psychotherapists' notes are often structured to meet insurance reimbursement requirements. Within organizations, they serve as essential tools for therapeutic audits and information transfer, adhering to specific formats.

But what about therapists in private practice, for whom neither insurance nor organizational audits are a concern? Here are some purposes it can serve-

• Tool for reflection to help in processing the session and improve approach.

• Support in monitoring client progress by providing a record of improvements, challenges and patterns over a period of time.

• Assist in recall. One will have to consider what is important to be recalled.

• Aide in treatment planning and conceptualisations depending on the modality.

• Contribute to professional development by assisting in supervision and self evaluation.

• Facilitate the transfer of care to another psychologist in case that is a requirement.

Until next week,
Suvrita

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