DAP notes—short for Data, Assessment, and Plan—are concise clinical documentation tools widely used within counseling and mental health settings. Essentially, DAP provides a streamlined alternative to traditional SOAP notes by merging subjective and objective information into one cohesive narrative, followed by professional assessment and future planning.

Mental health clinicians typically prefer DAP notes for their efficiency and readability, making them ideal for capturing critical session details without unnecessary complexity.

In this guide, we’ll explore how to write clear and impactful DAP notes, outlining key components, step-by-step guidance, and practical examples for therapists.

Key Components of DAP Notes

DAP notes are divided into three clear sections—Data, Assessment, and Plan—each serving a specific purpose in documenting therapy progress.

1. Data (D)

The Data section combines what would traditionally be labeled as “Subjective” and “Objective” information into a succinct paragraph. This section narrates the session, offering the client's account of their progress, symptoms, and issues since the last session, along with therapist observations such as mood, affect, behavior, and appearance.

Example of Data Section:

"Peter, a 38-year-old male, reports increased anxiety and difficulty sleeping this past week due to stress at work and a recent breakup. During today's session, he appeared anxious, fidgeted frequently, and displayed physical signs of tension, including elevated heart rate. Despite anxiety, Peter engaged cooperatively and maintained good eye contact; no tearfulness noted."

2. Assessment (A)

This part involves the therapist's clinical interpretation of the session data. It addresses diagnosis, symptom progression, treatment impact, risk evaluation, and overall clinical impressions. The Assessment connects directly to the Data section and communicates how the therapist contextualizes observed behaviors and client reports.

Example of Assessment Section:

"Peter's current presentation remains consistent with Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD). His recent anxiety exacerbation is linked to identified situational stressors—work difficulties and personal loss. Peter demonstrates improved awareness of anxiety triggers and actively incorporates previously taught coping techniques (deep-breathing exercises). Risk remains low, with no evidence of suicidal or self-harm ideation. Although moderate anxiety continues, Peter shows gradual improvement managing symptoms."

3. Plan (P)

Lastly, the Plan outlines interventions and next steps. It clarifies future therapeutic approaches, home assignments, scheduling, and referrals if necessary. This section explicitly connects to the Assessment, ensuring that therapeutic strategies address identified clinical issues.

Example of Plan Section:

"Continue weekly Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) sessions targeting anxiety management. Introduce progressive muscle relaxation techniques next session to alleviate physical tension. Client assigned nightly guided breathing exercises and daily anxiety-level log as homework. Develop concrete strategies to improve work-stress management, including time management and boundary-setting discussions. Follow-up on emotional impact from recent relationship loss as needed. Next session scheduled for 11/24 at 3 PM."

Step-by-Step Writing Guide for DAP Notes

Follow these steps to ensure your DAP notes are thorough yet concise:

1. Gather Session Information

• Collect client’s subjective reports and identify key concerns.

• Note objective observations (mood, affect, behavior, physical presentations).

2. Write the Data Section Clearly

• Blend narrative client reports and your clinical observations into one succinct paragraph.

• Avoid unnecessary details; focus on symptom relevance and significant session events.

3. Provide Meaningful Clinical Assessment

• Explain diagnosis context, symptom changes, progress toward therapeutic goals, and risk assessment clearly.

• Reference specific data points ("improved eye contact", "decreased panic attacks") to support clinical reasoning.

4. Outline a Clear Treatment Plan

• Detail next-session strategies, client assignments, and therapeutic interventions.

• Explicitly align planned activities with clinical issues identified in the assessment.

Pro Tips and Best Practices for Writing DAP Notes

To write impactful DAP notes, consider these best-practice guidelines:

✅ Prioritize Conciseness – Aim for brevity. Each DAP section should be clear and concise, typically within one paragraph (around 2-4 sentences per section).

✅ Emphasize Relevance Over Length – Focus on critical clinical points rather than extraneous detail. Ensure your writing is clinically relevant for continued treatment.

✅ Capture Clinical Reasoning – Your Assessment section must articulate clear clinical judgments and interpretations based directly on the Data you provide.

✅ Compliance and Regulatory Requirements – Always include mandatory documentation details such as date, client identification, diagnosis confirmation, session duration, and modality used.

✅ Minimize Redundancy – DAP’s strength is combining Subjective and Objective into a concise Data narrative. Avoid repeating information or documenting trivial details unrelated to treatment necessity.

Sample DAP Note (Complete Example)

Using the anxiety scenario above, here’s a complete, concise DAP note suitable for therapy documentation:

Data:
"Peter, a 38-year-old male client, reports heightened anxiety and difficulty sleeping since our last session, attributing these symptoms to increased work stress and a recent breakup. During today’s session, Peter appeared anxious and restless, frequently fidgeted, and exhibited elevated heart rate when discussing work concerns. He remained cooperative and attentive throughout the session; no tearfulness was present."

Assessment:
"Peter continues to exhibit signs consistent with Generalized Anxiety Disorder, including persistent worry, insomnia, restlessness, and muscle tension, exacerbated by recent stressors at work and in his personal life. He demonstrates increased insight into his anxiety triggers and has successfully implemented coping strategies (deep breathing) taught previously, indicating modest but positive progress. No suicidal ideation or harm risks identified, and current risk level remains low."

Plan:
"Continue weekly CBT-focused therapy addressing anxiety symptoms. Next session will introduce progressive muscle relaxation exercises to help Peter manage physical anxiety symptoms. Peter is assigned a daily anxiety-level tracking log and nightly relaxation practices as homework. Additionally, we'll strategize stress-management techniques specific to workplace scenarios. Next appointment confirmed for 11/24 at 3 PM."

Conclusion

DAP notes provide therapists a concise yet thorough way to capture important session elements clearly and efficiently. By writing clear narratives, articulating clinical reasoning succinctly, and outlining actionable plans, you support therapeutic continuity and fulfill documentation requirements.

Importantly, DAP notes facilitate readability, providing necessary details without excessive documentation, benefiting both clinicians and reviewers alike.

Adapt this straightforward method to your clinical practice to maintain quality, compliance, and clarity in your mental health documentation.