Therapists spend up to 35% of their work week on documentation. For many mental health professionals, this administrative load isn’t just frustrating. It’s a leading driver of burnout.
AI therapy note tools promise to help, but finding one that respects your values, protects client data, and supports your clinical judgment can be overwhelming. You need more than speed. You need ethical, accurate, and compliant support that aligns with the realities of both in-person and online sessions.
In this guide, we’ll:
Explore how to evaluate the best AI for therapy notes
Tools that reduce administrative burden without compromising quality
Highlight privacy-first options that are built specifically for mental health care
Key Criteria for Evaluating AI Therapy Note Tools
Choosing the right AI tool for therapy notes is about protecting your clients, preserving clinical integrity, and improving your workflow without adding new risks. Accuracy and Clinical Understanding
AI therapy note tools should be trained on language used in real therapy sessions and capable of producing structured progress notes, including SOAP, DAP, and custom templates. The tool should adapt to your modality and help maintain note quality for documenting in-person sessions or online sessions.
Questions to ask:
Does the tool understand therapeutic nuance across different modalities?
Can it adapt to both in-person and online sessions?
Does it support the note types I use most, like treatment plans, SOAP notes, or supervision notes?
Security and Compliance
As a mental health professional, you’re responsible for protecting sensitive patient health information. That includes complying with privacy laws like HIPAA in the United States and PHIPA or PIPEDA in Canada.
The best AI tools are HIPAA-compliant, offer end-to-end encryption, and avoid storing audio recordings or session data. They also respect clinical ownership. No human review of notes. No outsourcing of sensitive content.
Read more about HIPAA-compliant AI tools, which outlines what to look for and how to evaluate compliance.
Ethical Considerations
Ethical documentation is a core part of therapeutic work. AI tools should support your clinical voice, not replace it. You maintain full responsibility for the final note, so it's critical that your AI assistant improves your accuracy and workflow, without undermining trust in the therapeutic relationship.
For more guidance on responsible use, read about the ethics of using AI for therapy notes.
Practical Features
Beyond security and ethics, your AI tool should be practical. Look for support with writing SOAP notes, smart treatment plans that pull from session content, and flexible note formats for different client needs. The following features can ease the burden of documentation without disrupting your process:
Searchable summaries
AI-generated session notes
Monthly unlimited notes
Integrations
The best AI therapy tools connect smoothly with how you already work. Some offer integrations with popular EHRs, secure cloud storage, Google Docs, or platforms like SimplePractice. These can save time and reduce the need to jump between systems, but it’s essential to check how each integration handles client data. Make sure any connected tool maintains the same privacy and security standards as your main platform, especially when transmitting or storing sensitive information.
Pricing
AI note tools range from free plans with basic features to robust paid tiers. Some offer free trial with no credit card required, while others charge based on the number of therapy sessions or notes. It’s important to consider whether the pricing includes monthly unlimited notes, flexible features, and support for solo or group practices. Cost-effective tools should scale with your caseload without hidden fees.
Best AI Therapy Notes Tools
Below, we’ve reviewed the top AI tools built for mental health professionals. Each one offers different strengths depending on your needs, practice size, and privacy expectations.
Klarify - Best Privacy‑Focused AI Therapy Notes
Klarify is a therapist-first AI note assistant built to support mental health professionals with ethical, accurate, and secure documentation.
Key Features:
AI-generated notes for in-person, virtual, or uploaded sessions
Supports 19+ note types (SOAP, DAP, BIRP, CBT, IFS, and more) and custom templates
Notes generated in English, with translation options for Canadian French and Spanish
Works with all EHRs and telehealth platforms. No integration needed
Canadian company that ensures all data is stored in Canada
Does not use your data to train an AI model
Compliance & Privacy:
Klarify meets HIPAA, PHIPA, and PIPEDA standards. All audio is processed in a secure, encrypted environment and permanently deleted after note generation. No recordings are stored, and no humans ever access your session data.
Pricing:
A free plan is available with up to 10 sessions per month. Paid annual plans start at $15/month for 70 sessions, with higher tiers offering up to unlimited sessions, priority support, and early access to new features.
All plans include a 14-day free trial with no credit card required.
Best for:
Therapists looking for structured, clinically sound notes without compromising privacy. Especially well-suited for Canadian practitioners or any mental health professional who values security, control, and ease of use.
Supanote - Best for Fast, Structured Notes in High-Volume Workflows
Supanote is a HIPAA-compliant AI note assistant built for therapists who want quick, accurate documentation with minimal effort. It supports a variety of session types (in-person, telehealth, dictation, audio uploads) and generates clear, clinically appropriate notes in your preferred format.
Therapists often describe Supanote as intuitive and time-saving, reducing weekly note-taking time to just 15 minutes. The AI is trained on psychotherapy sessions and captures the right level of detail: fact-based, respectful, and written like a seasoned clinician.
Key Features:
Generates therapy notes from recorded, dictated, or uploaded sessions
Supports 8+ note types, including SOAP, DAP, GIRP, treatment plans, and intake formats
Adapts to your writing style and custom templates. No training needed
Supports transcription in 120+ languages; final notes provided in English
Workflow dashboard helps track session volume and pending notes
Compliance & Privacy:
Supanote is fully compliant with HIPAA. Audio recordings are deleted immediately after transcription, and all personal identifiers are removed from notes. Notes are encrypted, therapist-owned, and fully deletable at any time.
Pricing:
Supanote offers a 14-day free trial with access to all features and up to 10 sessions. Paid annual plans start at $29.99/month for up to 40 notes (Starter), $49.99/month for up to 120 notes with priority support (Pro), and $89.99/month for unlimited notes and group session support (XL).
Best for:
Therapists with a high caseload who want fast, structured documentation without compromising privacy. A strong fit for both solo practitioners and growing group practices.
Quill - Best for Privacy-First Dictation and Therapist-Led Notes
Quill is an AI therapy note tool built for therapists who want quick, documentation without recording client sessions. Instead of transcribing full conversations, Quill generates notes from your own summaries (typed or dictated), giving you full control over what’s included.
Key Features:
Generates notes from post-session summaries (spoken or written)
Supports SOAP, DAP, treatment plans, supervision notes, and custom formats
Unlimited notes and treatment plans on all plans
Customizable templates and personalizable tone
Works with all EHRs via copy and paste. No integrations needed
Compliance & Privacy:
Quill is HIPAA-compliant and signs BAAs with all technology partners. It does not record sessions, store data, or use content to train AI models. Notes and summaries are never saved, protecting client privacy by design.
Pricing:
Free trial available with no credit card required. The standard plan is $20/month for unlimited notes, with team pricing starting at $16/month per team member.
Best for:
Therapists who prefer providing their own summaries and want a privacy-first tool that never records or stores client data.
Mentalyc - Best for Insight-Rich Notes and Clinical Growth
Mentalyc is a clinical intelligence platform designed for therapists who want more than basic AI documentation. It helps you generate structured notes, create SMART treatment plans, and reflect on your sessions through real-time feedback and alliance metrics.
Key Features:
Supports SOAP, DAP, intake, and customizable note templates
SMART treatment plans with built-in progress tracking
Alliance Ginie™ offers feedback, session insights, and client relationship data
Transcribes in-person and telehealth sessions, or accepts audio/text recaps
Designed for insurance-ready, supervision-friendly documentation
Compliance & Privacy:
HIPAA-compliant with BAAs available. Recordings are securely processed and encrypted, and client data is handled with strict privacy protocols.
Pricing:
Mentalyc offers a 14-day free trial with 15 notes. Annual plans start at $14.99/month for small caseloads, with higher tiers offering more note volume, additional client types, alliance tracking, and group therapy features.
Best for:
Therapists looking to save time on notes while gaining deeper clinical insights and feedback for continuous growth.
Upheal – Best for AI Insights and Enterprise-Ready Features
Upheal is an AI-powered note-taking platform built specifically for mental health providers. It helps therapists reduce documentation time, generate clinically detailed notes, and access session-level insights.
Key Features:
AI-generated progress notes in multiple formats: SOAP, DAP, BIRP, EMDR, SIRP, and more
SMART treatment plans with insurance-ready language
Captures sessions via live calls, audio uploads, or typed summaries
Advanced analytics, session insights, and modality-based intervention tracking
Supports individuals, couples, families, and group therapy
Compliance & Privacy:
Upheal complies with HIPAA, PHIPA, PIPEDA, GDPR, and SOC 2 Type II. Audio recordings are deleted by default, and sensitive data is encrypted and tracked with full therapist control. Client consent is required before any session is processed.
Pricing:
Offers a free plan with unlimited notes from typed or dictated summaries. Paid annual plans start at $19/month for core features and $69/month for premium access, including AI-powered video sessions, custom prompts, and advanced analytics.
Best for:
Therapists and organizations looking for an all-in-one solution that combines fast documentation, AI-driven treatment planning, and meaningful clinical insights, without compromising data security.
Implementation Guide: Getting Started Ethically and Effectively
After exploring top AI note-taking tools, the next step is implementing them with care. Here’s how to get started responsibly.
Client Consent and Transparency
Before using any AI note assistant, always explain its role in the therapeutic process. Clients should know how their data is handled, even if you’re not recording sessions.
Checklist for ethical consent:
Clearly explain what the AI tool does and why you’re using it
Share how client data (recordings, summaries) is processed and deleted
Let clients opt out of AI-generated notes if they prefer
Include AI disclosure in your informed consent form
Revisit consent if you change tools or expand usage
Best Practices for Trial Periods
Many AI tools offer a free trial. Take advantage of it. Test multiple platforms to find one that matches your clinical style, workflow, and privacy expectations.
Questions to ask during the trial:
Are the notes clinically accurate and written in my voice?
Does it support my preferred note types and session formats?
How easy is it to review, edit, and export notes?
What privacy practices are in place (e.g., data deletion, BAA availability)?
Will this save me time without making clients feel monitored?
Before introducing any AI tool to clients, start by testing it internally. A thoughtful, client-centered trial approach ensures you choose a solution that truly enhances your care without disrupting the therapeutic relationship.
Canadian vs. US Compliance: Why Data Residency Matters
Therapists in Canada must meet both ethical and legal requirements when handling client data, and where that data is stored matters.
Unlike HIPAA, which governs privacy standards for US healthcare providers, Canadian therapists must comply with PHIPA (Ontario) or PIPEDA (federal). These laws emphasize data residency, meaning personal health information should be stored and processed within Canada, unless specific consent is given.
Key Differences Between HIPAA and PHIPA/PIPEDA
Data residency: PHIPA/PIPEDA prioritize keeping sensitive data on Canadian servers, while HIPAA allows data to be stored internationally with proper safeguards.
Consent requirements: Canadian laws often require more explicit, documented client consent for how and where data is used.
Breach notification: While both systems mandate breach reporting, Canada’s standards may differ by province and are often stricter in how data use must be disclosed.
Why This Matters for Canadian Therapists
If your AI note-taking tool stores session data on US-based servers, you may risk noncompliance, even if the tool claims to be HIPAA-compliant. Using Canadian-hosted platforms helps avoid these cross-border concerns and aligns with your provincial regulations.
Klarify is hosted entirely in Canada and built specifically to meet PHIPA and PIPEDA requirements.
Your audio and session data never leave the country.
All notes are processed and deleted in secure Canadian environments.
No recordings are stored or used to train AI to ensure ethical integrity.
While Klarify is ideal for Canadian therapists, it also works globally. International practitioners benefit from its privacy-first approach, strong encryption, and transparent handling of client information, no matter where they’re based.
Choosing AI Tools That Respect Your Values and Practice
AI note-taking tools are reshaping how mental health professionals approach documentation, freeing up time, reducing burnout, and allowing therapists to stay more present with clients. But while these tools can support clinical care, they should never override professional judgment or client-centered decision-making.
The right tool is one that aligns with your values, respects privacy, and supports your therapeutic approach, not just one that saves time. Before committing, take advantage of trials, test features thoroughly, and be transparent with clients about how AI fits into your workflow.
AI should serve as your assistant, not your replacement. Choose tools that improve your practice, protect your clients, and empower you to focus on what matters most: the human connection at the heart of therapy.
FAQs
Is it okay to use AI for therapy notes?
Yes. When used thoughtfully, AI can support clinical work by reducing administrative burden and improving consistency. However, it should never replace a therapist’s judgment. Ethical use means maintaining transparency, reviewing all outputs carefully, and ensuring AI aligns with your clinical approach.
Is there a free AI note taker for therapists?
Yes. Klarify offers a free plan that includes up to 10 sessions per month. You can record both virtual and in-person sessions (or dictate summaries afterward) and generate notes using nine basic formats (CBT, IFS, BIRP, SOAP, and DAP) with customizable templates. It’s a great way to experience therapist-first AI without any cost or commitment
What is the best AI tool for therapy notes?
There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. The best tool depends on your caseload, privacy needs, and workflow. Klarify is especially well-suited for Canadian therapists and anyone prioritizing data residency, security, and a therapist-first design.
How do I get client consent for AI therapy notes?
Be upfront about how you use AI. Explain what the tool does, how data is handled, and get documented consent. Sample language might include: “This tool helps me write session notes more efficiently. It does not replace my clinical judgment, and your data is never sold or used for training AI models.”
See Klarify's consent form as an example.
Are AI therapy notes HIPAA compliant?
Many tools are, but always verify. Look for HIPAA certification, signed Business Associate Agreements (BAAs), and clear data handling practices. For Canadian therapists, ensure the platform also meets PHIPA and PIPEDA requirements.
