SIRP notes provide mental health clinicians with a structured framework for documenting therapy sessions through four distinct components: Situation, Intervention, Response, and Plan. This documentation format helps therapists maintain consistent clinical records while capturing the essential elements of each therapeutic encounter.

Understanding how to write effective SIRP notes ensures your documentation meets professional standards, supports continuity of care, and satisfies insurance and regulatory requirements. Let's explore how this format works in practice and when it serves your clinical documentation needs best.

Key Takeaways

• SIRP notes organize session documentation into four sequential sections that capture the clinical encounter from presenting concern through treatment planning

• This format works across various clinical settings including individual therapy, group sessions, and crisis interventions, offering flexibility for different therapeutic contexts

• Proper SIRP documentation requires clear, objective language that distinguishes client presentation from therapeutic interventions and documents measurable client responses

What Are SIRP Notes?

SIRP notes are a clinical documentation format that structures therapy session records into four components: Situation, Intervention, Response, and Plan. This format guides clinicians through documenting what brought the client to session, what therapeutic actions were taken, how the client responded, and what steps come next.

The SIRP format provides an alternative to SOAP notes, offering a structure some clinicians find more intuitive for mental health documentation. Unlike medical SOAP notes that emphasize assessment and objective findings, SIRP focuses on the therapeutic interaction itself—what happened during the session and how the client engaged with interventions.

Mental health professionals across various settings use SIRP notes, including outpatient therapy practices, community mental health centers, and residential treatment facilities. The format adapts well to different therapeutic modalities and client populations.

When to Use SIRP vs SOAP or DAP

Choosing between SIRP, SOAP, and DAP formats depends on your practice setting, documentation requirements, and personal preference. Each format emphasizes different aspects of the clinical encounter.

SIRP notes work particularly well when your documentation needs to clearly highlight therapeutic interventions and client responses within the session. This format naturally emphasizes the interactive nature of therapy, making it ideal for clinicians who want their notes to reflect the therapeutic process itself.

SOAP notes may be preferable when your practice requires medical-model documentation or you're working in integrated healthcare settings. SOAP's emphasis on objective observations and formal assessment aligns with medical record standards that many insurance panels and hospital-based practices expect.

DAP notes offer the most streamlined option with just three sections: Data, Assessment, and Plan. Clinicians who value concise documentation or work in fast-paced settings sometimes prefer DAP's brevity, though this format provides less structure for documenting specific interventions.

Breakdown of SIRP Sections

Understanding each component of SIRP notes helps you write complete, clinically useful documentation. Let's examine what belongs in each section and how to write it effectively.

Situation

The Situation section captures the client's presenting concern, current state, and relevant context at the beginning of the session. This is where you document what brought the client to therapy today and any significant developments since the last session.

Write the Situation section by including:

• The client's stated reason for the session or primary concern discussed

• Observable presentation including affect, mood, and engagement level

• Relevant contextual information such as recent stressors or life events

• Current symptoms or functioning related to treatment goals

Keep this section factual and observable. Avoid interpretation or clinical judgment—save that for later sections. For example, write "Client reported feeling 'overwhelmed' by work deadlines and described difficulty sleeping for the past week" rather than "Client appeared anxious about work."

Intervention

The Intervention section documents the therapeutic actions, techniques, and approaches you used during the session. This is where you demonstrate your clinical decision-making and how you addressed the presenting situation.

Effective Intervention documentation includes:

• Specific therapeutic techniques or modalities employed

• Psychoeducation provided to the client

• Therapeutic exercises or activities completed during session

• Questions or prompts used to facilitate therapeutic exploration

Be specific about your interventions rather than vague. Write "Introduced cognitive restructuring to identify automatic thoughts related to work stress" instead of "Discussed client's thoughts about work."

Response

The Response section captures how the client reacted to your interventions—both during the session and in terms of insight or progress. This component distinguishes SIRP from formats like DAP that don't explicitly track intervention response.

Document client response by noting:

• How the client engaged with interventions

• Changes in affect, insight, or understanding during the session

• Client's verbal feedback about techniques or discussions

• Observable changes in symptoms or functioning discussed

Write responses objectively using the client's words when possible. "Client stated the cognitive restructuring 'helped me see I was jumping to conclusions' and reported feeling 'less worried'" provides clearer documentation than "Client responded well to intervention."

Plan

The Plan section outlines next steps for treatment, including homework assignments, skills to practice, scheduling considerations, and any adjustments to the treatment plan. This component ensures continuity of care and clarity about what comes next.

A comprehensive Plan includes:

• Between-session assignments or skills practice

• Topics or concerns to address in the next session

• Any referrals or coordination with other providers

• Changes to treatment frequency or approach

• Progress toward treatment goals and any plan modifications needed

Make plans specific and actionable. Rather than "Continue working on anxiety," write "Client will practice cognitive restructuring twice before next session when noticing worry; next session will focus on behavioral strategies."

Step-by-Step Guide to Writing SIRP Notes

Writing effective SIRP notes becomes more efficient with a systematic approach. Here's a practical process for creating complete, clinically sound documentation.

During the session: Take brief process notes capturing key points—the main concerns discussed, interventions you use, and the client's notable responses. These serve as memory aids when writing your formal note later.

Immediately after the session: Write your formal SIRP note while the session remains fresh. Start with the Situation section, documenting the presenting concern and client's state. This grounds the rest of your note in the clinical reality of that specific session.

Document interventions with specificity: Move to the Intervention section and name the specific techniques or approaches you employed. Include enough detail that another clinician reading your note would understand what you actually did during the session.

Capture the client's response: Write the Response section by noting how the client engaged with your interventions and any changes observed during the session.

Create an actionable plan: Conclude with a clear Plan that outlines next steps, homework, and treatment direction. Make sure your plan logically follows from the situation, interventions, and responses documented earlier.

SIRP Notes Examples

Seeing complete SIRP notes in context helps clarify how the format works across different clinical scenarios.

Individual Therapy Example

Situation: Client presented for weekly session reporting increased depressive symptoms over the past week, rating mood as 3/10. Client described withdrawing from friends, difficulty getting out of bed, and missing two days of work. Client identified triggers as anniversary of father's death and conflict with romantic partner. Affect appeared flat with limited eye contact.

Intervention: Validated client's grief response and normalized increased symptoms around anniversary date. Used behavioral activation framework to identify small, manageable activities client could commit to this week. Explored connection between withdrawal behaviors and worsening mood. Reviewed client's safety plan given increased depression; client denied suicidal ideation.

Response: Client initially expressed skepticism about behavioral activation, stating "nothing sounds enjoyable right now." After discussion, client acknowledged past pattern of feeling better after forcing engagement. Client identified three specific activities willing to attempt: calling best friend, taking 15-minute walks, and cooking one meal. Client's affect brightened slightly when discussing past positive experiences.

Plan: Client will attempt one social connection, one walk, and one cooking activity before next session. Client will track mood daily using 1-10 scale. Next session will review behavioral activation outcomes and continue processing grief. Will maintain weekly session frequency.

Group Therapy Example

Situation: Led weekly DBT skills group with six participants focusing on distress tolerance module. Two members reported using crisis coping skills during the week, three members described ongoing baseline stress, and one member appeared withdrawn and participated minimally.

Intervention: Taught TIPP skills (Temperature, Intense exercise, Paced breathing, Progressive muscle relaxation) as crisis survival strategies. Demonstrated each technique with group participation and provided rationale for physiological impact. Facilitated group discussion where members shared past experiences. Addressed withdrawn member directly with gentle invitation to participate.

Response: Five group members actively participated in skill practice and demonstration. Members who had used crisis skills this week reported that TIPP techniques aligned with what had helped them. Withdrawn member declined demonstration participation but verbally confirmed understanding and agreed to homework.

Plan: Group members will practice assigned TIPP skill and complete tracking sheet for next session. Next week will continue distress tolerance module. Will check in individually with withdrawn member before next group to assess barriers to participation.

Crisis Situation Example

Situation: Client called crisis line reporting acute suicidal ideation with plan to overdose on prescribed medications. Client stated "I can't do this anymore" and described feeling hopeless about chronic health condition and recent job loss. Client's speech was clear; client was able to engage in conversation appropriately.

Intervention: Conducted suicide risk assessment. Engaged client in safety planning, identifying reasons for living, coping strategies, and support persons. Used motivational interviewing to explore ambivalence about suicide. Contacted client's support person (sister) with client's permission; sister agreed to come stay with client immediately. Consulted with on-call provider regarding safety planning.

Response: Client's suicidal ideation decreased during call. Client identified reasons for living including nieces/nephews and pet dog. Client agreed that "things might look different in the morning" and expressed willingness to engage safety plan. Client committed verbally to calling crisis line back if ideation worsens.

Plan: Client will remain with sister for next 48 hours with medications secured by sister. Client will attend emergency appointment with regular therapist tomorrow at 10am. Client has crisis line number and emergency department information. Will follow up within 24 hours to assess ongoing safety.

Compliance and Best Practices

SIRP notes must meet legal, ethical, and regulatory standards while serving as effective clinical tools. Following these guidelines ensures your documentation protects both you and your clients.

HIPAA compliance requires that your SIRP notes balance clinical utility with privacy protection. Include information necessary for treatment and clinical decision-making, but avoid excessive detail that doesn't serve a clinical purpose.

Use objective, behavioral language rather than judgmental terminology. Write "Client arrived 20 minutes late and stated 'I forgot about the appointment'" rather than "Client was irresponsible." This protects you legally and maintains therapeutic rapport if the client reviews records.

Document what actually occurred in the session rather than what you wished had occurred. If a planned intervention didn't happen or the client didn't respond as expected, document that reality.

Include relevant safety information particularly when working with clients experiencing suicidal ideation, homicidal ideation, or abuse concerns. Your Situation and Response sections should clearly document risk assessment and your clinical reasoning.

Complete notes in a timely manner according to your state regulations and practice policies. Most jurisdictions require notes within 24-72 hours of the session.

SIRP vs SOAP vs DAP: Comparison Table

Understanding the differences between common documentation formats helps you choose the approach that works best for your practice setting.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long should a SIRP note be?

SIRP notes typically range from 200-400 words total. The Situation section usually takes 2-4 sentences, Intervention requires 3-5 sentences to document specific techniques, Response needs 2-4 sentences capturing client engagement, and Plan takes 2-4 sentences outlining next steps.

Focus on clinical relevance rather than hitting a specific word count, include what another clinician would need to understand the session and continue care.

Can I use SIRP notes for all types of therapy?

SIRP notes work well across most therapy modalities including CBT, DBT, psychodynamic therapy, and solution-focused approaches. However, some specialized settings may require specific documentation formats. Check your practice setting's requirements, insurance panel expectations, and state regulations before committing to SIRP as your standard format.

What if the client doesn't respond to my intervention during the session?

Document this honestly in your Response section. Limited or resistant responses provide valuable clinical information. Write something like "Client appeared uncertain about the intervention and stated 'I'm not sure this will work for me'; minimal change in affect observed during session." Then use your Plan section to address this by trying a different approach next time.

Do SIRP notes meet insurance requirements?

Most insurance companies accept SIRP notes as they contain essential elements insurers look for: presenting problem, treatment provided, client response, and ongoing treatment planning. However, some insurers specifically require SOAP format. Contact your insurance panels or check their provider manuals to confirm acceptable formats.

How do I document multiple issues addressed in one session using SIRP format?

You can write one SIRP note that addresses all issues, organizing each section by importance or time spent.

For example, your Situation section might state "Client presented with two primary concerns: recent panic attacks and ongoing relationship conflict." Then document what you did for each issue in your Intervention section, capture how client engaged with both topics in Response, and outline next steps for both concerns in Plan.

Takeaway

SIRP notes provide mental health clinicians with an organized framework for documenting therapy sessions that captures the therapeutic process from presenting concern through treatment planning. The four-section structure follows the natural flow of clinical work while ensuring comprehensive documentation.

Choose SIRP format when your practice setting allows flexibility in documentation structure and you value a format that explicitly highlights the interventions you provide and how clients respond to your clinical work. Remember that consistency in your documentation approach serves you better than switching between formats.

Tools like Berries AI can help streamline your SIRP note documentation by generating structured notes that follow the SIRP format while you focus entirely on your client. When administrative efficiency supports better clinical care, everyone benefits.

Professional Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional clinical judgment, supervision, or continuing education. Therapists should consult current clinical guidelines, state regulations, and their professional liability insurance requirements when establishing documentation practices.

Sources

American Psychological Association. (2007). Record Keeping Guidelines. https://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/features/record-keeping-guidelines.pdf

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. (n.d.). Health Information Privacy. https://www.hhs.gov/hipaa/for-professionals/privacy/index.html

Luepker, E. T. (2012). Record Keeping in Psychotherapy and Counseling: Protecting Confidentiality and the Professional Relationship (2nd ed.). Routledge.

Mitchell, R. W. (2007). Documentation in Counseling Records: An Overview of Ethical, Legal, and Clinical Issues (3rd ed.). American Counseling Association.

National Association of Social Workers. (2017). NASW Code of Ethics. https://www.socialworkers.org/About/Ethics/Code-of-Ethics

Wiger, D. E. (2012). The Psychotherapy Documentation Primer (3rd ed.). Wiley.