SOAP Notes: UK Examples, Free Template and Common Errors

If you're in private practice in the UK, you've probably written SOAP notes. SOAP is widely used in therapy and counselling. BACP and UKCP don't require any particular format, but SOAP is a clear, structured way to record sessions.

But here's the problem most therapists face: writing them properly takes time. After six sessions in a day, the last thing you want to do is spend another hour at your desk. This guide walks you through exactly what goes in each section, with real examples, so you can write better notes faster.

What are SOAP notes?

SOAP is an acronym: Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan. The format was originally developed in medicine but has been widely adopted in therapy, counselling, and mental health practice because it creates a consistent, auditable record of each session.

In the UK, BACP expects members to keep adequate, accurate records of their work. While BACP doesn't mandate a specific format, many private practitioners use SOAP because it suits audit, support clinical supervision, and provide a clear record if notes are ever requested by a court or insurance company.

What goes in each section

S — Subjective

This is what the client reports — their words, feelings, concerns, and self-assessment. Write in third person. Don't include your interpretations here, just what the client brought to the session.

Good example (CBT session):
"Client reported significantly increased anxiety over the past week, describing it as 'worse than it's been in months.' Identified upcoming appraisal at work as the primary trigger. Reported difficulty sleeping, poor concentration, and avoidance of social situations. Client stated: 'I know it's irrational but I can't stop catastrophising.'"

Good example (person-centred session):
"Client arrived visibly distressed, disclosing that their relationship of eight years had ended unexpectedly. Described feeling 'completely numb' and struggling to engage with daily tasks. Expressed uncertainty about their identity outside the relationship."

Common mistakes in the S section:

• Including your own clinical judgments (save those for Assessment)
• Being too vague — "client discussed anxiety" tells you nothing useful
• Using client names or identifying details

O — Objective

Your clinical observations — what you noticed, not what the client said. This includes presentation, affect, body language, engagement, and any measurable data.

Good example:
"Client presented with tense posture, spoke rapidly, and made limited eye contact throughout. Affect congruent with reported anxiety. PHQ-9 score: 14 (moderate depression). Completed a thought record in session, identifying two automatic thoughts with prompting."

What to include in the O section:

• Presentation and appearance (if clinically relevant)
• Affect and mood
• Level of engagement
• Any risk indicators observed
• Scores from standardised measures (PHQ-9, GAD-7, CORE-10)
• Significant non-verbal communication

A — Assessment

This is your professional analysis — drawing together what the client reported and what you observed to form a clinical picture. This is where your expertise is most visible. It should demonstrate your clinical reasoning, not just describe what happened.

Good example (CBT):
"Client's anxiety appears driven by core beliefs around performance and fear of negative evaluation, consistent with previous formulation. Catastrophic thinking patterns are active and intensifying in anticipation of the appraisal. Some progress evident in client's ability to recognise distorted thinking, though challenging automatic thoughts remains difficult under high stress. No safeguarding concerns identified."

Always include in the A section:

• A brief risk assessment (even if low risk — record that you considered it)
• Progress towards therapeutic goals
• Any emerging clinical concerns
• Response to interventions used

P — Plan

Next steps — what you'll focus on next session, any between-session tasks, referrals, or changes to your approach.

Good example:
"Continue CBT approach with focus on cognitive restructuring around performance anxiety. Client agreed to complete thought record before appraisal. Discussed grounding techniques for acute anxiety. Next session in one week. If client's distress escalates significantly before next session, they have contact details for Samaritans and agreed to contact GP if needed."

SOAP notes across different modalities

SOAP notes for CBT

CBT sessions map naturally onto SOAP. The S captures the client's reported thoughts and feelings, the O includes any behavioural observations or test scores, the A records your cognitive formulation and progress on specific targets, and the P outlines the next CBT intervention and homework.

SOAP notes for person-centred therapy

SOAP can feel clinical for person-centred work, but it's still useful. The S captures the client's phenomenological experience in their own words, the O records your empathic observations, the A reflects on the therapeutic relationship and the client's self-actualising process, and the P is often brief — "continue to offer unconditional positive regard and follow client's lead."

SOAP notes for psychodynamic therapy

The A section is particularly important in psychodynamic work, where you record your interpretation of unconscious processes, defences, and transference. The O section might note significant moments of connection or rupture in the therapeutic relationship.

How long should SOAP notes be?

In private practice, most therapists aim for 150-300 words per note. Long enough to be clinically meaningful, short enough to write efficiently. If you're spending more than 15-20 minutes per note, something isn't working — either your process or your format.

BACP guidance on clinical notes

BACP expects records to be accurate, stored securely and handled lawfully. It's good practice to write notes promptly after the session and keep identifying details to a minimum. There is no statutory retention period for private counselling records: BACP says private practitioners may keep notes for a minimum of three years after therapy ends, and many keep adult records for six or seven years. Set a period you can justify and state it in your privacy notice.

BACP hasn't published specific guidance on AI clinical notes. Its Ethical Framework still applies: be open with clients about the tools you use, keep accurate records you've reviewed, and protect confidentiality. NoteSono includes a client consent template.

How to write SOAP notes faster

The most effective technique is to write immediately after the session. Many therapists now speak a post-session summary into their phone immediately after a session, then expand it into a full SOAP note. AI tools like NoteSono take this further — you speak a short voice summary and the AI drafts a structured SOAP note for you to review. SOAP is included on the free plan, so you can create a free account and try it.

SOAP note template

Alternatives to SOAP notes

SOAP isn't the only option. Consider DAP notes for a more concise format, BIRP notes for CBT and intervention-focused work, or Narrative notes for humanistic approaches. NoteSono supports 20 formats and lets you choose the format for each note.

Related reading

See a real SOAP note example

CBT therapy notes — BIRP format

All 20 note formats explained

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