BIRP Note Example: Battling Depression

Quill generated this note with AI from the summary that was provided. The therapist can then copy-and-paste the note into their current EHR platform.

Behavior:
Client reported feelings of depression and lack of motivation, stating difficulty in getting out of bed and a loss of interest in previously enjoyed activities. Client also expressed feelings of disconnection from friends and described her emotional state as "It’s like I’m stuck in a dark hole and can’t find a way out."

Intervention:
The therapist conducted a 40-minute phone session, discussing the symptoms of depression and the importance of self-compassion with the client. A small goal was set for the client to take a short walk daily.

Response:
Client acknowledged the struggle with depressive symptoms and sounded hesitant but agreed to the plan of taking short walks and journaling about her feelings and any noticed changes.

Plan:
Client was assigned homework to journal her feelings and any changes. The next session is scheduled for next week, with a continuation of the current treatment plan.

Client Session Summary:

Here's the summary of this client session. Remember, Quill does not record the client session. A therapist would provide a summary (like the one below) after the session is over.

Client had a 40-minute phone session today. She talked about feeling depressed and unmotivated, saying that even getting out of bed is a struggle some days. Ummm, she mentioned losing interest in activities she used to enjoy and feeling disconnected from her friends. She said, "It’s like I’m stuck in a dark hole and can’t find a way out." We discussed the symptoms of depression and the importance of self-compassion. We set a small goal for her to take a short walk each day. Her homework is to journal about her feelings and any changes she notices. Client sounded a bit hesitant but agreed to try. Our next session is scheduled for next week.

Other Note Formats:

Looking for a different note format? Quill can generate AI therapy notes for those too!

More About BIRP Notes:

From even more examples, to an overview of the format in general, to templates, to a cheat sheet, here's everything you need to know about BIRP notes.