Getting Started with Mental Note AI
Install, generate your first note, and master all six formats.
Getting Started
Step 1: Install from Microsoft Office Add-ins Marketplace
Open Microsoft Word and click Get Add-ins (or Manage My Add-ins). Search for "Mental Note AI" or visit the Microsoft AppSource marketplace directly. Click Add to install the add-in to your Word account.
Step 2: Open Mental Note AI in Word
In Microsoft Word, go to the Insert tab and click the Get Add-ins button. Search for Mental Note AI, or look in My Add-ins if you've already installed it. Mental Note AI will open in a side panel.
Step 3: Sign In or Create Your Account
On first launch, sign in or create an account with your email. Free plan gives you 2,000 words per month—no credit card required.
Step 4: Generate Your First Note
Enter your session observations, pick a format, click Generate. Review, edit, insert into your document.
Generating Clinical Notes
Enter Your Session Information
Type what you observed, what the client reported, clinical concerns, progress. Details matter—the more specific, the better the note.
Select Your Note Format
Choose from SOAP, DAP, BIRP, SIRP, GIRP, or PIE. Each fits different settings and client populations—see descriptions below.
Generate and Review
Click Generate. AI creates a structured note in seconds. Review for accuracy and clinical fit.
Edit and Insert
Click Insert in Document to place the note in Word. Edit there—add signatures, dates, final touches—then save.
The Six Formats
Each format serves different clinical settings and workflows. Download free templates to see examples.
SOAP (Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan)
The gold standard. Four sections: client report, your observation, your interpretation, your plan. Used everywhere—insurance accepts it, supervisors expect it, auditors recognize it.
DAP (Data, Assessment, Plan)
Three sections—faster to write. Combines client report and your observations, then assessment and plan. Popular in agencies and community health.
BIRP (Behavior, Intervention, Response, Plan)
Behavioral focus: what you observed, what you did, how the client responded, next steps. Essential for behavioral and school-based work.
SIRP (Situation, Intervention, Response, Plan)
Crisis and intake-focused: presenting situation, your response, client's response, plan. Perfect for urgent sessions.
GIRP (Goals, Intervention, Response, Plan)
Goal-centric: specific goals addressed, interventions delivered, progress made, adjustments to plan. Insurance loves this—shows progress.
PIE (Problem, Intervention, Evaluation)
Brief, focused: problem, what you did, outcome and next steps. Fast and efficient for primary care and consultations.
The Chat Feature
Beyond note generation, Mental Note AI includes built-in chat. Use it to ask clinical questions, refine notes, brainstorm interventions, or explore case presentations.
Chat Features
- Follow-up Questions: Ask Mental Note AI questions about clinical concepts, diagnostic criteria, or treatment strategies.
- Note Refinements: Say things like "Make this more strengths-based" or "Add more detail to the assessment" and the AI will refine your note.
- Treatment Suggestions: Get ideas for evidence-based interventions for specific presenting problems.
- Clarifications: Ask the AI to explain a section of a generated note or suggest different wording.
Note: Chat interactions do not count against your word limit. Only generated notes consume words from your monthly allowance.
Managing Your Account
Account Settings
Click the Settings gear icon in the Mental Note AI add-in to manage your profile, change your password, or update your email address. All account changes are saved immediately.
Upgrade to Unlimited
Free plan: 2,000 words/month. Need more? Upgrade to Unlimited ($49/month or $490/year) for unlimited words and early access to new features.
Check Your Word Usage
In the add-in, click Usage to see how many words you've generated this month and how many remain in your allowance. This resets on the first of each calendar month.
Cancel Your Subscription
You can downgrade from Unlimited back to Free at any time in your account settings. You can also cancel your subscription entirely. No long-term contracts, no cancellation fees—your subscription remains active through the end of the current billing period.
Tips for Best Results
Be Specific
Replace "Client seemed anxious" with "Client fidgeted throughout, reported sleep disruption from worry, avoided eye contact discussing family." Specificity = better notes.
Include Relevant Clinical Details
Mention the client's presenting concern, relevant history, psychiatric symptoms, medications, current stressors, or significant life events. These details help the AI generate a clinically robust note.
Always Review and Personalize
AI drafts are starting points, not final products. Review for accuracy, add your clinical insights, include client strengths, ensure it reflects your judgment.
Use Chat for Refinements
Say "Make this more strengths-based" or "Add more detail to assessment" instead of manually editing. The AI will refine the note.
Maintain Client Privacy
De-identify in your input: use first name or client ID, not full names or identifying details.
System Requirements
- Microsoft Word: Version 2016 or later (desktop or web)
- Microsoft 365 Subscription: Active subscription required
- Operating System: Windows, Mac, or web browser
- Internet Connection: Stable internet required for note generation and account access
- Browser (for web version): Chrome, Edge, Safari, or Firefox
Frequently Asked Questions
Open Microsoft Word and click Get Add-ins (or Manage My Add-ins). Search for "Mental Note AI" or visit the Microsoft AppSource directly. Click Add to install. The add-in will appear in your Insert tab under the add-ins menu.
Mental Note AI works with Microsoft Word 2016 and later on Windows and Mac, as well as Microsoft Word Online. You'll need an active Microsoft 365 subscription and a stable internet connection. Check that your Office is up to date for best performance.
When you're generating a note, use the dropdown menu to select your preferred format (SOAP, DAP, BIRP, SIRP, GIRP, or PIE) before clicking Generate. You can also regenerate the same session notes in a different format—just select a new format and generate again. Both notes will count toward your word limit.
Absolutely. Generated notes appear in your Word document and are fully editable. You can revise any section, add clinical details, change wording, or reorganize content. Use the chat interface for major refinements, or edit directly in Word for fine-tuning. The note is yours to customize before saving.
On the free plan, you have 2,000 words per month. When you reach your limit, you can still use the chat interface to ask questions and refine existing notes, but you cannot generate new notes until your limit resets on the first of the next calendar month. Upgrade to Unlimited to generate unlimited words.
Yes. Mental Note AI runs on HIPAA-compliant infrastructure with a signed BAA on every paid plan. All notes are encrypted in transit and at rest, and we never sell your clinical data or use it to train our AI models. We do not share your data with third parties. For detailed information about our security practices and HIPAA compliance, visit our HIPAA Compliance page.
Stuck?
Email support@mentalnote.ai with your question. We respond within 24 hours.
For more resources, visit our Support page to browse additional articles, troubleshooting guides, and FAQs.
Start Now
Install from Microsoft Office Add-ins Marketplace. Free. No credit card. Generate your first note in minutes.
Try it freePrefer Microsoft Word? Get the free Word add-in. Installs from Microsoft AppSource.
Last updated March 15, 2026