GIRP Notes — Complete Guide + 72 Free Templates (2026)

Why the GIRP Format Exists

GIRP exists because many payers (Medicaid MCOs, CARF-accredited programs, some managed-care plans) require that every progress note name the specific treatment-plan goal addressed. GIRP makes that linkage explicit in the structure itself — reducing audit risk and making treatment-plan updates easier at review intervals.

When to Use GIRP Notes (and When Not To)

Use GIRP when your agency is CARF-accredited, when you bill Medicaid in states with goal-linkage requirements, in intensive outpatient programs (IOP), partial hospitalization (PHP), and rehabilitative mental-health services. Even where not required, GIRP is useful for keeping a caseload tightly aligned to documented treatment goals.

The GIRP Note Structure

GIRP Notes follow a 4-part structure: Goal, Intervention, Response, Plan. Each section answers a different clinical question.

Goal

The specific treatment-plan goal(s) addressed this session, quoted or paraphrased from the treatment plan. Example: "Goal #2: Client will reduce frequency of panic attacks to ≤1/week by 2026-06-01 using interoceptive exposure and breathing techniques."

Intervention

What you did to address the stated goal. Example: "Psychoeducation on panic cycle; in-session diaphragmatic breathing practice; collaborative development of 6-item exposure hierarchy."

Response

Client’s engagement and outcome. Example: "Client engaged actively; anxiety decreased 7→4/10 after breathing. Committed to exposure homework with verbalized ambivalence."

Plan

Next steps toward goal achievement. Example: "Begin interoceptive exposure next session. Homework: breathing 2x/day + panic log. Next: 2026-04-27."

Full GIRP Note Example

Scenario: 45-minute individual outpatient CBT session, 6 weeks in, for a 34-year-old female with GAD and panic features.

Goal: Treatment Plan Goal #2: "Client will reduce frequency of panic attacks to ≤ 1/week by 2026-06-01 using interoceptive exposure and diaphragmatic breathing techniques." Secondary Goal #4: "Client will identify and restructure catastrophic cognitions about work performance, measured by CAT-CAT score reduction from baseline 28 to ≤ 15."

Intervention: (1) Reviewed panic log with client; identified Tuesday work-email incident as trigger with cognition "my work is slipping." (2) Provided psychoeducation on panic cycle and the role of interoceptive cues. (3) Led in-session diaphragmatic breathing (3 cycles). (4) Collaboratively developed 6-item exposure hierarchy (from least distressing [caffeine + walk] to most [hyperventilation drill]). (5) Reviewed automatic-thought record; challenged "work is slipping" with evidence-for/evidence-against exercise.

Response: Client engaged actively; verbalized correct understanding of the panic cycle. Anxiety 7/10 → 4/10 after breathing exercise. Identified 3 pieces of counter-evidence to the "work slipping" cognition during exercise. Committed to homework (breathing 2x/day, panic log, one thought-record entry). Verbalized ambivalence about interoceptive exposure — concerned it will "make panic worse" — but agreed to psychoeducation review before next session.

Plan: (1) Next session: begin interoceptive exposure at hierarchy item #1 (controlled caffeine + walk + self-monitoring). (2) Homework: 10-min breathing 2x/day; one panic-log entry per episode; one thought-record per day. (3) Goal progress: panic attacks this week = 4 (target ≤ 1/week by 2026-06-01 — off-track, not yet concerning given early stage of interoceptive work). (4) Next session: 2026-04-27, 3:00 PM.

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GIRP Note Templates by Diagnosis, Setting & Modality

Every template below shows a full GIRP note tailored to that specific clinical situation. Use them as a starting point — copy, edit, and adapt to your client.

Mood & Anxiety Disorders

Trauma, PTSD & Grief

Substance Use & Addiction

Personality & Behavioral

Child, Adolescent & Family

Specialty Populations

Therapy Modalities

Group & Setting

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a GIRP note?

A GIRP note is a structured clinical progress note used by mental-health professionals to document a therapy session. It organizes session content into the sections: Goal, Intervention, Response, Plan.

How long does a GIRP note take to write?

Most clinicians write a competent GIRP note in 5–15 minutes. Mental Note AI reduces that to under 60 seconds by drafting the structure directly in Microsoft Word.

Is GIRP accepted by insurance and Medicaid?

Yes. GIRP is an accepted progress-note format across commercial insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid. Some state Medicaid MCOs and CARF-accredited programs have specific format preferences — check your payer requirements before standardizing.

What’s the difference between a GIRP note and a psychotherapy note?

Progress notes (including this format) are part of the legal medical record and can be released to payers with client authorization. Psychotherapy notes are the therapist’s private process notes and receive heightened HIPAA protection under 45 CFR 164.524. Keep them separately.

Can I generate these notes with AI?

Yes. Mental Note AI is a HIPAA-compliant AI writing assistant that drafts structured clinical notes inside Microsoft Word. You stay in control — the AI produces a draft, you review and edit before finalizing.

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