DAP Notes for Family Therapy: Example and Template
Overview
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Short answer: a family therapy DAP note records the session in three parts. Data: who attended, what each family member reported (attributed to the person who said it), what you observed in how they interacted, and the intervention you used. Assessment: your clinical judgment about the family pattern, how it relates to the identified client’s problem, progress toward the treatment-plan goals and any risk. Plan: what each member will do before the next session, any referrals or contacts, and the next appointment.
DAP stands for Data, Assessment and Plan. Unlike SOAP, it puts what people said and what you observed together in one Data section. In family therapy the note usually sits in the identified client’s record, so name the diagnosis and treatment-plan goals the family work serves, record who attended by role (for example mother, father, client) and whether the identified client was present. CPT 90847 is family psychotherapy with the patient present and 90846 is without the patient present; check your payer’s time and documentation rules. Explain at the start of family work who can see the record, because what one family member says may end up in another person’s chart. The table shows what goes in each section.
What to document in a family therapy DAP note
| Section | What to document | Example wording |
|---|---|---|
| Data | Who attended, format, length, and whether the identified client was present | “Family session, 50 minutes, in person. Present: the identified client (age 12), his mother and his father. Sister (8) not present.” |
| Data | What each member reported, attributed to the person who said it | “Mother: homework arguments on 5 of 7 evenings (7 of 7 last week). Father: ‘We’re still yelling, but we stop sooner.’ Client: worries about math tests ‘almost every day.’” |
| Data | Ratings or measures, by person | “Conflict at home, 0–10: mother 6, father 5, client 7.” |
| Data | The interaction you observed and the intervention you used | “When homework came up, father raised his voice, mother took over and the client went quiet. Used an enactment: parents planned one homework routine together with coaching.” |
| Assessment | The family pattern and how it relates to the identified client’s problem | “A cycle of parental escalation and client withdrawal appears to maintain the client’s worry and his delay in starting homework.” |
| Assessment | Progress toward plan goals and risk screening | “Goal 2 (fewer evening arguments) improving: 5 of 7 evenings, down from 7. Client screened alone: denied suicidal thoughts, self-harm and feeling unsafe at home.” |
| Plan | Tasks for each member, contacts made with consent, next session | “Parents: one agreed homework routine on school nights. Client: rate worry 0–10 each school day. Next family session in 1 week.” |
If a family member discloses suspected child abuse or neglect, or violence at home, follow your state’s mandated-reporting law and your agency’s policy, and record what was said, the report and the safety plan. When anyone in the session reports suicidal thoughts, assess and record current thoughts, plan, intent, history and access to means, and the safety plan; the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline takes calls and texts at 988, and imminent danger calls for 911 or the nearest emergency department.
New to the format? Start with the main guide to DAP notes: format, template and examples. This page covers family sessions.
How to Document DAP Notes for Families
Data
Combine subjective reports and objective observations into a single data section
When documenting the Data section for families, record the client’s reported symptoms, presenting concerns, emotional state, and any identified triggers as shared during the session. This section captures the family’s subjective experience and observable mood or affect at the time of the meeting.
- Describe the primary concerns or challenges reported by the family members.
- Note specific symptoms or behaviors the client or family identifies as problematic.
- Identify any recent events or triggers mentioned that may have influenced the client’s current state.
- Document the client’s expressed mood and affect, including any changes noted by family members.
- Record direct quotes or statements from the client or family that highlight their perspective.
Assessment
Provide clinical analysis, treatment progress, and diagnostic considerations
In the Assessment section for families, synthesize clinical observations, the application of therapeutic techniques, and your professional impressions regarding the client’s progress and response to treatment. Include diagnostic considerations and how the family dynamics may be impacting the client.
- Summarize clinical observations related to family interactions and client behavior during the session.
- Specify therapeutic modalities or techniques utilized and the client’s reaction to them.
- Evaluate the client’s progress toward previously established goals based on family feedback and clinical judgment.
- Discuss any changes in diagnostic impressions or new considerations based on session data.
- Note the family’s engagement level and emotional responses observed throughout the session.
Plan
Document next steps, interventions, and follow-up scheduling
The Plan section for families outlines the next steps in treatment, including homework assignments, any modifications to the treatment approach, referrals if needed, and scheduling of future sessions. It should clearly communicate actionable items to support ongoing progress.
- Detail specific homework or practice activities assigned to the client and family before the next session.
- Outline any adjustments made to the treatment plan based on current assessment findings.
- List referrals to additional services or specialists recommended for the client or family members.
- Confirm the date and time for the next scheduled session or follow-up appointment.
- Include strategies for family involvement to enhance support and reinforce therapeutic goals.
SOAP Notes for Families
Alternative format for documenting families
BIRP Notes for Families
Alternative format for documenting families
Progress Notes for Families
Alternative format for documenting families
SIRP Notes for Families
Alternative format for documenting families
GIRP Notes for Families
Alternative format for documenting families
PIE Notes for Families
Alternative format for documenting families
Family therapy DAP note example
Fictional documentation example, not treatment guidance. Every detail is invented. Adapt it to the session you actually provided and your organization’s requirements.
Data: Fictional family session 4, 50 minutes, in person (CPT 90847, identified client present). Present: the identified client, a 12-year-old boy diagnosed at intake with generalized anxiety disorder (F41.1), his mother and his father; his 8-year-old sister did not attend. Treatment-plan goals: (1) client uses a coping step when worried about school work; (2) evening homework arguments on 3 or fewer school nights a week; (3) parents agree on one consistent homework routine. Mother reported arguments on 5 of 7 evenings this week (7 of 7 last week). Father said, “We’re still yelling, but we stop sooner.” Client said he worries about math tests “almost every day” and that the arguments make it harder to start. Conflict at home, 0–10: mother 6, father 5, client 7 (8, 7 and 9 at session 1). In session, each time homework was discussed (three times), father’s voice rose, mother interrupted to take over, and the client looked down and stopped answering. Used a structural enactment: the parents planned one homework routine together while the therapist blocked interruptions and coached them to speak to each other rather than about the client. Client practiced naming his worry and asking for a 5-minute break; both parents practiced a calm reply. Client met alone with the therapist for the last 5 minutes.
Assessment: The family shows a repeating cycle in which father escalates, mother takes over and the client withdraws; this appears to maintain the client’s worry about school work and his delay in starting homework. With coaching, the parents agreed on one routine, and the client used the break request once in the session, consistent with early progress on goals 2 and 3. Goal 1 is partly met: the client’s worry is still present on most days. In the individual check-in the client denied suicidal thoughts and self-harm and reported feeling safe at home; the parents reported no safety concerns. No safety or reportable concerns identified.
Plan: Parents will use the agreed routine on school nights: homework starts at 6:30 p.m., father supports on Mondays and Wednesdays and mother on Tuesdays and Thursdays, and a 5-minute break is allowed when the client asks. Client will rate his worry 0–10 each school day and note when he used the break request. Parents will each mark arguments on a shared chart. With the parents’ written consent, the therapist will ask the school counselor how the client is managing math tests before session 6. Next family session in 1 week to review the chart and ratings.
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Tips for DAP Notes for Families
1. Record who was there
List attendees by role, the session length and format, and whether the identified client was present (for example CPT 90847 with the client present, 90846 without). Keep other members’ full names out of the identified client’s note unless your agency requires them.
2. Attribute every report
Write who said what: “Mother reported…”, “Client said…”. When family members disagree, record each account neutrally rather than deciding which is true.
3. Describe the pattern, not only symptoms
Family work targets interactions. Describe the sequence you observed, such as escalation, interrupting, withdrawal or soothing, and link it to the identified client’s problem.
4. Name the intervention and its target
For example an enactment to practice joint limit-setting, reframing, boundary-making, communication coaching or parent coaching, and how each person responded.
5. Give each member a task
Plans work better when each caregiver and the client has a specific, checkable task, with a day, time and a way to review it next session.
6. Keep safety and reporting in view
Screen the identified client privately when appropriate. Follow your state’s mandated-reporting law for suspected abuse or neglect and record the report. For suicide risk, record the assessment and safety plan, with 988 for crisis support and 911 for imminent danger.
Documentation Considerations for DAP Notes for Families
Track each member's perspective separately
Family DAP notes should clearly distinguish who reported what, especially when parents and child describe events differently. Include separate ratings, quotes, or brief summaries for each participant when relevant. This is particularly important in family work because symptom severity, conflict frequency, and perceived progress often vary by person and can change the treatment focus from the identified patient to the interaction pattern.
Document interaction patterns, not just symptoms
For families, the assessment should describe relational cycles such as pursuer-withdrawer, criticism-defensiveness, or inconsistent limit-setting. Well-documented notes show how these patterns affect functioning at home, school, and during the session. Include observable behaviors like interruptions, avoidance, escalation, or soothing attempts, and connect them to the presenting problem rather than listing only individual emotional symptoms.
Specify interventions used with the whole system
Family documentation should name the modality and the target of each intervention. For example, Structural Family Therapy mapping, CBT psychoeducation, parent management coaching, or communication rehearsal. Note who participated and how they responded. This helps demonstrate that the intervention addressed family interactions, not just individual coping, and supports medical necessity for family-based treatment.
Include concrete home practice for multiple caregivers
Plan sections should assign tasks that each caregiver can realistically complete and that can be observed at the next visit. Examples include a shared routine chart, daily check-ins, or a specific praise ratio. Avoid vague instructions like 'improve communication.' If one caregiver is inconsistent or absent, document that limitation and note how the plan adapts to the family structure.
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Further Reading
- APA Documentation Guidelines — Provides detailed standards and best practices for clinical documentation relevant to mental health professionals working with families.
- SAMHSA — Offers resources and guidelines for behavioral health documentation and family-centered care approaches.
- NASW (Social Workers) — Contains ethical and documentation standards specifically tailored for social workers engaging with family systems.