AI-Assisted Progress Note Writing

1. Go to mentalyc.com
2. Click Get started free or Sign up
3. Enter your email, create a password, and verify your email
4. Select your role: Addiction Counselor or Therapist
5. Complete the brief onboarding questions about your note format preferences

What you should see: A dashboard with options to start a new note or recording.

Troubleshooting: If you don't receive a verification email, check spam. It arrives within 5 minutes.

1. In the dashboard, click your profile icon → Settings or Note preferences
2. Choose your default format: DAP (Data, Assessment, Plan), SOAP (Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan), or BIRP (Behavior, Intervention, Response, Plan)
3. If your facility uses a specific format, select the closest match
4. Save preferences

What you should see: Your preferred format is now selected and will be used for all notes going forward.

Immediately after a session (not during, since the audio should not include client voice):

1. On your phone or computer, open Mentalyc
2. Click New Note → Record
3. Speak naturally for 60-120 seconds: client's mood/presentation, topics discussed, your interventions, client response, and plan for next session
4. Click Stop when done

Example of what to say: "Client presented with moderate anxiety. Reported urge to use over the weekend after an argument with a partner. We identified the trigger using the chain analysis model and practiced the urge surfing technique. Client was engaged and completed the worksheet. Plan: review urge surfing next session; discuss safety planning if partner conflict escalates."

What you should see: A "Processing" indicator. The note generates within 30-60 seconds.

1. The AI-generated note appears in DAP/SOAP/BIRP format
2. Read through it and verify it captured the key clinical elements
3. Click any section to edit directly: fix specifics, add risk assessment language, add any content the AI missed
4. Ensure your note references the specific treatment plan goal this session addressed

What you should see: A structured, formatted progress note matching your chosen format, typically 150-300 words.

Troubleshooting: If the note is too generic, re-record your summary with more clinical specifics (name the technique you used, name the treatment plan goal referenced).

1. Click Copy to clipboard or Export
2. Open your EHR (Kipu, BestNotes, ICANotes, etc.)
3. Navigate to the client's progress note section
4. Paste the note and add any required fields your EHR mandates (CPT code, session duration, clinician signature)
5. Sign and finalize the note per your normal workflow

What you should see: A complete progress note in your EHR, ready for your signature.