AI scribes for therapists are quickly becoming essential for reducing documentation time and improving clinical note quality. Instead of spending hours writing progress notes, therapists are turning to AI therapy note-taking software to automatically generate structured documentation in formats like SOAP, DAP, MSE and BIRP.
Best AI Scribes for Therapists (Quick List)
- OneChart — best for structured therapy documentation and audit-ready notes
- Freed — best AI note taker for therapists prioritizing speed and simplicity
- Heidi Health — best for flexible therapy session capture and full clinical workflows
- Mentalyc — best for therapy-specific notes and longitudinal tracking
- Upheal — best for high-accuracy session notes with fast turnaround
Best AI Note Takers for Therapists (Compared)
| Tool |
Best For |
Note Quality & Structure |
Accuracy (Long Sessions) |
Compliance (HIPAA/PHIPA/GDPR) |
EHR Integrations |
Key Strengths |
Limitations |
| OneChart |
Structured clinical documentation |
Excellent (SOAP, DAP, BIRP, audit-ready) |
High |
HIPAA, PIPEDA |
EHR-agnostic |
Strong structuring, transcript-to-note traceability, high compliance, time savings (~50%) |
Newer product, less brand awareness |
| Freed |
Speed & simplicity |
Good (structured notes, light edits) |
High |
HIPAA, SOC 2 |
EHR export (varies) |
Fast note generation, easy setup, minimal friction |
Less therapy-specific nuance, limited deep customization |
| Heidi Health |
Flexible capture & full clinical workflows |
Good (clinician-reviewed) |
High |
HIPAA, PIPEDA, GDPR |
Broad clinical integrations |
Mobile/offline capture, flexible workflows, broader clinical support |
Therapy-specific structuring may need validation |
| Mentalyc |
Therapy-specific notes & longitudinal tracking |
Excellent (therapy-focused formats) |
High |
HIPAA, PHIPA, SOC 2 |
SimplePractice, TherapyNotes |
Deep mental health support, longitudinal tracking, modality coverage |
Slightly heavier workflow vs simpler tools |
| Upheal |
High-accuracy notes & fast turnaround |
Excellent (minimal editing needed) |
Very High |
HIPAA, PHIPA, PIPEDA, GDPR, SOC 2 |
Browser-based EHR compatibility |
Fast (~60s notes), strong accuracy, compliance checker, multi-format capture |
Less emphasis on longitudinal tracking vs Mentalyc |
What Makes an AI Scribe for Therapists Different?
AI therapy note-taking software is built for a fundamentally different workflow than general medical transcription tools.
Long-Form Session Capture
Therapy sessions often run 45–60 minutes. AI scribes for therapists must maintain accuracy across extended, unstructured conversations without losing context.
Conversational and Clinical Nuance
Sessions are non-linear and emotionally complex. The best AI therapy note-taking software capture:
- emotional tone
- key themes
- clinical signals (e.g., risk language, symptoms)
—not just spoken words.
Structured Therapy Notes (SOAP, DAP, BIRP)
Therapists need usable documentation, not raw transcripts. Strong therapy documentation tools automatically generate structured progress notes aligned with clinical and insurance standards.
Mental Health–Specific Context
General AI documentation tools often miss therapy-specific elements. Therapy-focused tools are trained to handle modalities, interventions, and diagnosis-related language.
- therapy modalities (EMDR, ABA, trauma-focused, psychiatry, play therapy)
- intervention tracking
- diagnosis-related language
- therapy formats (individuals, couples, families, groups, children)
Compliance and Audit Readiness
AI therapy documentation software must meet strict standards (HIPAA, PHIPA, GDPR) and produce notes that are consistent, reviewable, and audit-ready.
Best AI Therapy Note-Taking Software for Therapists
1. OneChart — Best AI Scribe for Therapists Needing Structured Clinical Documentation
OneChart is an AI therapy note-taking software built specifically for therapists, designed to convert unstructured sessions into audit-ready clinical notes.
It captures therapy sessions in real time and generates structured notes in formats like SOAP, DAP, and BIRP, with clear separation between therapist and client voice. The system supports mental health–specific language, symptoms, and interventions.
As an AI scribe for therapists, OneChart is built for compliance:
- HIPAA and PIPEDA aligned
- encrypted data handling
- explicit patient consent workflows
- minimal data retention
The note-taking program integrates directly into therapy workflows by being EHR-agnostic. built-in safeguards such as transcript-to-note traceability and human review to reduce hallucination risk.
For therapists, OneChart delivers strong ROI:
- ~50% reduction in documentation time
- up to 20 hours saved per week
2. Freed — Best AI Note Taker for Therapists Focused on Speed
Freed is an AI therapy note-taking software designed for fast documentation with minimal friction.
It captures sessions in real time and converts them into structured therapy notes quickly, often requiring only light edits. This makes it a strong option for therapists who want to complete notes immediately after sessions.
As an AI clinical documentation tool, Freed performs well for general workflows, though therapy-specific nuance (e.g., risk language or modality-specific details) may require review. Freed is:
- Compliance: HIPAA, SOC 2; secure data handling and consent
- Workflow: live session capture, quick editing, one-click EHR export
- Trade-offs: very fast but may require review for therapy-specific nuance
3. Heidi Health — Best AI Scribe for Therapists Needing Flexible Capture
Heidi is a broader AI clinical documentation platform that supports therapy workflows alongside other clinical use cases.
It captures sessions across multiple environments, including mobile and wearable-assisted recording, and converts them into structured notes with clinician review.
As an AI scribe for therapists, Heidi offers:
- Capture: live, mobile, wearable-assisted, offline
- Compliance: HIPAA, PIPEDA, GDPR; ISO-aligned practices; optional on-device encryption
- support for full clinical workflows beyond therapy notes
4. Mentalyc — Best AI Therapy Note-Taking Software for Longitudinal Tracking
Mentalyc is an AI scribe for therapists built specifically for mental health workflows.
It generates structured therapy notes (SOAP, DAP, BIRP) while linking session data over time across: symptoms, goals, interventions and client progress. This makes it especially strong for therapists managing ongoing treatment plans. Mentalyc supports:
- Compliance: HIPAA, PHIPA, SOC 2; encryption and audio deletion after processing; no use of client data for model training
- Integrations: SimplePractice, TherapyNotes; live/upload/dictation capture
- Strength: deep mental health support and longitudinal tracking
- Multiple therapy modalities (EMDR, trauma-informed care, couples therapy)
- Extraction of clinical signals (progress, alliance, themes)
5. Upheal — Best AI Scribe for Therapists Needing High Accuracy
Upheal is an AI therapy note-taking software designed for high-quality, structured documentation with minimal editing. It captures sessions across formats and generates structured notes (SOAP, DAP, BIRP) in ~60 seconds.
- Capture therapy sessions across formats: in-person, virtual (telehealth), dictation, uploads
- Compliance: HIPAA, PHIPA, PIPEDA, GDPR, SOC 2; encrypted sessions, audit logs, built-in consent workflows
- Upheal is particularly strong in: very high accuracy, fast turnaround, compliance checker; less emphasis on longitudinal tracking
FAQ: AI Scribes for Therapists
- Are AI scribes for therapists HIPAA compliant? — Most leading tools (OneChart, Upheal, Mentalyc) are HIPAA compliant and use encrypted data handling with consent workflows.
- How accurate are AI therapy notes? — Top AI scribes can achieve high accuracy, but therapists should always review notes, especially for risk-related or sensitive content.
- Do AI scribes replace therapists? — No. AI scribes reduce documentation time but do not replace clinical judgment or therapeutic work.
- What is the best AI note taker for therapists? — It depends on needs: structured documentation → OneChart; speed → Freed; flexibility → Heidi; therapy depth → Mentalyc; accuracy → Upheal.
How to Choose the Best AI Scribe for Therapists
- Structured Note Support (SOAP, DAP, BIRP, MSE): Prefer tools that generate structured notes automatically with minimal editing.
- Accuracy in Long Sessions: Choose tools that maintain transcription accuracy across full sessions and preserve context.
- Ambient (Non-Intrusive) Recording: The tool should run in the background without disrupting the therapeutic process.
- HIPAA-Compliant Data Handling: Ensure encrypted storage, clear data retention policies, and proper consent workflows.
- EHR Integration: Seamless integration with platforms like SimplePractice, TherapyNotes, and Jane reduces manual work.
- Customizable Templates: Look for flexible templates to match different documentation styles and therapy modalities.